Grateful for our first Peace Circle in Northern Ireland in the 34 yr history of Creators of Peace
Picture: Women who attended the Peace Circle Nov 2025
Creators of Peace was founded in 1991 when a challenge to action was first shared. Our culture has been to respond to a call of need. During Covid 19 we had pivoted our Peace Circles online (which we never thought was possible before!). Two women from Northern Ireland attended and through them the first Creators of Peace Circle in Northern Ireland was held in November 2025 in partnership with the Building Communities Resource Centre (BCRC).
Facilitated by Elizabeth Laskar and Miranda Shaw, twenty one women, many of them strangers to each other, came together from around the country for a weekend. The event was conceived by members of BCRC who attended an IofC forum at Caux, Switzerland last year.
Picture: Women engaging in discussion
A core element of peace circles is story sharing in a confidential space, and participants were invited to share part of their life journey. All left with new-found friendships. When asked what they might do differently, one participant said, ‘I have learnt to be more open.’ Another said, ‘I am not just being at peace myself. I am going to take action around spreading peace.’ A third said, ‘I will grow in courage to speak out and challenge where possible.’
Others shared….
”I will listen reflectively and not with a fixed mind set”
”I will think more about forgiveness and bring peace for community”
”I will be more calm and listen to my inner self”
”I was reminded to take things in steps and to have self-care”
”Peace is possible!”
Picture: The circle centre piece and images chosen by participants from our first gathering point “What is peace anyway?”
Picture: Using a ball of string we end the circle with gratitude and reminding each other that we are connected
