‘Higher peace’ dividends

Kenya: Counseling center helps African women overcome the effects of poverty, war, and disease—and produce beautiful holiday products | Susan Olasky

Learning to sew at the Amani center

"True peace and true healing comes from Christ." That statement by Rachel Kistner of Amani Ya Juu—"higher peace"—in Nairobi, Kenya, may sound like a holiday truism, but for 11 years Amani has been providing counseling, community, and work for refugee women.

It's currently serving 70 women from 11 different countries (including Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia) and 18 different ethnic groups ravished by war and famine. About a third of the women are Kenyans who suffer the effects of poverty, corruption, war, and disease. Many are also the sole support of their children. They are, as one Kenyan woman said, like "refugees in their own country."

Amani counselors help women at the main center and two sister centers (one in Rwanda and one in Burundi that serve 20 additional women) put their lives together. They also learn to sew and make beautiful patchwork totes, toys, housewares, and fashions. At first women do their sewing and batiking at the center. More experienced women train newcomers, learning leadership skills in the process. Eventually many women are able to buy machines and work at home, which allows them to be with their children and save money on transportation.