Today is my birthday. I reflect. I recommit to the creating of, the laboring towards, peace. This moment was from my birthday last year, July 19, 2009, in Kiwanja, DR Congo. A small community ravaged by violence and massacre in the previous months. This group of children are child soldiers. Some have not yet chosen peace. We spent the day with them and Francois explained the myths that flourish, the lie that violence could lead to peace. He asked the children to imagine another way to be, a new way to live. “Qui veux la mort prepare la guerre, mais qui veux la paix offre le pardom.” (Who wants death prepares for war, but who wants peace offers forgiveness.”
Ndyio.
Ninataka amani (I want peace).
I commit this year to wanting becoming realized.
// Photograph taken in Kiwanja, DR Congo, during the filming of DTJ’s upcoming documentary about Heritier and Mwisha, two child soldiers and their journeys towards peace. Release date: Fall, 2010.
Artisan de la Paix means peacemaker. The author, Lindsay Branham, is a photographer and writer, attempting to use story and image to awaken and create peace through relationship.
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