L a ke V i c t o r i a Pe a c e &

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y C e n t e r

Dear Inspirational Artists, Performers and Peace-builders,

We are exceedingly grateful to the Harlem Arts Alliance’s leadership for bestowing upon LVP&SC this incredible honor and prestigious opportunity to give this presentation.

We are writing on behalf of communities affected by the wrath of wars and conflicts – starving children, wounded victims of wars, torture, murder, poisonous extremism and millions of forcibly displaced persons – who mourn the losses of innocent lives and properties.

“Africa’s civil wars are not due to its ethnic and religious diversity, but rather high levels of poverty, failed political institutions and economic dependence on natural resources”.

It inspires us to know that the Harlem Community has taken this act of courage and moral imagination to help Africa break out of the conflict trap.

• Lake Victoria Peace & Sustainability Center is a unique opportunity to create a local project with global implications.

• The plan proposes to build a cultural and architectural gem in the heart of Lake Victoria (Rusinga Island), that will serve as a regional community center for Global Education and Peace Studies for the next generations.

• It is a Peace Center, where artists and peace builders will engage people in creative, expressive and often Non-political projects of peace and reconciliation, giving people a chance to make their contributions to the quest for peace.

• Each year, more than 300,000 people around the region and across the globe would come to the center for more than 500 events.

• Shows will include some of the best dance, the world’s finest musicians and funniest comedians, performing arts groups, theatre, youth orchestra, symphony orchestras, international ballet, children’s theater and many other cultural activities.

• The peace center would bring literature, history, science and the arts to life for 50,000 local attendees to the center each year, and create space for cross-cultural learning-to enrich children, teens, youth, students, teachers, parents and others-through courageous acts of artist-peace builders.

• Adding to an extraordinary professional performance space, LVP&SC will also engage people in many creative ways: youth peace volunteers/ambassadors, youth peace radio talk shows, children’s peace garden, students permaculture programs, communication and conflict resolution training, meditation for stress reduction, sustainable relationships, cultural programs, exhibits and youth performances, sustainable families and communities programs and world pen pals.

We highly welcome Harlem's inspirational artists who are or who wish to be involved in peace-building activism, as well as non-artists, including journalists who work with, or are interested in working with, artists in their peace-building efforts, to help Africa break out of the conflict trap by joining hands with us through LVP&SC.

With deepest gratitude,

Peter Otieno-Treasurer Lake Victoria Peace & Sustainability Center

To T h e H a r l e m A r t s A l l i a n c e

Lake V i c to r i a Peace &

Su s t a inab i l i t y Cen te r

1. Need

2. Vision

3. Mission

4. Objectives

5. Programs

6. Members

7. Land

8. Buildings & Grounds

1. Lake Victoria lies in the center of a conflict region.

2. The lake harbors people who have taken refuge in the remote interior and isolated tiny islands, after fleeing the wrath of wars, terrorism threats and tribal conflicts in the region.

3. From war-torn Somalia, to the politically motivated war in South Sudan, to Rwanda’s genocide, to the victims of Kenya’s post elections violence, to the many tribal conflicts in the region – the lake is a refuge for people suffering the pain of war and conflict.

Need 1

4. The minority ethnic groups living in the lake region face profound marginalization, political neglect and geographical isolation. They are impacted by minimal infrastructure development, with no roads, electricity, schools, hospitals and police stations.

5. Lake Victoria Itself has its own conflict, between neighboring countries of Uganda and Kenya over the disputed Migingo Island, with the ever-increasing political tensions and calls for war by politicians.

6. Families and communities living in the Lake region live in fear, uncertainty and anxiety about the surrounding wars, conflicts and terrorism.

Need 2

7. Many young people are recruited into war, terrorism and other criminal gangs to fight other communities.

8. Many victims of war in the region have no place to call home. Many have no education, qualifications or prospects of a job. They experience discrimination, hatred, animosity and mistrust between different communities in the region. They are forced to live in squalor and abject poverty, undergoing great human suffering.

9. Lake Victoria Peace & Sustainability Center will be the only place for hope and inspiration, and for designing and implementing a better future for this region.

Need 3

To create an Center for

Culture, Nature, Education and Peace

where children, teens, adults and elders

learn, grow and develop friendship,

peace and sustainability.

Vi s ion

The mission of the

Lake Victoria Peace & Sustainability Center is to contribute to sustainable peace among

all religions, cultures, regions and races through dialogue for peace-making

and sustainable development.

Mis s ion

1. TO BUILD A COMMUNITY of peace and justice that serves the needs of local organizations, communities, families and individuals.

2. TO INTEGRATE DIALOGUE for peace-making into the lives of congregations, organizations and individuals.

3. TO LINK the sustainable development movement and peace movement locally, regionally and globally.

Object ives

Sponsored by Julie D. Johnston

GreenHeart Education, B.C., Canada

Core Group Meetings

Monthly Management Team Meeting

Quarterly Review Meetings

Annual LVP&SC Festival Week

Core Group Members Leadership Training

Youth Peace Volunteers/Ambassadors

Youth Peace Radio Talk Show

Students Permaculture Program

Communication & Conflict Resolution Training

Meditation for Stress Reduction

Sustainable Relationships

Sustainable Families & Communities

Cultural Programs, Exhibits & Performances

Peace Garden

World Pen Pals

Programs

LAKE VICTORIA PEACE & SUSTAINABILITY CENTER Consortium Mr. Solomon Owiti Osingla

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR/COORDN OF NATIONAL GOV Government Mr. Wilson Odoyo

CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND Government Mr. Harrison Otieno

COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMABAY County Government Mrs. Jane Auma John

SMALL ISLANDS CHILD AID NETWORK Children’s Organization Mr. Peter Odoyo Otieno

KASWANGA LORD OF MERCY DISABLED GROUP Persons w/ Disability Org Mrs. Emilly Nundu

RUSINGA HILLS SELF HELP GROUP Youth Organization Mr. Ezekiel Tito

PANAMA YOUTH-FRIENDLY CENTER Youth Organization Mr. Joshua Ogola

RAGWE YOUTH CONSORTIUM Youth Organization Mr. Nicholas Abich

AGANO YOUTH GROUP Youth Organization Mr. Charles Okech Odera

ELITES YOUTH GROUP Youth Organization Mr. Robert Oyugi

HUMANITARIANS ORGANIZATION Youth Organization Miss Otieno Sheryl Dorkas

RUSINGA ISLAND WOMEN’S GROUP Women’s Organization Mrs. Benta Ooko

PARALEGALS NETWORK Women’s Organization Mrs. Mary Agola

YOUNG WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION Women’s Organization Mrs. Mary Ochieng

OSODO WOMEN’S GROUP Women’s Organization Mrs. Elizabeth Auma Opiyo

2015 Members

TOM MBOYA PEER SUPPORT GROUP Health Assistance Mr. Jared Mboya Okeyo

BADILISHA ECO-VILLAGE FOUNDATION Community Organization Mr. Evans Odula

INTEGRATED COMMUNITY INITIATIVE Community Organization Mr. Maurice Ogolla

KISUMU COUNTY KITCHEN GARDENERS Community Organization Mr. Mark Ragot

KWASEKO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION Community Organization Mr. Boaz Obonyo

ABASUBA COUNCIL OF ELDERS Cultural Organization Mr. Amos Wandago

LUO COUNCIL OF ELDERS Cultural Organization Mr. Ephraim Amimo

BEACH MANAGEMENT UNITS (BMU) Fishing Organization Mr. Abwao Peter Omondi

FISHERMEN COOPERATIVE UNION Fishing Organization Mr. Tom Ouma Okoth

BUSIA COUNTY FISHERS UNION Fishing Organization Mr. Bonface Makokha Osiya

KINDA SMALL TRADERS SACCO Business Organization Mr. Peter Odhiambo Otieno

KENYA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY - MBITA Business Organization Mr. Moses Okombo

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES FELLOWSHIP FOR PEACE- BUILDING Religious Organization Pastor Jaoko Samuel Jaoko

MUSLIMS COMMUNITY-MBITA Religious Organization Ibrahim Ali

RUSINGA ISLAND LODGE AFFILIATE

WAYANDO BEACH CLUB ECO-LODGE AFFILIATE

CHILD FUND INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATE

KENYA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (KBC) AFFILIATE

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI AFFILIATE

EGERTON UNIVERSITY AFFILIATE

2 0 1 5 M e m b e r s ( C o n t i n u e d )

The Land

Bu i ld ing s & Grounds 1

BUILDING 1: GENERAL ASSEMBLY • Seats 600 • Audio capabilities • Video capabilities • Everything should be video recorded

• Administrative rooms • Security Desk and office • Two conference rooms • Small: for 12-24 people • Large: for 24-48 people (could be reconfigured

as a lecture hall) • Waiting room

Bu i ld ing s & Grounds 2

BUILDING 2: FOUR SMALL CLASSROOMS • Each seats 48 people • Audio capabilities • Video capabilities • Everything should be video recorded

BUILDING 3: FOOD SERVICES • General Cafeteria • Banquet Halls • Small: for 200-400 people • Large: for formal dinners from 400-600 people

Bu i ld ing s & Grounds 3

BUILDING 4: PERFORMANCE SPACES • Concert Hall for 250 • Concert Hall for 700 people • Exhibition Hall joining the theaters • Amphitheater for 1000

BUILDING 5: TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS • Several rooms for temporary residential

accommodations for those who come to the Center from far places and may require accommodation services.

Bu i ld ing s & Grounds 4

NATURE AREAS • Walkways with Fruit and Nut Trees • Permaculture Demonstration Garden • Children’s Peace Garden • Green Building Exhibit • Solar Exhibit • Sustainable Fishing Exhibit

Lake Victoria Peace & Sustainability Center 2015

1. Meet with Harlem Arts Alliance.

2. Meet with people and organizations who want to establish a relationship with LVP&SC for programs and internships.

3. Explore the feasibility of partnerships, sponsorships and support.

4. Create a U.S. non-profit for LVP&SC to receive support.

Ca l l - to -Ac t ion 2015 - 16

L a ke V i c t o r i a Pe a c e &

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y C e n t e r

For participation, affiliation

or support contact:

Solomon Owiti

Rusinga Island, Kenya

owitisolomon@yahoo.com

254 728267974

Cedric Rose

New York City, USA

rosecedric2@gmail.com

347- 583-5922

Sanford Hinden

Huntington, NY, USA

sanfordhinden@verizon.net

516-815-4967