Soweto, a predominantly black sector of the City of Johannesburg, is a place embedded in the history of the fight against apartheid. The word Soweto is an English abbreviation of South Western Township, but the people of Soweto speak eleven different African languages. While this might be considered a challenge in terms of the dissemination of Prem Rawat’s message of peace, 19 year-old student Usha Mokwele has the passion to spread the word.

One weekend Usha set up an event in a cinema complex at a mall in Pimville that attracted 22 people, and on the following Monday, she received a call from Lazarus, who wanted to know more. He said, “I would like to find out where I can get more DVDs of Prem Rawat. I’m so intrigued with the message. Do our educators and government know about this? I really want to know more about Prem Rawat.” Even during the phone call, he was making lists of people that he would like to introduce to this message of peace.

This initial response inspired Usha to continue her efforts, and she plans to help get Words of Peace on Soweto TV, so that as many people as possible would be able to attend an introductory event when Prem Rawat visits the area.

Her enthusiasm is tangible: “I really want to help Maharaji fulfill his dream, to help more black people know about Maharaji’s message and spread it. I want to start at the grass roots of all the black townships in South Africa and grow from there, so that many other black people can watch his message—not only in Kaigso, Diepkloof, and Soweto, but all the other locations in Johannesburg that we’ve got there.”

She doesn’t see language as a barrier, “Whether it’s Zulu, Tsutu, whatever, I’ll try by all means to speak their language and let them know what Maharaji is speaking about.” Hearts are open in Soweto, and Usha’s dream is becoming a reality. As one lady put it: “Oh, peace—people in Soweto really do need peace. We need it here. I really want to help you guys get this message out.”

Another guest made the observation that the thirst for peace was not confined to South Africa: “We need peace, we need stability in our country, and I think it should go to everybody in the world, not only in South Africa. Look at what is happening right now, the economy, poverty, you name it—war, crime, and everything—people don’t have peace within themselves.”

Usha’s grandmother, Asena, was 119 years old when she first listened to Prem Rawat on Words of Peace. She said it transformed her life. She began watching the Keys, the series of DVDs for people wanting to learn how to find peace within. Before long she had purchased a portable DVD player and began taking it around to the hotel bars where she used to drink, showing her friends Prem Rawat’s message. As a result, 15 people are now watching the Keys, joining countless others across South Africa.