Inspiring Change through Community-Led Peacebuilding
Informed and inspired by his own lived experiences through Kenya’s post-general election crisis in 2007-2008, Sahlim Charles is a steadfast and passionate peacebuilder. In 2024, nearly half the global population lived in countries holding elections. With many experiencing great political violence and upheaval as a result, Sahlim’s story is a timely testament to the power of everyday peacebuilders taking direct action to counter violence, to contribute to community healing, and to break cycles of violence to actualize peace and justice.
Sahlim shares, “To me, peacebuilding is about fostering understanding and empowering individuals and communities to live harmoniously. Whether it’s through organizing community dialogues, training or advocacy, I consistently strive to help build environments where peace can thrive. I firmly believe in the transformative power of peacebuilding, which is why I have dedicated my efforts to creating spaces where individuals, especially children, can learn to understand each other’s differences and work together towards mutual growth.” Sahlim believes peace is “the active cultivation of an environment where everyone feels valued and heard,” an ongoing practice and effort he works towards each day. We interviewed Sahlim in February 2025 on his peacebuilding experience and practice, and we invite you to be informed, inspired, and sparked into your own daily action by his powerful story.
PART 1: ORIGINS
How did you find yourself involved in your current peacebuilding work? Who or what inspired you?
My journey into peacebuilding began with a deep desire and recognition to create inclusive, community-driven approaches to peacebuilding, where children, youth, and faith communities are at the center. I saw that many traditional peacebuilding models were top-down and did not meaningfully engage the communities most affected by conflict. There was also a gap in integrating real life experiences and using participatory approaches to peace efforts.
Growing up, I witnessed and experienced chronic political violence especially during election periods. My upbringing was shaped by witnessing both the beauty of our collective identity and the fractures that divisions and misunderstandings could cause in communities. I got exposed to the reality of such conflicts. I witnessed all forms of tensions and how young people faced systemic exclusion, despite being the ones most affected by conflict. Many of my peers were either disengaged from the public participation process or manipulated into cycles of violence due to systemic injustices, lack of opportunities, or political exploitation. These experiences fueled my passion for creating spaces where young people, children, and faith communities could be active participants in designing and leading community led interventions. I realized that true transformation comes when those most affected by conflict are empowered to be part of the solution. This understanding laid the foundation for my journey as a peacebuilder.
Do you have an origin story or a moment when you saw your path in peace?
Yes, Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-2008. Like many other Kenyans, I was deeply affected by the violent aftermath of the 2007-2008 post-election crisis. The instability and violence were not just occasional—they were a daily, relentless presence. There was no real distinction between day and night during that time, as the sounds of violence echoed through every corner of our community. It was a brutal reminder of how deeply entrenched political divisions could tear apart the fabric of everyday life.
I saw firsthand the devastating consequences of that period. I watched as young people, including my peers, were mercilessly killed simply because they didn’t belong to the “right” political side. These weren’t just abstract figures—these were friends, family members and neighbors. Violence became the backdrop of our lives, and survival often meant aligning with the wrong forces for the wrong reasons.
In that environment, I came to believe that unless children in such communities were equipped with the tools for peace, their future would be a cycle of violence and tension. I was raised in a place where gang violence was often seen as fashionable, a product of necessity in a world where it seemed like the only way to navigate the chaos. Many of the friends I grew up with ended up either killed or imprisoned for life, victims of the very violence that had shaped their world.
That was a wake-up call—a realization that something needed to change. Not just for me, but for the countless others who grew up in similar circumstances. It became clear to me that without proactive, creative, and diversified peacebuilding efforts, the cycle of violence would perpetuate, trapping another generation in the same struggle. I knew that for lasting change to happen, children needed more than survival skills—they needed to be mentored, trained, and guided into understanding that peace could be a reality, not just a distant dream.
As you faced challenges, what helped you move forward in your path? Do you have any experiences that affirmed your desire to keep going?
As I navigated the challenges along my peacebuilding path, the most important thing that kept me going is the affirmation I received from both personal experiences and the positive impact of the work itself.
One key experience that affirmed my desire to keep moving forward happened during my early days of training and mentoring high school students. I was working with a group of students who, like me, had grown up surrounded by violence. These teens, initially skeptical and hardened by their experiences, had been exposed to the idea that peace was possible, but they struggled to believe it could be real for them. Yet, over time, as we engaged in discussions, creative activities and shared stories, I began to see their transformation.
Through all the setbacks or the personal doubts I sometimes faced, the experiences and stories from my childhood makes my work worth it.
PART 2: CURRENT WORK
What does your work as a peace leader look like in your current context and daily life? Can you please share examples of workshops, events, initiatives, or daily work?
Through my work at Re-Imagining New Communities we focus on children, peace education, environmental peacebuilding and engagement with faith communities. We foster sustainable peace through direct interventions, capacity-building, and collaboration with key stakeholders. It involves a combination of engaging communities in dialogue, equipping individuals with conflict resolution skills, and creating safe spaces for meaningful conversations. We address these issues through our flagship projects and interventions: Children-Led Community Peace Labs, Faith for Peace, and Community Dialogue. Here are some specific examples of my work:
Children-Led Community Peace Labs
One of the flagship programs that I oversee is the Children-Led Community Peace Labs. This program equips teachers and children with the tools to transform conflict and build peace in their communities. We hold learning workshops during school holidays. By supporting educators, we aim to create a ripple effect where children, through their teachers, learn to address conflicts peacefully. We recognize that sustainable peace starts when children are actively involved in the process; therefore, we empower children with skills in conflict resolution, peer mediation and peace education.
Faith4Peace Program
We believe that churches and church leaders hold significant influence in shaping values, social cohesion, and public opinion and behavior. Through this intervention, we work with churches, religious leaders, and interfaith networks, encouraging them to become advocates for peace in their communities, and to promote peaceful coexistence and equip pastors and church leaders with the skills needed for conflict transformation, leadership and social justice.
I recently supported one of our partner churches in developing leadership manuals and training its leaders. The training was designed to show how the church can be a place of healing. Those trained and supported responded positively, and since then, there have been noticeable improvements in how they manage relationships.
Community Dialogues
A significant part of my daily work involves organizing and facilitating Community Dialogues. These dialogues are structured to bring together community members from diverse backgrounds—youth, religious leaders, elders and local authorities to discuss issues impacting their communities. The goal is to foster understanding, trust, and collaboration among groups that might otherwise be in conflict.
On a daily basis, I work closely with community leaders, youth, and teachers to ensure that peacebuilding efforts are continuously integrated into their lives. I meet with local groups, participate in ongoing community meetings, and provide individual mentorship to young peacebuilders. A large part of my role involves listening, whether in formal settings or informal conversations, and understanding the unique challenges communities and those that we support face.
My biggest challenge is to ensure that I continuously mentor new and emerging peacebuilders. I spend a lot of time training and building the capacity of my team members, especially volunteers who come to our programs.
What are you most proud of in terms of your peacebuilding work so far?
I am so proud of the work that we are doing at Re-Imagining New Communities. We started as a project called Children-Led Community Peace Labs with only 16 children from 6 schools. Today we have impacted over 55 primary schools, 2000 children, 25 churches and collaborated with numerous community based organizations (CBOs). The children we have worked with have gone from being passive observers of conflict to active peacebuilders in their schools and communities. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see these young people using the conflict resolution skills they have learned to mediate disputes and prevent violence.
Another key point of pride is watching my staff grow into effective peacebuilders themselves, taking leadership roles in our programs and making a tangible impact across our work. Their growth is a testament to the power of capacity-building and mentorship in peacebuilding work.
PART 3: PEACE PRACTICE
How would you define peace?
To me, peace is a river that is constantly flowing, transforming conflicts into opportunities for growth, connecting people and nurturing new relationships.
What, if any, regular practices do you have to foster peace in yourself?
I regularly engage in meditation, reflective exercises, silence and deep breathing, allowing me to center my thoughts, calm my mind and maintain a sense of inner tranquility.
What keeps you in this work and motivates you to continue?
A deep desire to see a world where people can live, cooperate, and connect across their differences.
PART 4: CALL TO ACTION
What vision do you hold for yourself, your community, your organization, and beyond?
My vision is for a world where communities are united in their diversity, where individuals embrace their differences and collaborate toward common goals of peace and mutual respect.
How can we best support your work? Are there any resources or organizations that you support or you have been supported by that you’d like to share with our community?
I believe in the power of collaboration and continued learning. This is one way that anyone can support our work at Re-Imagining New Communities, opening up opportunities for peer learning, networking and resource sharing.
We have been supported by several organizations including United States Institute of Peace, Peace Direct, Euphrates Institute, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, Empyrean Research, Ubuntu Development Solution, among others. We have developed several guides to support teachers to create creative inclusive and safe classroom environments.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in becoming a peace leader?
My advice to someone interested in becoming a peace leader would be to start by truly listening to themselves in terms of the change that they would like to see and thereafter spend some time listening to the communities they aim to serve. Having a deeper understanding of their community helps them build strong connections, trust, and meaningful solutions. The other thing would also be to get a mentor and a peace program like PPA to build their capacity and experience.
And one key thing is to always remember that true peace starts from within. It is important to nurture your own sense of inner peace so that you can radiate it outward to those around you.
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To learn even more about Sahlim’s work, we are including links to the Re-Imaging New Communities website and YouTube videos showcasing their work:
https://www.rncommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RNC-2024-Annual-Report.pdf
https://youtu.be/tjZEMJcWOPk?si=8-x78N4QZjgmvTN5
https://youtu.be/35FH6avpJAo?si=xltt2D3RV3XBnaJK
https://youtu.be/THnWxV6cA9M?si=g9bnh3vWPO3bmSjL