Taryn Sebba
Titus and Linda Peachey Peace Fellow, Advocacy Ambassador
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"I am so deeply grateful, honored, and humbled to have had this opportunity and to be affiliated with an organization as compassionate, efficacious, and powerful as Legacies of War. The magnitude of the work that Legacies does, and the incredible feats it has accomplished to advance healing, is difficult to comprehend and similarly wasn’t easily apparent until visiting Laos and meeting with Legacies’ partners.
Throughout our trip, we walked with giants and heroes. It was moving to hear insights from locals, brave deminers, INGOs, government officials from both the Laos Government and the United States, and religious organizations. As part of Legacies’ role, our group became fact-checkers and truth-keepers, accumulating oral histories and facilitating conversations between stakeholders who might otherwise not communicate. This aspect of Legacies’ work is essential for building trust and ensuring all voices are heard in the dialogue about Lao’s future."
My Story
My name is Taryn Sebba, and I am deeply grateful and honored to be a Peachey Peace Fellow. Through my internship with Legacies of War, I had the privilege of meeting Titus and learning about his work with Linda through the Mennonite Central Committee in Laos. The Peachey's lives are a testament to the difference one individual can make when they deeply care about others. Their work in Laos, including removing UXO, uncovering truths about the Secret War (Titus calculated that the U.S. dropped 2.5 million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing sorties, equivalent to a planeload of bombs every eight minutes, 24/7, for nine years), inspiring generations of advocates, and promoting healing through service and love for Lao communities, is nothing short of remarkable. When interviewing for this fellowship, Titus and Linda emphasized that having an open mind and heart is crucial for these experiences. I am deeply grateful to be a Peachey Peace Fellow and hope to have a fraction of the impact the Peacheys have had and a heart as large as theirs. Thank you for this opportunity to learn from, connect with, and serve others.
