By Bruno Essig | Program Coordinator
2018 was the third year of the current phase of our program "Paza La Paz" in Colombia. As you can read in the annual report below, the program achieved its goals and made a positive impact in the lifes of the participating youth. This was possible thanks to the generous support from many donors like you. Therefore, we'd like to express our gratitude to you.
Even two years after the signing of the peace treaty between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, organized crime is still a daily occurrence. The government, army and police are unable to fill the power vacuum created by the demobilisation. Various so-called bacrimes (Colombian slang for bandas criminales or criminal groups) are fighting for dominance in the poor neighborhoods. This has led to an increase in murders and violent expulsions in some regions. In particular, representatives of human rights organisations, who work for the reparation of victims of the conflict, are threatened.
Horyzon's program "Paza La Paz" reached 1'596 young people in 2018 who otherwise run the risk of becoming involved in criminal activities like arms or drug trafficking. 54% of the participating youth were young women. The program with its four areas "Peaceful Coexistence", "Youth Participation", "Income Generation" and "Institutional Strengthening" was again carried out in poor neighbourhoods of seven cities in Colombia.
The young people are attracted to the program because of attractive activities such as hiphop, breakdance, football or dance and get to know the groups. They quickly realize that the program provides them with a safe place where they are treated with respect, non-violently and where all opinions are heard. This awakens their interest in the training program, which includes a total of 80 hours of seminars.
For example, during 30 hours, all 1'596 youth learned how to work for peaceful coexistence, how to recognize and defuse dangerous situations. This enables them to act as mediators in difficult situations. In addition, 223 of them have completed their training as youth leaders. They now pass on what they have learned to their own groups and thus increase the effect of the program. Through their own activities the youth leaders reached 4'310 peers. Kevin, a youth leader from Cali, says: "Through sport I motivate other young people to get to know all the opportunities that I have got myself thanks to YMCA".
Furthermore, the participants attended training courses in income generation and youth participation. There the young people learned on the one hand how to earn money legally or how to go back to school. By the end of the year, 25 small-scale income generating projects had been established. On the other hand, the youth learn how to get politically involved in order to positively shape life in their neighbourhoods and to stand up for their rights. As a result, 131 youth were elected in some sort of citizen representation body.
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