Voices of Hope for Peace in Ethiopia
In Dawachefa District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, where conflict once divided neighbors, a quiet effort is underway to mend broken trust and restore peace. Merema Seid, a mother, shopkeeper, and peace committee member, lives in Dawachefa in the Oromia Special Zone of the Amhara Region. She runs a modest business from a container shop and works with others to strengthen peace in her community.
Merema describes Dawachefa, a district with a flat landscape, as a place where people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, once live together in love and harmony. However, she explains that after the war in north Ethiopia, ethnic divisions grew, unity weakened, and fear and suspicion spread within the community.
“During the conflict, we are forbidden from collecting water in the very area where we are born and raised. Certain groups are allowed to use the mill, while others are not. Our children’s education is disrupted, and our properties and livelihoods are destroyed,” Merema says. “But it isn’t just property we lose. We lose our brothers. Roads are closed, and some mothers die in labor before they can reach a doctor," she says tearfully. “Because of these experiences, many people suffer lasting psychological trauma.”
“OUR DREAM IS TO SEE PEACE THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY FROM END TO END.”
In 2023, NCA’s Abronet project brings together women, youth, people with disabilities, elders, and religious leaders to provide peacebuilding training. Merema explains that NCA and its implementing partner, the Ethiopia Muslim Relief and Development Association (EMERDA), start working to restore social cohesion by selecting seven individuals from each locality who complete the training to form local peace committees. These members then receive two additional training sessions.
Through the training, Merema and others learn how to prevent and resolve conflicts, use social media to promote peace, and address problems within the community independently. They also gain an understanding that mental illness is treatable and begin raising awareness—especially among youth and health workers—about how to support those experiencing psychological distress caused by the war.
“After the training, we are eager to begin peacebuilding work and to rebuild our broken social fabric,” she says. “We realize the value of peace only when we lose it. Peace is like the air we breathe. Without it, just like a person without air, we cannot survive.”
“WE REALIZE THE VALUE OF
PEACE ONLY WHEN WE LOSE IT.”
Merema notes that although peace committees do not have a fixed meeting schedule or location, they often gather during social events and later meet separately to discuss important issues. “If something suspicious happens in our area, we call each other and meet to talk about it,” she says. She adds that while the project cannot reach every kebele, trained peace committee members travel to other areas, resolving conflicts ranging from marital disputes to broader issues between zones and districts. As a result, relative peace returns and positive changes are visible.
“When our children hear loud noises, they still think it’s the sound of weapons and cover their ears,” she says. “We lost our livelihoods, but thanks to this project, we now have a chance to rebuild in a peaceful environment. There is nothing more important than peace.”
“To live and work freely, to move without fear, peace is essential. It’s everyone’s responsibility to promote and teach peace,” Merema says. “Only through peace can we raise healthy, productive citizens with strong minds.”
Merema now lives and trades peacefully with neighboring districts. “We hope these peacebuilding projects continue and expand to areas that haven’t yet been reached. We want to see local peace committees come together to form a national one and help restore unity across Ethiopia. Our dream is to see peace throughout the country from end to end.”
The Abronet Project
The Abronet Project, led by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, ACT Church of Sweden, and Christian Aid, focuses on restoring social cohesion in conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia, including Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, and Gambella. It combines peacebuilding efforts with mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to address the deep social fractures caused by violence and displacement. The project emphasizes community-led, inclusive approaches, prioritizing the participation of marginalized groups to ensure lasting reconciliation, healing, and resilience.
