Our Trip for Peace in Colombia

After more than 60 years of violence, Colombia has reached a crossroads towards peace. The Colombian government and the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) have undertaken “negociaciones de paz” to end the longest civil conflict in the world. These negotiations began in Oslo, Norway, continued in Havana, Cuba, and were voted on by the Colombian people in an international plebiscite on 2 October 2016.

The "No" votes outnumbered the "Yes" votes. This does not mean Colombians do not want peace. This means we have yet to reconcile ourselves with this process...and with ourselves. Now approved by the Colombia Congress, the peace accords are being implemented, with varied results regionally. Certainly, questions remain as to how peace in Colombia will come to be. How will the “posconflicto” – our new Colombia – truly be constructed?

We believe young people – the next generation of advocates – will be the ones to construct our new Colombia. We have never known a Colombia in peace. We have devoted ourselves, individually and collectively, to be the change we wish to see in our world. We call ourselves “ReGeneración Colombia” in the spirit of leading by example for generations that are to follow.

We come from various industries and represent our distinct regions proudly:

Ángela Pérez        || Political Science       || Detroit, Michigan
 
Andry Gonzalez Meza       || Economics       || Cartagena, Bolivar

Brian Lozano Ruiz       || Art       || Dover, New Jersey

Camila Rodriguez Moreno       || Engineering   || Villavicencio, Meta

Camilo Andrés Romero       || Law       || Miami, Florida

Carolina Martinez Londoño       || Urban Planning       || San Diego, California

Carolina Andrea Puerta        || Design        || Medellin, Antioquia

Claudia Lorena Mosquera       || Primary Education       || Pereira, Risaralda

Deiry Salazar Frías       || Agriculture       || Barranquilla, Atlántico

Derick Ocampo        || Political Economy     || Brussels, Belgium

Derlin Magaña      || Languages     || Buchadó, Chocó

Elizabeth Quiñones Dajomes       || Public Policy       || Bogotá D.C.

Emilly Rodriguez         || Latin American Studies      || San Francisco, California

Lalen Arlena Palacios       || Entrepreneurship       || Condoto, Chocó

Lariza Garzon       || Veterinary Science      || Durham, North Carolina

Luis Fernanda Gil       || Accounting       || Valencia, Córdoba

Mario Hurtado Cardozo       || Music       || San Luis Potosí, México

Melissa Martinez Zuleta       || Communications       || Sevilla, Valle del Cauca

Nathalia Arboleda Rivadeneira       || Health       || Cali, Valle del Cauca

Sara Ladino Cano     || History      || Queens, New York

Saray Moreno Prada       || Chemistry       || Ibagué, Tolima

Yolani Cuesta Mena       || Spirituality       || Quibdó, Chocó
 
From July 28 to August 4, 2017, we have the opportunity to travel to meet with the implementing parties and make the promise of peace real. This period will allow us to take stock of the peace process with the FARC as well as assess the progress with the ELN dialogues. We intend on presenting our experiences, interviewing the parties, and documenting our journey. We have developed proposals representative of each of our industries and regions in Colombia so that the seeds of our labor will grow far beyond our reach.

This organizing effort has brought us to unexpected and historic moments. As ReGeneracion Colombia continues to grow, we share this letter to ask for your support in bringing our goals to fruition.

We ask for your financial support. Our goal for all 22 of us is $7,017 USD. This will cover travel to and from Bogotá plus economic accommodations, local transportation, meals, and computing access to document our experience. The extra $17 is supposed to represent the year 2017 and is a marketing ploy that one stubborn member among us still thinks will help.

To facilitate your support, we have established a simple fundraising website: http://www.gofundme.com/colombiapaz

Thank you for your generosity.

“Pa’lante hacia la paz con justicia…”

Yolani, Saray, Sara, Natalia, Melissa, Mario, Luisa, Lariza, Lalen, Emilly, Elizabeth, Derlin, Derick, Deiry, Claudia, Carito, Carola, Camilo, Camila, Brian, Andry, & Angela