May 2011. Connections among the growing global network of Leadership Academy Fellows have led to an exciting initiative in Kenya. Three women who attended the CGNK Nonkilling Leadership Academies in 2009 and 2010 are working together to create a prototype “peace village,” imagined during an Academy visioning exercise. This one day visioning workshop, led by CGNK Leadership Team member Chaiwat Satha-Anand, is conducted each year to push participants to envision a future where killing is not taken for granted. It also provides a context for creating action plans that Fellows use to guide nonkilling initiatives in their home countries and communities.

Building on these activities, Academy Fellows Jackie Ogega (2010) and Pamela Kemunto Ogega (2009) have founded MPANZI and invited 2010 Academy Fellow Kerrie Urosevich to be a founding Board member. The term MPANZI, derived from the Kiswahili language meaning “the one who plants and nurtures,” reflects the mission and objectives of the organization. MPANZI is committed to harnessing the power of rural communities to achieve sustainable peace and development through four core programs: Peace-Building, Education, Health, and Livelihood. MPANZI recognizes the role and inherent value of expanding education, empowering people to act, improving health care and reclaiming livelihoods. The “peace village” concept is founded on values of equality, the inherent dignity of women and girls, faith and community.

Currently, MPANZI is in the process of developing needed funding and partnerships, and has developed a draft website to provide additional information: http://www.mpanzi.org/main.html. As an example of one partnership, CGNK will be working with MPANZI in developing nonkilling primary school curriculum and positive parenting community programs.

The launch of MPANZI is an example of how the Leadership Academy provides the foundation for nonkilling leadership, knowledge and practice as well as an effective network of leaders. Academy Fellows are encouraged to connect with each other and creatively develop new approaches to achieving nonkilling societies and communities. MPANZI, as one example, inspires hope and deserves our collective encouragement and support.