Soy Capaz

Last Sunday Curtis and I went out to eat. We were reading our table tent advertisement, it said: Por la PAZ, de que soy, caPAZ? (For peace, what am I able to do?). It struck me as an odd table tent advertisement for a pizza place, but it also reminded me that we are living in a country with a 50 plus year ongoing armed conflict. Promising peace talks have been under way since 2012 between the government of Colombia and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) (they have agreed to 4 of the 6 points). While the peace talks are important for the future of peace here, the signed document is not what will bring peace.

So, back to the table tent. I noticed it, ate my pizza, and left. A few days later I noticed another sign somewhere (remember I am still learning Spanish) that said something about I am able…for my country (I missed the middle part). Then a few days later I noticed a woman carrying a shopping bag that said ‘for my future, for my family, and for my country: I am able’. I figured there must be something going on. Then my suspicions were confirmed in church yesterday. The pastor talked about ‘Soy Capaz’ (I am able). Turns out there was a national campaign launched last week to encourage everyone in Colombia to think about the role we all play in promoting and building peace. 

The five points of the campaign (taken from a local newspaper)

The campaign will last for 30 days and consists of five points: 1) I am able to accept that we can be much better; Colombia can be the country we dream of. 2) I am able to recognize that I am part of the problem and part of the solution. 3) I am able to put myself in the shoes of others, and to accept our differences. 4) I am able to be a better Colombian. 5) I am able to do something for my country, for my family, for my future.

I think this campaign is good for a number of reasons. This campaign acknowledges that this country isn’t at peace right now. People who live in Bogota (myself included) have the luxury of ignoring what’s happening in other places of the country. This campaign also asks every individual to think about what he/she can do to build peace. So it leaves me with these questions: What am I able to do? As a foreigner? As an American? As a Christian? How does this affect my work with youth and women?

Visiting Projects, Witnessing Dignity

The conflict in Colombia has created situations of forced displacement for many rural communities. People’s lives are torn apart as the different actors involved in the country’s conflict struggle for control of territory and resources.  Most of these displaced people (almost 6 million) remain internally displaced (remaining inside Colombia’s borders); the neighboring countries they attempt to flee to do not recognize them as refugees. Ecuador has made some steps towards the recognition of Colombian refugees, however, and currently hosts about 55,000 Colombian refugees.

View of Soacha from Centro de Atencion Integral al Adulto Mayor

At the same time, there are no internal displacement camps within the borders of Colombia. So, where do these people go for support and survival? They must seek shelter on the margins. They often end up in places with little access to housing and other necessities, on the outskirts of cities.

In southern Bogota there are many neighborhoods that have been built at the edge of the valley, often climbing into the mountains. The people who live in these communities are often those displaced from the conflict, those looking for better economic opportunities in the city, and those that can no longer afford living in the more “formal” areas of Bogota.

In this area, just outside of Bogota’s border, lies Soacha, a municipality of the department (equivalent to a state in the USA) of Cundinamarca. Many people (somewhere between 700,000 and 1 million) live in Soacha. A great number of these have been displaced from elsewhere in Colombia. Struggling to rebuild their lives and hold on to their dignity, they have built up some incredible community associations. We had the fortunate opportunity to visit one that IELCO is partnering with in the neighborhood called Buenos Aires, ‘Centro de Atencion Integral al Adulto Mayor’ (Comprehensive Care Centre for the Elderly). It is a place where the elderly, living in difficult conditions, lacking many services and unable to work can come for many things. They receive comprehensive health check-ups and care, are provided therapeutic activities, offered literacy training, and provided meals. Spending just a short day at this center left us intrigued to learn more, especially as some of the elderly members offered to tell us their stories and further our understanding of the context of Colombia, the context we are now working in.

Veronica showing us her 'life box', a therapeutic tool made at the center  

Still in southern Bogota, but in Bogota’s city limits, lies another community working to build itself up out of situations of displacement and poverty. This community, called Caracoli, is in the locality of Bogota called Ciudad Bolivar (one of twenty localities of Bogota). Ciudad Bolivar is made up of 320 neighborhoods, of which 100 are considered illegal. Meaning they do not have title to the land, permission to construct houses or contracts for services to be provided. This means that people living in these “illegal” neighborhoods do not have security of land or housing. They could be forced to leave (again) at any moment.  

A congregation of IELCO, called Luz y Vida (Light and Life) has been in the neighborhood of Caracoli for 15 years. Last week we were able to visit a women’s group that organizes there. This group acts as a solidarity fund, creating voluntary savings plans and providing small loans for the women members. It also creates a safe place for women to come together and discuss community issues and how they affect women specifically, as well as learn skills (sewing classes were underway when we visited), professional psycho-social support and emergency help are offered as well.

Flor using a sewing machine for the first time (practicing on paper), lots of laughs! 

These snapshots we were able to witness last week, gave us a glimpse into the types of projects we may have the opportunity to accompany.  Offering our companionship and support to the people we have met so far, people involved in beautiful struggles for dignity, community, and reconciliation, is more a privilege than a service.