From Protest to Peace: Naivasha Youth Find Unity Through Skills Training and Sports
Sr. Florence Muia lives in Naivasha, Kenya, where she runs ASN Upendo Village – a local lifeline providing services for those living with HIV/AIDS and other community members in need. She grew increasingly concerned as she witnessed a rising tide of political manipulation stoking division and hatred among the young people in her country. At the national level, “Gen Z” protests erupted across the country over proposed tax increases, eventually turning violent and leaving multiple people dead and injured. In her own community, Sr. Florence witnessed many local youths, often struggling with unemployment, caught in violent acts, as both perpetrators and victims.
But Sr. Florence noticed something about Gen Z activists. Despite social divisions, the young people came together and organized a grassroots movement for their cause. “The Gen Z protests showed the potential for youths to unite across political and ethnic lines,” she said. This inspired her to help Naivasha youth overcome division and tension, and empower them through conflict resolution and mediation training.
Training the Next Generation of Peacebuilders
With help from an SRW grant and local support from 11 different churches and other youth groups in the area, Sr. Florence and the team at Upendo Village set to work training 300 young people in conflict resolution, mediation, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
Upon completion of the 6-month training, 265 of the participants were appointed Peace Shuttle Diplomats to promote peace and mediate conflicts within their families, churches, and communities. Graduates have since gone on to mediate disagreements in their youth groups and families, and plan to launch a youth dialogue forum to mentor their peers.
Community Sports Festival Fosters Unity
But the program went beyond classroom training. At the conclusion, Sr. Florence and her team found a unique and fun way to unite and strengthen the community even more – through sports. In June, they hosted a Community Sports for Peace Festival.
The event brought together young people to compete, and hundreds of local community members to cheer them on in games of football, volleyball, and tug of war. The Sisters encouraged interaction and teamwork among players by ensuring each team had members from different neighborhoods, tribes, and faiths. “What stood out most was the unity and joy that cut across tribes, churches, and neighborhoods,” Sr. Florence shared about the event. “The finals drew cheering crowds, not divided by rivalry but united by celebration. The engraved peace trophies given to winning teams have become lasting symbols of harmony.”
A Platform for Healing and Joy
Many community members expressed how the event opened their eyes to the power of sports in building peace and unity in Naivasha. Sr. Florence shared some of their reactions in her report to SRW. “Sports gave our young people a platform to lead, encourage one another, and create a ripple effect of joy and unity. In the heat of the matches, healing was happening,” one attendee shared.
The festival’s success reminds us that in times of national crisis and upheaval, peace and unity can still grow – sometimes in unexpected places. Sisters on the ground are experts at discovering them and planting the seeds. Thank you to our donors who make it possible for Sr. Florence and Sisters everywhere to unite and strengthen the communities they serve.
