August/September/October update

I: What´s new?

August:
- We led two workshops with the teachers in Americas Unidas School, one with the theme of the implications of being a “Sanctuary of peace” and the other on Restorative Justice versus Punitive Justice.

- At the beginning of the month we received 4 representatives from Mennonite Central Committee that interviewed us about the impact that MCC has had during the 5 years that they have been working in Colombia.

- Two weeks later Jorge and Erin went to Bogotá to hear the conclusions of the MCC evaluation and were able to meet with Justapaz, Mencoldes, and CLARA to become more familiar with the type of work that they are doing. In addition they participated in a workshop on sustainable development with Terry Jantzi and they also visited the other Mennonite School in la Mesa Cuidinamarca, el Colegio Americano Menno to learn more about their peer mediators program.




- Erin did a devotional with the teachers at Americas Unidas School based on 1 Corinthians 12 talking about the importance of working together as the body of Christ.

- Jorge and Nestor finished their meetings with the round table on public policies with an emphasis on human rights.

- Erin continued with the followup of the Americas Unidas Students that were starting the second phase of the 80 community service hours. In August visited Las Minas and los Polvorines.

- As a team we have begun the process of redefining our strategic plan now that we have gone through several transitions in the office.

- We continued in the process of organizing the teams that dedicate themselves to two of our most popular workshops “Familias de Shalom” ( that touches upon the topic of coexistance in the home and constructive ways of disciplining your children) and Trauma and Stress.

- Jorge and Erin visited two local universities La Javeriana


and Univalle


to check out about possibilities for courses on conflict resolution.


September
- 3rd Erin and Pilar began a discussion group on the Colombian context with north americans that teach at an upper class bilingual school.

- 6,7 Jorge, Mery, Erin and Néstor participated in an International Forum on Restorative Justice at the Javeriana University.

- Néstor, Francisco, Pilar and Jorge successfully met four times with the group that is working on forming a Mediation and restoration program in the office.

- Jorge and Erin met several times with directors at the ACJ/YMCA to talk about possible alliances and also to receive advice during our time of transition.



- 15-23 We celebrated Pan y Paz (Bread and Peace) with activities with children, Americas Unidas School and with adults in 6 local churches and a forum in the Baptist Seminary of Cali in honor of the International Day of Peace (September 21)

- 20-22 Erin visited the Mennonite school (Colegio Americano Menno) in la Mesa Cuidinamarca to confirm the plans for an exchange with Americas Unidas school for the 1-3 of November.

- 24 Erin returned to Bogotá to renew her Colombian Visa and they gave it to her for two years!!



- 27-30 Jorge, Mery and Erin attended the National Counsel of the Colombian Mennonite Brethren focusing on the topics of Divorce and remarriage, women in ministry, politcal awareness and the holy spirit. In addition there were presentations from several Anabaptist institutions. ( Mencoldes, CLARA, Mijuco, Edupaz, CCAU, CDM, MCC, CMM (Mennonite World Conference), Heme aquí, Consorcio Trauma)

October:

- 5- Training of the elementary school peer mediators from Americas Unidas School


- Working on the report and poster for pan y paz

- Meetings with the Directors at Americas Unidas to schedule more activities with the peer mediators for the rest of the year



- With 6th and 7th grade we initiated a change in the way of selecting the peer mediators through interactive games where we can observe some of their natural leadership skills. With this we are hoping to form a group of 20-30 conciliators out of a group of 60-70 students.




- 13, 20 in partnership with the ACJ/ YMCA we had a workshop about planning and presentation of workshops hoping to improve our skills not only in the office but offering tools to the community and local churches as well.




- In this month the discussion group of foreigners from a upper class bilingual school has focused on Plan Colombia and its affects.

- 23, the students that did their 80 community service hours with the ACJ/YMCA are going to turn in their reports of their work and receive their certificates.

- 30- November 1 Jorge and Mery are going to participate in a workshop on advocacy in Bogotá organized by Mennonite Central Committee.




II: News:

For those of you who heard about the Justapaz theft in June, here is a very delayed update in regards to the fact that your letters to congress in fact made a difference. It´s a step, a small one, but worth recognizing.


Justapaz-
From an article in the National Newspaper EL TIEMPO from July 18 2007

In the USA ask for results for the computer theft from an NGO

35 congresspeople sent a letter to Uribe in response to 4 assaults, the investigations of which have not been started started . People affected by the situation solicited that Human Rights Unit of the fiscalia (govt investigations) take responsibility for the cases. It appears that the roberies were politcally motivated. The letter recounts the robberies that occurred this year in the offices of 4 NGO´s: La Asamblea de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz ( The Civil Society Assembly for peace), el movimiento por la Reconciliación ( Reconciliation Movement) a north american entity that accompanies the Community for Peace from San José de Apartadó, Justapaz and the Yira Castro Corporation. In all of the cases, stated the congresspeople, the thieves stole computers that contained “sensitive” information that could put the lives of the activist in danger. They expressed concern because “the investigators failed in collecting physical tests that could have been key information.”

III: Testimonies:

The Teachers from Americas Unidas Schools expressed their opinion about the workshop on “Sanctuaries of Peace” and the implications of being a teacher in a “Sanctuary of peace” in a school like Americas Unidas.

- The teacher Rigoberto Caicedo shared with us “The most important aspect of the workshop was to realize the responsibility that I assume as a peacebuilder in the school, home and in society”

- The teacher Sigifredo Chaguendo shared with us “ I acquired clarity about what is a Sanctuary of peace, what it implies for the school and for me as a teacher at this institution.”

Pan y Paz (Bread and Peace)- Every Wednesday at our church during the month of September we talked about the meaning of shalom, the meaning of companionship and focused on the theme “Why are we anabaptists?” I am a member of the Filadelfia church of the Mennonite Brethren. They gave us the examples of Isaiah 58: 1-12 and John 6: 1-12 and suggested that on September 21 we do an act of active nonviolence with one of our neighbors, “ I have a spot where I sell fruit in the door of my house, it is my way of sustaining myself financially and there is a group of boy from a local gang that always like to bother me and sometimes they stop and smoke marijuana or try to steal my fruit. On Friday September 21st I bought some bread to share with them and waited for them all day and they hadn´t arrived; later on in the afternoon I saw them pass by and I called them, at first they didn´t want to come, they thought I was going to insult them or something, but at the end I got them to come and told them what I was was being celebrated that day and what our pastor had shared with us on Sunday during the service, at first it seemed like they didn´t understand me but when I told them that I wanted to share my bread with them they looked at me strangely but received it and ate it, gave me thanks and went on their way. ”

IV: Prayer Requests:

- For the Millers and their church planting project in Dover, Ohio

- For the Edupaz team during our time of transition and for the strenghthening of our strategic plan.

- For the office so that we may become self- sustainable in the coming months and find other ways of finanancially supporting the work we do.

- For financial resources so that we can continue to train ourselves in the areas of conflict transformation and other areas of peace.

- Pray for the exchange with Colegio Americano Menno with Americas Unidas School at the end of this month.

- For Mery and Jorge´s trip to Bogotá and that it may be a time not only of learning but also a time to make contacts and form relationships

- That God may send new volunteers to the office

- That we may continue with the part of followup to the projects that we have already started.