Youths Working for Peace in Colombia

Ivon Cuervo - Posted on December 4, 2009

“For a different present and future” was the catchphrase of the ‘Days for Peace’ organized by the Peace Builder youth with the support of World Vision.

There were about 1,500 people, most of them adolescents and youths, who gathered on an avenue close to Nueva Esperanza to commemorate the International Day for Peace, celebrated on September 21.

This event was organized by the Movement of Peace Builders participants and sponsored by World Vision and was the closing activity of a series of “Peace Moments” that took place in different communities of the city, among them Nueva Esperanza. About 600 Peace Builders attended this event.

The Peace Builders took advantage of these spaces and organized social and cultural activities, such as drama presentations, folk dances, walks for peace, the community elaboration of the “Wall of Wishes for Peace” and the setting fire to the anti-values, attitudes that do not contribute to the construction of peace.

As the day was moving forward and the humid heat, characteristic of the Caribbean regions, surpassed the 30 Celsius degrees (85 Fahrenheit), the environment got hotter with the rhythm of the tropical music.

This was the opportunity for various musical groups to show their skills and for the audience to enjoy different types of musical presentations, such as vallenato, reggaeton and rock.

Many attended the event thanks to the convoking through different local media outlets. Likewise, the community police supported the logistics of the event.

“Today is a remarkable day for the life of this city, because we can say that it is possible to have a culture of peace!” says Martha Chavez, Principal of one schools sponsored by World Vision.

The results of this massive event showed the uniting capacity and the ability for the movement of Peace Builders to establish alliances and organize itself and the community around an objective.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God,” concludes Mariela recalling a passage from the Bible. Mariela is one of the youth representing the Movement of Peace Builders in the country

The Peace Builders movement joins approximately 14,000 Colombian children, adolescents and youths who live in marginalized areas of the ten cities where World Vision develops the sponsorship program.

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