Overview abstract:
Our core mission is to transform the underlying root causes of conflict and poverty, as distinct from just dealing with the symptoms. We empower people in conflict environments to be the architects of their own future. We are a highly qualified international team of men and women peace and development practitioners, from within and outside Africa, with a life-long commitment to conflict transformation and development. We operate as a strictly non-sectarian and inter-religious organization, believing that successful peacebuilding and sustainable development requires the involvement of people from all backgrounds. We work at the grassroots level, simultaneously partnering with people and organizations to bring life-changing peace and sustainable development.
Our Background:
Shalom was created in 2009 in the wake of widespread violence and dislocation across Kenya in the aftermath of its disputed elections. The organization was founded by Fr. Patrick Devine, SMA, PhD, a missionary and social entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience transforming conflict and poverty to peace and livelihood resilience in Africa. Since 2009, we have had evidential transformative impacts on peace and development initiatives in African inter-ethnic conflict environments, empowering the capacity of over 12,000 community leaders (2,094 in 2017, of whom 42% were women), comprising of village elders, government functionaries, and influential opinion shapers with analytical skills on the causes of conflict and realizable peacebuilding techniques. Through our school projects, we have been involved in building, upgrading and expanding more than 340 schools; provided learning materials to more than 170,000 students; produced a peace syllabus, peered reviewed by our staff, which is used for educational purposes; and succeeded in the development of inter-ethnic and interreligious schools/education, which are all vital to the process of creating good relationships and human security between former rival communities. We have been particularly active in the Kenya border areas near South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda where tribal tensions are often heightened by nomadic pastoralist lifestyle’s that necessitates movement over borders and unofficial boundaries for survival. It is in these areas that Shalom’s investment is key, working with 16 ethnic groups, conducting workshops and implementing development projects aimed at helping to end the cycles of violence that too often impact these regions. We are also making significant contributions within Nairobi’s impoverished urban settlements. Kibera is considered the largest urban slum in the world and its inhabitants are frequently subject to high levels of violence and sectarian strife. Our team is persistently active with key community groups including elders, chiefs, women, youth and religious institutions, increasing their capacities to settle and resolve conflict in a more positive way for the benefit of the whole community.
In 2017:
SHALOM (SCCRR-Africa) conducted 83 conflict transformation and peacebuilding workshops, attending to issues of inter-ethnic conflict and preventing electoral violence (preparedness for peaceful elections); completed 56 development assignments composed of 45 school projects (32 primary and 13 secondary assisting 15,750 pupils/students) and 11 other community infrastructure interventions addressing Social, Medical, Water and Human-Trafficking tribulations. In addition 12 primary schools in conflict zones, comprising of 6,500 pupils, have been the focus population for the implementation of the successful Shalom Educational Peace Syllabus.
Our Approach:
Shalom focuses primarily on building authentic relationships with community leaders and elders, while also responding to felt needs within the community to strengthen the opportunities for development, particularly inter-religious and inter-ethnic education. The Shalom team members spend quality time hearing the perceptions and concerns of the local influential opinion shapers on both sides in conflict or war environments, before implementing the training workshops. We train these key members of the community who have further influence in conflict resolution and reconciliation skills, professionally empowering them to apply these principles to their living context. This allows us to carefully evaluate our progress in each context and to adapt our peace and development programmes more specifically to each situation. We also play a key role through the introduction of Peace Studies in Tertiary Education facilities in Nairobi. Many of our staff and associates are involved in teaching the core principles of conflict resolution and peacebuilding at some of the most esteemed academic institutions in East Africa; just as the provision of a peace syllabus and solar lighting (so far 344 units) into the schools we develop is vital for young children, this investment into teaching at the higher-education level has an enormous long-term life changing impact across families, generations and nations.
Shalom works in cooperation with others at local, regional and international levels. This is based on the understanding that partnerships are vital in furthering our work and the ripple effect for peace and development in other parts of the world. We have working relationships with numerous community and faith-based organizations of various traditions and beliefs. Shalom has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) comprised of eight countries in Eastern/Horn of Africa; with AMECEA (Associated Membership of Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa); with the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queens University, Belfast, N. Ireland, and with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention at the National University of Ireland in Maynooth. Shalom has delivered presentations and lectures on its pioneering methodology in the Harvard Law School’s Negotiation and Mediations Clinical Program, the Clinton Peace School in Northern Ireland, University of Texas, Austin’s College of Liberal Arts, the University of Houston, Texas, and others such as the prestigious ‘Lieutenant General Dermot Earley Memorial Lecture 2017’, titled, “Peace, Security and Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa, upon invitation from the Kennedy Institute and the Irish Defense Forces.
Your solidarity and ongoing support to this work is vital and appreciated. We are all interconnected in our human concern and wellbeing. Shalom will professionally deliver for those in need, and for you. Of every $1 donated, 92% goes directly into peace and development projects—true lasting value to thousands of less fortunate people.
Please see our contact details on www.shalomconflictcenter.org, or pdevine@shalomconflictcenter.org
SCCRR Partnerships / Collaborations:
IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development),(HQ Djibouti , comprised of 8 Countries) MoU; SCCRR USA (501c3); SCCRR, Republic of Ireland, (Registered); N. Ireland, (Registered); Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, Queen’s University Belfast, (N. Ireland) MoU; Edward M. Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention, NUI Maynooth, (Republic of Ireland) MoU; AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) MoU; Society of African Missions (SMA); Tangaza College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Narobi, Kenya; Trocaire; Shalom Network for Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation, (Cote D’Ivoire – West Africa); SCCRR Committees; Britain, Australia; Harvard Law School, (USA), March 2016; Project Common Bond ( USA) , Jan, 2017; College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas, Austin, TX, Oct, 2017.
We are so grateful, Yours Sincerely,
SCCRR (Africa) Board of Directors: Registered in Kenya.
Rev Dr. Patrick Devine, PhD, MA, BA, BD, Dip Mission Studies, Chairman
Prof. Robert Mudida PhD, MSC, MA, BD, Board Member (Kenya)
Ms Rosaline Serem MBA, BA, Board Member, (Kenya)
Dr. Michael Comerford PhD, MA, BD, BA, Board Member (South Sudan)
Rev. Janus Machota BD, BA Board Member, (Tanzania)
Team-East Africa:
Rev. Oliver Noonan, MA, BD, Dip Mission Studies, CRF; Country Director
Dr. Peterlinus Ouma, M.A., B.A.; Deputy Country Director
Prof; Wanakayi Omoka, PhD, M.A., B.A.; Director of Research
Mr. Godfrey Okoth, M.A., B.A.; Program Manager
Mrs. Joyce Wamae Kamau, M.A., B.A.; Assistant Program Manager (Development Program)
Mr. Paulson Erot, M.A., B.A.; Assistant Program Manager (Peacebuilding Program)
Mr. Francis Mwangi, M.A., B.A.; Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer
Mrs. Judith Akedi Linus, M.A., B.A.; Program Officer
Ms. Mary Koech, M.A., B.A.; Program Officer
Mr. Austin Ngacha, M.A., B.A.; Educational Projects-Logistics Monitor
Mr. Arthur Magero, M.A., B.A.; Program Officer
Ms. Esther Kibe, M.A., B.A.; Program Officer
Mr. Jude Ilo, M.A., B.A.; Program Assistant (Nigeria)
Mr. Duncan Akhobe, CPA; Accountant
Mr. Cyprian Nyakundi, B.A., M.A. Candidate; Intern
Ms. Asha Said Awed, B.A., M.A. Candidate; Intern
Mr. Ken Otieno, Further Studies; Transport /Logistics Coordinator
International Volunteer Consultants:
Rev. Dr. Michael McCabe, BA, BD (SMA, Ireland; Inter-Religious Dia-Praxis)
Ms. Matilda Brolin, LL.M. (Harvard Law School, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden)
Mrs. Sheena McMullen, MA, BA (Peace and Reconciliation Studies, N. Ireland and Kenya)
Ms. Fabiana Pardi Otamendi, LLM (Harvard Law School, UN Human Rights, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, France)
Dr. Conrad Bosire, MA (Constitutionalism and Devolution, Kenya, Africa)
Rev. Michel Savadogo, MA, BA, BD (Shalom Branch, Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa)
Fr. Patrick Devine
The Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation focuses on the root cause of violence and poverty in the tribal lands of eastern Africa. It was created in 2009 in the wake of persistent widespread violence and dislocation across northern Kenya, and in the aftermath of the disputed elections. Shalom continues to make acknowledged life-changing enduring impacts on peace and development initiatives in strategically needful regions, particularly in Eastern Africa.
Our mission depends on the vision, kindness and assistance of perceptive donors and supporters – people like yourself who believe that peace is the answer and that human beings can live together not just in the absence of war but in progressive mutual coexistence. Interethnic and interreligious dialogue and praxis, especially education, are vital components in this process. Most of our interventions are oriented towards peace, development and reconciliation between communities at the grass-roots.
We can do something great and noble together. The Shalom (SCCRR) Team in Africa, our volunteers, our leadership and the communities we collaborate with, remain extremely grateful for your solidarity. Your support and contributions brings peace, security and hope to thousands of men, women and children. Our overall mission is to work for a society free of physical violence and unjust social structures in Africa, positively transforming violence and poverty, generating peaceful and progressive communities achieving a secure future in their own environments.
Thank you for your friendship, your prayers, and your generosity.
Sincerely,
Fr. Patrick Devine, Ph.D
SCCRR Chairman & Founder
