Healing trauma through attention, forgiveness and reconciliation

What is it?
An alliance between the Fundación para la Reconciliación, the private company Palmas de Tumaco, and international cooperation (USAID), which—through intercultural and multi-stakeholder dialogue processes—strengthened the capacities of men and women in the municipality of Tumaco to reach agreements that promote reconciliation and the non-repetition of acts of violence in the region.

We formed a core group that participated in and led intercultural and multi-stakeholder dialogue processes on reconciliation and non-repetition; designed and implemented, through those same dialogues, solutions, educational initiatives, and territorial agreements focused on reconciliation and non-repetition; and consolidated a sustainability strategy for the process by strengthening the core group and establishing an advocacy agenda.

Who was it for?
Leaders—both women and men—in Tumaco who choose the path of reconciliation and peace, promoting the transformation of pain and silence into life-affirming action.

An initiative by @f_reconcilia, with support from the Responsible Governance Program of @USAID_Colombia.

More than 1,250 people took part in the different peace and reconciliation initiatives led by the core group. Most participants were young and adult Afro-Colombian women, as well as members of local Indigenous councils. In addition, 10 organizations joined the local advocacy plan, which was co-developed with the group of grassroots leaders.

This educational process helped the leaders in the core group strengthen their leadership skills, as well as their capacity for empathy and their sense of community integration.