Every year on 4th February, the world marks the International Day of Human Fraternity, a day dedicated to promoting peace, mutual respect, and solidarity among people of different backgrounds. In 2026, the global theme “Dialogue Over Division” comes at a critical moment, as communities across the world continue to face growing polarization, mistrust, and conflict.
At Anglican Development Services (ADS) – North Rift, this theme strongly reflects our ongoing peacebuilding work in Western Kenya through the Western Kenya Peace Initiative (WKPI).
Dialogue as a Foundation for Peace
Human fraternity goes beyond coexistence; it is an active commitment to recognize the dignity, rights, and humanity of every person. Dialogue is central to this commitment. It creates space for listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and resolving differences peacefully.
In regions where historical grievances, competition over resources, and social exclusion have fueled tensions, dialogue becomes a powerful tool for transformation. Through structured conversations and community engagement, dialogue helps break cycles of suspicion and builds trust across social, ethnic, and generational divides.
The Western Kenya Peace Initiative in Action
Through the Western Kenya Peace Initiative, ADS–North Rift works with youth, community leaders, faith actors, and grassroots groups to strengthen social cohesion and promote peaceful coexistence. The initiative focuses on creating safe spaces where communities can engage openly, address underlying causes of conflict, and collectively identify peaceful solutions.
Key areas of engagement include:
Youth peace dialogues and forums, empowering young people to become agents of peace rather than participants in conflict
Community mediation and reconciliation sessions, fostering understanding and restoring relationships
Capacity building on conflict prevention and peaceful engagement, equipping communities with practical skills to manage disputes non-violently
These interventions recognize that sustainable peace is built from the ground up, through relationships, trust, and shared responsibility.
From Division to Shared Humanity
The 2026 theme challenges communities to move away from narratives of “us versus them” and instead embrace shared humanity. In Western Kenya, ADS has witnessed how inclusive dialogue helps communities shift from fear and division toward cooperation and mutual respect.
Moments of dialogue, whether between youth groups, elders, or neighboring communities , often reveal common concerns: the desire for safety, dignity, opportunity, and a better future for the next generation. These shared aspirations form the foundation of human fraternity.
A Call to Collective Action
As we commemorate the International Day of Human Fraternity, ADS–North Rift reaffirms its commitment to promoting peace, justice, and wholesome and dignified living for all. Dialogue is not a one-day event; it is an ongoing practice that requires patience, courage, and collective effort.
We call upon community members, partners, faith institutions, and leaders to continue choosing dialogue over division, peace over conflict, and understanding over exclusion.
Together, through dialogue, we can nurture resilient communities and build a future anchored in human dignity, mutual respect, and lasting peace.
