Bridges of Peace Initiatives

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May 30, 2022NewsInaugural 40-hour Mediation Training in Nairobi “Of all the trainings I have ever done, academic and otherwise, this 40-hour training has been the most impactful and practical. As a person who is always resolving conflict, this training has been life changing for me.”  These were the words of one of the participants during the inaugural 40-hour Mediation training by Bridges of Peace Initiatives (BPI) that took place in Nairobi Chapel on 23-27 May, 2022. The training had six participants and most of them were Pastors serving in different churches in Nairobi. The group had been inspired by Pastor Ondachi, a Senior Pastor at Mavuno Church Lavington and a Mediator. Pastor Ondachi made it his mission to ensure that every church minister is trained as a mediator because he believes it is going to make a difference in the communities where they serve. “It has been liberating for me to learn and understand mediation and how different it is from counselling. A lot of cases that Pastors take for counselling should be taken for mediation.” He expressed.  “It is such a relief to have the tool of mediation and to know that I actually don’t need to have solutions for people when they are in conflict. What I need is a strategy to take them through a process that can potentially help them do the hard work of exploring and deciding on the solutions that will work for them.”  Shared one of the participants. The training goes beyond learning how to help others, it is also about learning to help yourself when in conflict as expressed by one of the participants; “I live here as a person who has been transformed as a man, a husband and a leader.” And as one of the participants shared, the mediation training is beyond a professional skill, it is actually a life skill! “The 40-hour training has been mind-blowing for me. Mediation should be taught as a life skill. Everyone needs it.” “Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to train, coach and certify you as Professional Mediators! You committed and dedicated yourself to the 40-hour Mediation course. You sat on the hot sit with confidence and practiced as Mediators. Now you are ready to start your mediation practice journey. And we are here to walk with you”. “Njeri Ndiangui, the Lead trainer for Mediation and the Executive Director of BPI told the participants as the training came to an end. [...]
June 3, 2022NewsParticipants doing a mediation role play during the training in Bomet County BPI wishes to congratulations the nine newly certified Professional Mediators in Bomet county trained on 30 May-3 June, 2022!! The participants, who were a mix of different professional backgrounds, found the training very helpful and practical. “I thank God for the opportunity to be trained as a Mediator. I have been mediating without the necessary skills and knowledge. Now I have the skills and techniques to help people resolve their conflicts more effectively. This course has been a blessing to me.” Shared one of the participants. One of the participants reflected on the training in a technological language; “I started the class with an old mediation operating system. Through the 40-hours, I have downloaded a few other applications and upgraded my mediation operating system” expressed the participant. While another one reflected on the training from a medical perspective; “Being a mediator is like being a mid-wife. The pregnancy is not yours, the baby is not yours and it is not your job to dictate on how the parents should care for the baby once born! Your work is to help deliver the baby and allow the parents of the baby to decide on how they want to care and parent the baby.” Another participant was fascinated by the quality of the 40-hour mediation training. “It has been such a long time since I attended a training that was so meaningful in my life like this one.” “I am leaving here feeling empowered as a mediator” said another one at the end of the training. BPI is grateful to be making a contribution to the field of peace mediation. We are humbled that we are empowering people who can help many others to resolve their conflicts in a much more peaceful way! The lead trainer for the training was Mediator Njeri Ndiangui supported by Mediator Edward Ondachi [...]
July 6, 2022NewsWhat a joy this was to empower 36 teenagers with practical skills and steps of resolving interpersonal conflicts in constructive ways. The one-day training took place on 6th July, 2022 at the Kenya Connect’s offices in Wamunyu village. Thanks to Kenya Connect, who organised and facilitated the Conflict Resolution workshop for the young people. What a priceless investment in their lives! Understanding conflict and learning the skills to resolve conflicts in constructive ways is something that should be taught to everyone, including children, as a life skill. Conflicts are part of life and we all need to learn how to normalize conflicts. That will give us the courage to respond and not react to conflicts when it shows up in our lives. It was a joy to partner with Kenya connect and together make a contribution in empowering the teenagers with the important knowledge and skills of resolving conflicts constructively. And it was great to be told by one of the team members for Kenya Connect that the students kept on sharing how the ‘fantastic workshop’ had impacted them. [...]
July 15, 2022NewsWhat a joy it was to train 16 members of the Court Annexed Mediation Secretariat (CAM) together with some Judicial Staff as Professional Mediators through our 40-hr Professional Mediation training. The training happened on the 12-15 July, 2022 at the Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi. “I have always wondered what happens in a Mediation room! I am so glad that I am now a Mediator and will be able to advise parties that have been sent for mediation from a point of knowledge and understanding.” Shared one of the participants. “After going through the Mediation training, now I have confirmed that indeed Mediation works!” Expressed another participant. One member of the CAM secretariat realized that being a mediator was not as easy as they had imagined; “After seeing the amount of patience required as a Mediator, I have found more respect for the work that mediators do.” One of the best things that our Kenyan Judiciary has done is to embrace and promote Mediation as a key mechanism for conflict resolution! As the Judiciary continue to roll out Mediation in the different courts in Kenya, BPI is very honoured to make a contribution to their vision of social transformation through access to justice. [...]
July 30, 2022News“I thought I was coming to learn how to help other people resolve conflicts! The training has transformed me as a person. I have been able to look at myself and seen where I could have handled issues differently.” The above comment was made by some of the participants in the five-day Professional Mediation Training that took place on 25-29 July, 2022 at the Savelberg Retreat Centre, Nairobi. As practitioners of peace mediation, our training is designed to not just give skills and techniques but to also bring inner transformation as one of the participants noted. “You are not just training Mediators; you are changing lives. Thank you for impacting my life. I will now handle conflicts differently. I will contribute in making the world a better place” Njeri Ndiangui, the lead trainer and the Executive Director for BPI encouraged the participants to go out and make a difference in the broken world. “Allow your newly acquired light to shine. Always remember that our world is broken. People are broken. Go thee and be great Mediators. Go and Transform lives.” She told the participants as they closed the training.  BPI remains committed to build community mediators who can help individuals and groups resolve their conflicts in constructive ways. The more peace mediators we have, the better for our communities and the world. [...]
October 27, 2022NewsThe Executive Director of BPI, Njeri Ndiangui, participated in the roll out of the Court Annexed Mediation in Meru and Chuka law courts on the 28 and 29, June, 2022. One of the best things that has happened in the recent past is the fact that the Kenyan Judiciary has fully embraced Mediation as a conflict resolution mechanism. They have been making a lot of effort to see that they have mediation running in every court in Kenya as a strategy for Social Transformation through Access to Justice. “The Judiciary has an obligation to promote Mediation! It is a command by the people of Kenya through the constitution”. Hon. Justice George Odunga, the Chair of the Mediation Accreditation Committee (MAC) emphasised during the Launch of the Court Annexed Mediation in Meru.  The County Commissioner of Meru expressed the joy of having the Court Annexed Mediation operational in Meru. He said that his team will benefit a lot from the program since they have been dealing with a lot of conflicts that start from small disputes but end up being criminal cases. [...]