Cathrin Daniel - March 2011 journal letter

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

Dear Friend,

I can’t quite believe that I’m leaving Burundi in a few weeks’ time. On my way to work this morning I sat in my taxi and cried, as did Rasheed, my taxi driver who has been my friend, my counsellor, my guardian and my guide over the past twenty months - and the goodbyes haven’t even started yet. From those early days of anticipation and excitement, exploring the city, making new friends and spending weekends on the beach, to the stress and uncertainty of the elections, the curfews, rumours and grenade attacks, from feeling like the new girl in school being put in my place by Burundian colleagues during my first week to gaining their trust and friendship, it has been an incredible journey. And after the emotional roller coaster of last year, I finally feel calm, happy and content in Burundi. I finally feel that this is home. So it seems even more poignant and surreal that it is at this very moment that I am packing up my life and leaving Burundi for good. But maybe you have to know you are going before you realise how important what you are leaving behind has become.

I wanted to write this, my last journal letter, to you as a supporter of QPSW and of the Peaceworker’s programme to thank you; to thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity and for teaching me so much – about peace, about conflict, about your values and about people who devote their lives to healing wounds that go so deep that I cannot even begin to imagine the pain they have caused. For teaching me that it is possible to heal, forgive and reconcile – even in a society as broken and traumatised as this and that ordinary people with passion, and faith and integrity can make a difference.

Cathrin with a women's self help group in the commune of Giharo, Rutana province.

When I regretfully handed in my notice to Marigold Bentley, the Asst Secretary General of QPSW, she reminded me that one of the main goals of this programme was to develop the peaceworkers as individuals and to send them out into the world later as peacebuilders, irrespective of what course their life takes in future. When I first came to Burundi I had been working for the past five years in development but had never considered promoting peace to be a part of my role, of my organisation’s role, of the development sector in general, and even if I had, I would have had no idea how one would directly go about trying to transform conflict and build peace. I had no idea about conflict sensitivity, transitional justice, trauma healing, mediation, demobilisation, disarmament or reintegration – just hearing the words made me break out in a cold sweat! But through working with partner organisations, accompanying them in their work, through organising conferences, reading reports and most importantly, by talking to my colleagues, friends and partners about their experiences and work, I have gradually gained an understanding of these processes, of their importance and of the great challenges to peace in our world. I feel as if I have put a conflict lens on and will never see the world in quite the same way again.

My journey is taking me to another post-conflict country, though in a very different role. I am leaving Burundi to take up a post in Sierra Leone, working as Country Director for Restless Development, a youth-led development agency. I will be going to lead on the strategic development of their Sierra Leone programme, which focuses on youth livelihoods, young people’s participation in governance and democratic processes, and young people’s sexual and reproductive health. With my conflict lens on, I will be developing their work in enabling young people to become agents for peace within their communities, and as the 2012 elections approach, I see young people, who make up over 60% of the country’s population, being at the heart of the drive to ensure their country’s peaceful development.

Before I sign off and wish you well, I wanted to let you know how incredible the support I have received from QPSW over the past year and a half has been. I cannot imagine how different the experience would have been without the monthly Skype chats with QPSW staff member Laura Shipler Chico, who patiently listened to me vent my frustrations, advising me on everything from building relationships with mistrustful colleagues and writing concept notes to filing insurance claims - she has been a mentor, teacher and a friend. When I asked for my placement to be extended, when I was stranded in the UK waiting for my Burundi visa to come through, when I lost my uncle in a climbing accident, Laura, Helen Bradford and Marigold from QPSW have been there for me throughout, unendingly encouraging, patient and supportive. I also got the pleasure of hosting Gerald Conyngham of Crediton Local Quaker meeting on his monitoring visit in February and just with Laura, found his guidance and wisdom invaluable, and was very impressed by the reckless bravery he showed swimming in Lake Tanganyika in prime hippo territory!

Cathrin with Jacob Enoh Eben (Burundi Country Representative AFSC) at one of the Rural Integrated Villages in Rutana province undertaking a needs assessment for the purpose of designing a reintegration programme for the inhabitants. The RIV is a permanent settlement for returned refugees, IDPs and ex-combatants who don't have their own land or property to return to, or who can't return to their land for fear of persecution or discrimination.

I don’t know how often Peaceworkers thank you for your support for this programme, but maybe we don’t do it enough, because if it hadn’t have been for your support, I would never have had this inspirational, intense, enriching, challenging, sometimes bizarre and most definitely formative experience in Burundi. As Burundians say, murakose chane. Or as we say in Wales, diolch o galon – thank you from the heart.

Peace,
Cathrin