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PeaceTalk
BEYOND JUBA: Building Consensus on Sustainable Peace in Uganda
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TEENS TALKING PEACE
VOL. 2 ISSUE 5 SEPTEMBER 2009
Drawing for Peace
A
rt like music is a
universal
language
through which people
can communicate. Art 4
Peace, an organisation that uses art
for healing, defines art as “a creative
and universal way to communicate
across language and ethnic-cultural
barriers”. Their concept uses art to
deal with trauma, grief and as a way
to create reconciliation in conflict
areas. Therefore, in situations
where there has been violence
and gross human rights violations,
people can use art as therapy.
Art therapy can include drawings
of peace paintings on walls and
other surfaces. The drawings help
traumatised people to open up
which helps in the healing process,
as well as share their feelings and
perceptions.
According to Okot Bernard
Kasozi, a psychosocial worker, art
therapy has proved resourceful
in exploring the plight of war
affected children and turning the
past experiences into good future
visions.
Many of the children who undergo
therapy are fully reintegrated in the
community and are working hard
to achieve their goals developed
during the art therapy sessions. Art
can also be used as a tool to call for
peace and promote reconciliation.
Drawn by Yeko Brian, Teso College Aloet
SU
S
I
S
i
TH
E:
Art and Reconciliation
by Samara Madhvani
Teen Editor
As youth we must
look
for
different
ways to strengthen
our community and
work together. Art can
help us bond, express
our feelings and our
emotions.
Whether it is painting,
sculpting, dancing, acting, writing or singing, art is
very important to the youth as it teaches one about
culture and is enjoyable both to the artist and the
viewers. Often, people who have been through
traumatic experiences find it easier to tell their story
and to express their emotions through art instead of
words.
Art improves our understanding about the past, and
gives us insights and opinions into the future. The
artists show what peace means to them, and what
they hope the future will be like. In this issue, the
focus is visual art.
STAR OPINION
Dear Ugandans,
If we are to attain a spirit of
patriotism, we should always fight the
following vices; greed, hatred, jealousy,
pride, revenge, and drug abuse
especially among the youth. These are
elements of peace breaking which
have often brought confusion in
society.
I have gained social fame, young as I am for being
a peacemaker. I encourage my peers to take note of
the following;
•
Love our country
•
Violence can never solve violence
•
Use dialogue to resolve conflicts
•
Forgive others to restore peace and unity
This way we can build a peaceful Uganda.
Kato Jerome,
Ruyonza School, Bushenyi
www.beyondjuba.org/peace_talk.php
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PeaceTalk
SEPTEMBER 2009
Art can also be used as a tool to call for peace and
promote reconciliation. PeaceTalk brings you drawings of different students depicting reconciliation.
HAVE YOUR SAY…
www.beyondjuba.org/peace_talk.php
PeaceTalk
SEPTEMBER 2009
3
YY Okot Memorial College, Kitgum
YY Okot
Memorial
College Peace
Club has thirty
active members. Mr
Paul Amone is the
club patron.
Some of the club
activities include
the ‘peace within
our environment
programme’ which
includes tree planting,
slashing lawns and
sweeping streets.
Members of YY Okot Memorial College Peace Club pose for a photo with their patron Mr. Paul
Amone in their school compound.
Art
for
Therapy
Q&A with Okot Bernard Kasozi, a psychosocial researcher working in the post-conflict region of northern Uganda.
PT: What is art therapy?
OBK: Art therapy is the process of engaging a
traumatized victim in drawings that reflect one’s
life experiences as well as future aspirations
by a trained psychosocial helper. The drawings
assist the psychologist to understand the client’s
feelings and perceptions.
PT: How can we use art to bring healing to
children in conflict areas?
Okot Bernard Kasozi
Psychosocial Researcher
OBK: Art therapy can help children open
up about their experiences. With art they
communicate their feelings, needs, aspirations,
worries and memories. It involves children
drawing their traumatic experiences during
the conflict. The expression through drawing is
the beginning of healing. These drawings assist
the helper to identify issues that need to be
Deadline extended to 30th October, 2009
Call for Stories, Poems and Cartoons!
Are you a teenager? Do you have a story, poem or cartoon
on peace, justice and national reconciliation? Send your
submission together with your picture to PeaceTalk and
you will stand a chance to appear in our upcoming Peace
Book. The deadline is 30th October, 2009.
worked upon. The child is finally able to open
up, explore and identify opportunities for total
healing and to make meaningful life decisions.
PT: How have the children responded to this
form of therapy?
OBK: The children respond positively and like
drawing. In the beginning, a child may draw
horrible experiences such as a picture of a rebel
commander, witnessing the murder of a friend,
a vehicle burnt, a helicopter gunship shooting
indiscriminately, and people running in bushes.
With support from a helper, the child’s mindset
gradually changes and she or he may begin to
draw pictures symbolizing her or his visions, for
example, of returning to school, of becoming a
doctor, studying hard, acquiring a good job and
a car.
Write to PeaceTalk:
The Editors, PeaceTalk
C/O Refugee Law Project
P.O.Box 33903, Kampala-Uganda
Email:[email protected]
www.beyondjuba.org/peace_talk.php
PeaceTalk
4
SEPTEMBER 2009
Is the government going to pay back our cows we lost during
the conflict?
Lamwaka Sharon Mary, Sacred Heart SS, Gulu
AN
SW
ER
QU
ES
TI
ON
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Government has began the implementation of the
Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for northern Uganda. Therefore all issues regarding compensation are being handled under this programme.
Coming Soon...
Issue 12 comes out on 8th November, 2009.
The theme for this issue will be justice and
reconciliation. PeaceTalk would like to hear from
teenagers how different forms of justice can
promote reconciliation. Write to PeaceTalk and
share your views.
Drawn by Atim Jackline,
Sacred Heart SS, Gulu
“Peace is not the absence of conflict; it’s the absence of inner
conflict.” I always remind members of my school peace club to be
exemplary, to take responsibility for maintaining peace and respect
for all.
Edema Stephen,
Mvara Secondary School, Arua
QA
&
Write
to PeaceTalk:
The Editors
PeaceTalk
C/O Refugee Law Project
P.O.Box 33903,
Kampala-Uganda
Email:[email protected]
The Beyond Juba Project is a joint transitional
justice intiative of the Refugee Law Project (RLP),
Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), and
Faculty of Law, Makerere University. Beyond Juba
is funded by SIDA & NORAD.
WITH A PEACE PROMOTER
organization uses art as an educational tool
to empower people and communities at the
grassroots level.
PT: What does reconciliation mean
to you?
FM: Reconciliation is the process that a
Fred Mutebi is the founder
and executive director of Let
Art Talk (LAT) Foundation. The
person goes through to learn how to forgive
another person that caused them emotional or
physical harm in their life. It is an important
way to restore harmony and peace of mind to a
person’s well being.
PT: In what ways can Art be used to
foster reconciliation?
FM: Since art traverses boundaries and
cultures, it’s a form of communication that
allows people to share in a visual way what
is on their mind. Honest communication
is necessary to foster reconciliation. Art if
well designed as in Let Art Talk can foster
reconciliation as it brings together different age
groups, culture, race and gender, and it allows
them to communicate in common terms.
PT: How does the Let Art Talk
Foundation engage youth in the
reconciliation process?
FM: Let Art Talk hosts artists and students
from different parts of Uganda in workshops.
Through such exchanges, people learn from
each other. This helps curb discrimination
along cultural lines, therefore promoting unity
in diversity.
PUBLISHER: The Beyond Juba Project, c/o Refugee Law Project, Plot 9 Perryman Gardens (Opp. Old Kampala Primary School) PO Box 33903, Kampala, Uganda.
TEL: +256-414-232552/+256-414-343356 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.beyondjuba.org PRINTER: Monitor Publications Ltd.
EDITORS: Jackee Budesta Batanda & Angella Nabwowe Kasule TEEN EDITOR: Samara Madhvani PHOTOGRAPHY: Moses Alfred Nsubuga
DESIGN & LAYOUT: Jackee Budesta Batanda & Angella Nabwowe Kasule PROJECT COORDINATOR: Moses Chrispus Okello
PROJECT ADVISORS: Dr. Sylvia Tamale, Dr. Chris Dolan & Prof. Joe Oloka Onyango