Paper Bead Making

Women make elaborate paper jewelry at the New Hope for All Ministries Baptist Church in MBale, Uganda. By rolling the colorful paper strips into tiny beads, the women transform them into beautiful necklaces and bracelets that are sold at the local markets. 50% of the proceeds go back to the women and the remaining funds go to help with the Ministries' educational programs for the children, many whom have been left orphaned by the Aids Epidemic. 

I wanted to share this photo from The Peace Caravan Project's documentary KAWOMERA: Plant, Pray, Partner for Peace about a group of Islamic, Jewish and Christian Coffee farmers who came together for Peace.  Pastor Chris contacted me during the production and I was immediately inspired by his passion and dedication to the women and children. And of course seeing the extraordinary beads lured me to the Church to learn more.  Thank You to Pastor Chris and the NEW-HOPE-FOR-ALL-MINISTRIES for your participation in the film and for your tireless efforts helping to feed and educate the children of Mbale. Uganda.

     In the remote town of Mbale, Uganda, situated on the border of Kenya, is a unique, religious, interfaith community of coffee farmers who are Ugandan Jews, Muslims and Christians that have come together to sell and export coffee beans in the name of peace and religious harmony. 

In Buganda, they call themselves Peace Kawomera or Delicious Peace. 

    KAWOMERA: Plant, Pray, Partner for Peace is a documentary Produced and Directed by Photographer and Film Maker, Marla Mossman which tells the story of a community who believes that working together as a collective to express religious unity could set an example for the rest of the world. 

In this documentary, Mossman travels to the local villages that lie amongst the foothills of Mt. Elgon, to meet the Peace Kawomera founders, hear the musicians of the Peace Kawomera Farmer’s Band perform on the coffee plantation, visit with the Rabbis, Priests, and Imams to observe their religious practices.

    Mossman continues her Peace Caravan Project highlighting these people of different faiths coexisting – harmoniously in an area, which has the highest concentration of Jews and Muslims living together in Central Africa. 

The Peace Caravan Project aims, through images, films and stories to act as a cultural ambassador for communities whose voices and accounts remain unheard. 

As an artist and educator, Mossman is interested in connecting with people to communicate cultural acceptance, respect and understanding. To end the fear of those that are different from ourselves, so that a new way to Peace is revealed

View the KAWOMERA trailer

UN Members Regional Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York

The Peace Caravan Project attends the UN Members Regional Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York.  Building Peace in an Age of Upheaval was the topic under discussion. 

Marla Mossman, Director of the Peace Caravan Project chats with Warren Hoge, Senior Advisor for External Relations, International Peace Institute, after his panel presentation. Warren posed the question; "How can the UN Keep the Peace where there is no Peace to Keep?"

What do you think? Comments welcome….

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