Over the past days, she has carried the Cameroon Peace Model across the Italian region of Bergamo—spreading messages of empathy, resilience, and shared humanity in schools, city councils, and community spaces.
Her tour, which took her from Dalmine to Nembro, was not just a series of official visits—it was a living testimony of what she calls “peace in action.” Through dialogue, storytelling, and reflection, Omam Esther inspired hundreds to see peace not as a distant ideal, but as a daily practice that begins within each individual.
Peace in the Classroom: Planting Seeds of Understanding
The journey began at ISIS Einaudi High School in Dalmine, where she engaged with students on the foundations of peacebuilding—empathy, listening, and inner strength. The students, she said, were “brilliant, curious, and open-hearted,” eager to understand how peace can grow from small acts of kindness.
“Peace is a seed,” she told them. “When sown with love and nurtured with care, it grows into a tree that gives shade and fruit to all.”
Her interactive sessions encouraged the youth to become peace gardeners in their communities—challenging intolerance, choosing dialogue over conflict, and believing in the transformative power of compassion.
Conversations for Humanity: At the City and Provincial Councils
Later, at the Bergamo City Council and the Province of Bergamo, Omam Esther met with the President and councillors responsible for Human Rights, Peace, and Development. These exchanges, she explained, went beyond protocol—they were spaces for genuine reflection on how communities across continents can learn from one another’s peace journeys.
“Peace connects hearts beyond borders,” she said. “It’s not about geography or language—it’s about shared humanity.”
At each stop, she presented the Cameroon Peace Model—an approach developed by Reach Out Cameroon that prioritizes grassroots dialogue, women’s leadership, and community resilience in rebuilding fractured societies. Her message resonated strongly in Italy, a country also investing in intercultural education and local peace initiatives.
When Peace Travels Without Luggage
Omam Esther’s visit was not without its challenges. An airline mishap left her luggage stranded miles away, forcing her to face a string of public events without the clothing prepared for each occasion. Yet, as she recounted with her trademark humor and grace, it became a powerful metaphor for the journey itself.
“I remembered when my cars were burned back home and I had to walk miles to keep peace work alive,” she reflected. “So this time I told myself—if my car and luggage can’t travel with me, at least my message of peace can!”
For her, this moment of improvisation reinforced a profound truth: true connection is not about appearance, but about heart. “The Italian people dressed me with kindness and humanity,” she said. “Their warmth reminded me that peace lives in the way we treat one another.”
Shared Commitments in Nembro and Mission Calcutta
In Nembro, she was welcomed by the city’s Mayor, councillors, and local community members for an evening dedicated to solidarity and intercultural dialogue. Together, they celebrated what she described as “the shared hope of a peaceful world.”
She also visited Mission Calcutta, an Italian humanitarian organization whose work in compassion and human dignity mirrors the ethos of Reach Out Cameroon. The collaboration between both organizations highlighted the growing global network of civil society actors committed to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and promoting nonviolent social transformation.
From Cameroon to the World: The Journey Continues
Omam Esther’s Italian tour stands as another chapter in her long-standing global advocacy for peace and justice. Through Reach Out Cameroon, she has empowered women, youth, and communities affected by conflict to rebuild lives and promote reconciliation.
Her message from Bergamo echoed with quiet strength:
“My luggage may have been delayed, my cars may be gone, but my message of peace arrived right on time—and it keeps travelling, from Cameroon to Italy, and beyond.”
A Global Voice of Hope
As an internationally recognized peacebuilder, Omam Esther’s story embodies resilience, faith, and the power of local voices to shape global peace. Her visit to Italy was not only a cultural exchange—it was a reaffirmation that humanity’s greatest strength lies in its capacity for empathy.
Across classrooms, council chambers, and city streets, she reminded the world that peace is not just an aspiration—it is an act of daily courage.
“Peace begins from within,” she said softly. “And when we nurture it together, it lights the world.”
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