STORIES OF HOPE, NEW STEPS
After many years of recounting the pain of war in their communities, residents of the Veredal Zones and Transitional Normalization Points are beginning to tell a new story: one of hope for peace and for development to come to their regions.
"Tales of Hope, New Steps" gathers the voices of women, youth, men, and leaders who feel this change and dream of peace for new generations.
These are stories told from the areas where Hope is reborn.
Follow our stories:
- The Hope of Llano Grande
- The Dreams of Agua Bonita
- A New Light for Vistahermosa
- In Las Morras, Communities and Nature Also Reconcile
- We Believe in the Need to Live in Peace
- In Gallo, Children Dream of Playing in Peace
- The Best Thing That Could Have Happened to Us Is Peace
- Opening Paths for a Better Future
- At El Cuembí School, There Are No More Empty Desks
- Horacio Experienced Peace at 80
- The Rebirth of Madrigal: Overcoming the Ghost of War
- May the Bullets No Longer Sound Outside or Inside
- Tagachí: opportunity for development
IN VEGAEZ THEY TALK ABOUT RECONCILIATION
“Forgiveness is for humble people, and receiving forgiveness is for intelligent people,” says José Arnulfo Cuesta solemnly. He witnessed the armed conflict between the State and the FARC-EP firsthand from the rural community of Vegaez, Vigía del Fuerte, an Antioquia town located on the banks of the Arquía River in the deep Chocó jungle. José is a farmer and leader in his community, and today, with hope, he recounts what it is like to live in Vegaez after the FARC laid down their weapons to become a political movement.
“Living here was a very desperate life; there was no trust between one another. There wasn't that tranquility, which is the most beautiful thing in life; living in peace,” says José. Approximately 50 families live between the village of Vegaez and the village of Vidrí, Vigía del Fuerte. During the armed conflict, the FARC was present in these territories, and the communities had no choice but to learn to coexist with the combatants and submit to their rules of territorial control.
According to José, agriculture is one of the traditional economic activities of the population, which was affected during the conflict by the reduced movement of products for marketing. “We still practice our agricultural customs… before, there came a time when you couldn't get your products out; you had to be accompanied to get them out and into the markets.”
However, these dynamics changed. After the government and the FARC-EP reached a peace agreement, they established a Temporary Normalization Point in Vigía del Fuerte, now a Territorial Training and Reincorporation Space where approximately 200 former combatants are making their transition to civilian life.
“You live a little more peacefully because you can now sleep well, move around easily, and socialize with your comrades,” says José Arnulfo.
By Jennifer Moreno, Public Information Officer, Chocó Region.
Misión de la ONU en Colombia, Septiembre de 2017.