What is Freedom?
Reflections of women at Amani Ya Juu*
With the celebration of Independence Day in the United States, we asked some women at Amani, Kenya, to reflect on what freedom means to them. They shared with us from their different backgrounds. Some are Kenyan, and others are refugees working in Kenya.
Freedom as Peace: Freedom is being free from a certain problem. When I think of freedom, I think of being at peace with my inner self. I feel I am the most free when I forgive someone who has done a bad thing to me. I just feel free. Martha Nekesa (Uganda)
Freedom as Independence: To me, freedom is the feeling that I can say or do something. It’s when I am able to do what is in my feeling. I feel the most free when I can do something on my own. Millicent Achieng (Kenya)
Freedom from Sin: Freedom is when you let go of your bad past, when you confess and repent of all your sins. It makes me feel joy and peace, and keeps me going forward and not moving backwards. I feel the most free in those moments when you know Jesus Christ is freeing you. Grace Samwel Sebishahu (Tanzania)
Freedom to Create & Work: For me, freedom is the ability to make a decision and do what I want in peace. When I think of freedom, I think of the feeling of being motivated to create new activities. I felt the most free when I came to Kenya; I discovered many things which gave me the freedom to start working hard as I was feeling safe. Diane Nzitonda (Burundi)
Freedom from Fear: Freedom is when you can talk about your burdens with people listening to and understanding you; it’s walking without fear, and it’s looking at your leaders without experiencing discrimination. The purest form of freedom is truly having peace in my heart. Those moments in which I have felt the most free are those when I am living at peace with my neighbours, and when I don’t have problems in my house or family. Janviere Mukamana (Rwanda)
*Amani ya Juu (meaning “higher peace” in Swahili) or Amahoro ava Hejuru (in Kinyarwanda) is a sewing-marketing-training project for marginalized women in Africa, many of whom have escaped from sectarian war in their native lands. The main center is located in Nairobi, Kenya, with sister centers in Rwanda and Burundi. The women involved in the project are learning to work together through faith in God who provides a higher peace that transcends ethnic differences. Amani itself portrays a unique picture of diversity with women coming from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia as well as other African countries. amaniafrica.org
