The other face of Colombia

Peace education has a major social urgency

By Jan Durk Tuinier and Geu Visser

Ask people their thoughts about Colombia. Ask yourself. The answers are right in front of you. Extreme violence, kidnappings, guerrilla, the major source of cocaine, oppression of the people. Answers formed by daily news reports of this country. But Colombia being more than just a summery of misery became clear to us during a peace education conference at 5-8 November 2003 in Bogotá. The goal of the assembly was sharing experiences and inspiring each other in peace education. The organizers wanted to hear of experiences both from Colombia as Europe. Being a Dutch organization, Peace Education Projects was asked to give a presentation of their developed interactive methodology. Jan Durk Tuinier and Geu Visser went and came back inspired.

World bank

The conference was organized by the Alliance of Peace Education. A network of institutions and organisations are brought together into this Alliance. Regional and locally authorities from Antioquia, Cundinamarca and Medellin, the ministry of education department of citizens competence program, private foundations and a number of big organisations, one of them being the organisation of development of the united nations (UNDP). The department of education of the World Bank heads the secretariat of the Alliance. According to Martha Laverde, head of the education department, involvement of the World Bank is evident, although opinions within this organisation aren’t all on the same line. Giving out loans to governments is on the whole the major working field of the bank, but when the education structure is absent or threatened, giving out loans has no use in long term vision. Because of this the bank technically supports these initiatives.

Getting to know the country

Although we mainly stayed in the highly secured hotel, we felt acquainted with a big part of the country because of our meetings with several tens of people. Well meant advices from our home front to be extremely careful during our trip in a very dangerous and violent Colombia got a very different impact because of these talks. It is true, the Colombian society struggles with big crises, suffers of the armed conflict. Guerrilla groups and paramilitary groups mainly control big parts of the country. They cause terror and violence, and fight with the government army. And altogether they intimidate and chase away inland inhabitants, even if these citizens have declared their village a peace community without any violence. One day before we arrived at Bogotá the guerrilla had killed a teacher. This sad event brought the number of killed teachers in Colombia in 2003 at 33. President Uribe’s policy consists of “a soft hart and rough hands”. Youngsters who want to leave the guerrilla get amnesty. They then get intensive support, a therapeutic program, professional training and a job. Youngsters who make the choice of staying with the guerrilla can count on the severe repression of the government army. That’s the harsh reality of Colombia.

The desire of peace

The last few years a growing awareness has arisen from the situation of the country. Local, regional groups and institutions everywhere are active in the field of peace. Peace education takes in this a very important role. It’s a social urgency because of the armed conflict but as well because 66% of the Colombian inhabitants are not any older as 19 years of age. The people working in these hundreds of groups have a very strong dedication for working towards peace. Mainly because they long for sustainable peace and want to put decrease the dominant role of violence. They realise peace is unattainable when people don’t act on it. The perspective on peace will only be available if one won’t tolerate violence and suppression. Listening to lots of presentations during the conference was tiring but most of all very inspiring. It was striking to see how free and open people spoke about their sad but also joyful experiences. The involvement was enormous, the atmosphere now and than euphoric, as if peace already was present.

Learning from experience

More than hundred groups and institutions applied for a presentation during the conference. Almost thirty organisations were selected to share their experiences with the two hundred participants. The groups not selected got the opportunity to show their work during radio programs broadcasted on national level. The experiences were widely spread and divers, on base of size, range as well initiating institutions. Some groups just existed out of a few people having an activity in their own district or village. Others would get financial funding of the local government or church and could so produce excellent educational material and equipment. Although there are very big differences, every organisation presented excellent examples of social construction of peace.

Solving conflicts

At certain places in the country, youngsters are playing the main part in solving conflicts. One girl in particular told us with lots of enthusiasm about it. Her message was: it’s peace when children make peace. She and other children were trained in conflict mediation in school and in their neighbourhood. By listening, asking questions, looking for possible solutions, they help both sides to solve the situation. This one example shows the possibility to change the social climate at a school or neighbourhood totally. Children and youngsters solve on a daily base several conflicts non-violently. Even more intense conflicts, involving emotions, as fear and contradictory interests, are solvable by these bright young mediators.

Vision on peace

The presentations of the groups were amazing because they showed a holistic way of looking at peace. Peace isn’t only a situation of absence of violence and war but includes the total of living. In the region of Cundinamarca churches are closely concerned with peace education. They organise therapeutically groups for children and youngster who have been victim of violence. This not only concerns victims but also the perpetrators. There are children in the early age of ten who already have committed a murder. In the South Colombian city of Cauca a few groups created a network. One of their activities makes a big impact on the participants of the conference. Youngsters in the age of 14 visit prisoners. They talk and offer fruit in the hope that these contacts will decrease feelings of revenge and hatred by the prisoners towards the society. Attention is also spending on domestic violence. Facing and breaking the habit of violence plays an important role in this development. Peace education is not privileged for children and youngsters. The social context and society as a whole had a major role.

Circus

Youth welfare activities focused on peace education offers new vitality to a local community. It is binding and offers people on perspectives in their own neighbourhood. Like almost everywhere in the world schools are open 200 days a year. In some local communities in Colombia school are open 365 days a year. They bubble with action and energy and join citizens together and bring peace closer.

During the assembly suddenly beautiful dressed up circus acrobats and artists are jumping and leaping throughout the conference rooms. These boys and girls used to be members of youth gangs. Youngsters who once were part of a harsh and violent life. With lots of acts, dances inspired by old Chinese and Latin American circus traditions, they perform a thrilling story about the good conquering the evil. It’s an old archetypical story, but at the same time these youngster show his or her own life. They feel extremely proud in their profession. And they are even prouder at the youngsters who have successfully ended circus school and started their career as a performer.

More experiences

Examples of peace education pass by in an energising tempo. Sports and games play an important role. Some groups produce a community newspaper in co-operation with the children and youngsters. They write articles, take pictures, take care of the printing, and sell the paper en control the finances. In the city of Manizales a youth welfare group is called Constructors of peace. Elsewhere a similar group is called Sowers of peace. They have the similar objectives but use a different metaphor. Children and youngsters from poor and neglected districts come together in centres and try to achieve peace with instruments as music, drama, dance and arts. They are learning peace together by putting it into practice. They visit also elderly people, doing domestic jobs for them, and take beggars of the street.

The European presentation

During these special presentations, most often beautiful styled in PowerPoint, we thought for a while could we offer these people in Colombia something new or extra ordinary. Fortunately we let go very quickly that thought. First of all there was a large recognising on the vision and methods of Peace Education Projects. This exchange of methodology was even more important for the Colombians are quite isolated because of the armed conflict. Sharing common concerns and ideas were enthralling and interesting for the participants. The experiences of Peace Education Projects during the last ten years with exhibitions in seven different European countries were presented as an interactive methodology. It was for the participants a surprising way to look at things. In an interactive way the ones present were captivated in the contents of the presentation. People can learn to make peace but they have to practise in their own social context. People need tools to make peace. To solve conflicts non-violently, to unmask and expose prejudices, to co-operate, to face the part they play themselves in the scapegoat phenomenon, and to resist injustice. At the end of the conference leading members of the ministry of education and the representatives of the Alliance have been consulting each other about possible future co-operation with Peace Education Project. Exchanging programs, training facilities and the development of interactive educational materials are some ideas for the future exhibition. Together with the colleagues of the French Ecole de la Paix in Grenoble, which are for more than ten years working in Colombia, Peace Education Projects will define a project proposal to for the exchange of experiences and adaptation of educational means.

Peace comes unexpected

One of the speakers during the conference was a scientist working for the World Bank, specialised in reconstruction of countries after an armed conflict or civil war. His speech was overcrowded with figures and only interesting for fellow specialists. At the end of his speech he turned into a completely different tone. He said: “Researchers try to find indicators to be able to make predictions about future peace, but they all fail hopelessly. Countries, living in armed conflict or civil war should hurry to prepare for peace. Because peace always comes unexpected and quickly! Look at Sri Lanka, to Sudan, Guatemala, East and West Germany and lots of other examples in the world. That’s why it is so very important to be ready for peace. Although peace comes unexpectedly, when people prepare themselves for it, it’s within reach”. Colombia is a country of different faces. But peace will come. That is for sure.

More information about the Allianza Educacion para la paz can be find on: http://www.educacionparalapaz.org/

Utrecht, November 2003

Peace Education Projects

Translation: Tineke Mous