Update May 2008

What´s New?!

After months of hard work and planning, Edupaz is very excited to share that the Year long Nonviolence Training Course Offered through a partnership with the Baptist Seminary of Cali, "Culture of Peace with an Emphasis in Conflict Transformation" will be starting on July 18, 2008.

The course will be covering topics such as Human Diginity/Rights, Active Nonviolence, Interpersonal Communication, Healing of Trauma and Stress, Restorative Justice, Conflict Transformation, Mediation, Conscientious Objection and Political advocacy.

Facilitators will include a range of professionals from various parts of Colombia and the world (US, Canada and Chile) who have Masters work in Theology, Psychology, Political Science, Conflict Transformation, History and Mediation. The course is directed towards community and church leaders working in social areas that are interested in deepening their knowledge in the area of active nonviolence with the goal of bringing the acquired knowledge back to their communities upon completion. Inscriptions will be open until July 1, 2008.

Arrival of New MCCers to Edupaz! Barbara and Steven Derthick along with their children Ian, Anna and Joel will be joining the team of Edupaz at the end of July. Steven was Director of a Mediation Center at one of their churches for several years and both Barbara and Steven have extensive experience working with hispanic communities both in the US as translators and also during their term with Peace Corps in Guatemala in the nineties working in public health. We look forward to welcoming to the team!

Testimonies of the Month

Alejandra Arboleda
Current Edupaz Volunteer, Social Work Student and Former peer Mediator at America´s Unidas School

"While being part of the Peer Mediation program during my high school years at America´s Unidas School, I was able to become more familiar with the political, economic and social reality of my country.

I remember when I was in 11th grade, thanks to being part of the team of peer mediators, I had the opportunity to visit a farm located in Yocoto called “Japón” with teachers Girlesa Ospina and Jackeline Acebedo and Pastor Milton Zuluaga, who gave a talk about peaceful coexistence to families of that had been displaced and were living at the farm, although my participation was minimal and helped out by leading a trust game, I was able to hear the testimony of several people, who were forced to leave their land and how their lives had changed since being displaced.

This visit was crucial for me, being it was during a stage in my life when I was deciding what to major in in college, at that point I had thought of majors such as chemical engineering, but that day I decided to study Social Work. I had seen a reality that for me had been unknown.

I recognized the need to support construction of peace in Colombia. Peace education and peer mediators also influenced this decision. Today I am finishing my degree in Social Work and I recognize how important it was so that today my heart aches to work toward peace, having been a part of programs like those during my adolescence."



Juan David Mafla Olaya
Current Peer Mediator at 6th Grade Americas Unidas School

"What I´ve liked most about being a peer mediator is that I can intervene in fights and teach them that in order to resolve conflicts the best way to do so it through dialogue, because violence and aggresiveness do not solve problems.

I have enjoyed it a lot because I can teach them and share peace.I say that if we all were mediators, there would be peace in the world.So I invite all children to become peer mediators and that adults may share peace so that the world may be a better place.This is the message that I want to give to those who read this note about my experience as a peer mediator. Have a great day!"

What are Peer Mediators?

It is a program that started in America´s Unidas School (Mennonite Brethren) in 1999 in which student leaders from different grades, teachers and administrators are trained in Conflict Transformation. They facilitate the process of transforming conflicts into opportunities to improve interpersonal relationships and peaceful coexistence in their schools.

Pictures from Various Workshops over the past several months including "Churches Sanctuaries of Peace and Peer Mediators"

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.


Prayer Requests

- Safe travels for Erin during her trip to the US
June 6th- July 8th

- The arrival of the Derthicks to Colombia in mid July

- The first meeting of the Year-long Nonviolence Training July 18th.

- Mery Villamil´s (our office administrator) Health

Blessings,

The Team at Edupaz

November/December/January

What´s New?

Peer Mediators is a program that we have been applying in Americas Unidas School that has a student body of about 680 in two schedules (morning and afternoon classes). Over the past 3 months, a group of fifty students have been trained in topics such as self-esteem, Human Rights, Active non-violence, economic justice (pan y paz/ bread and peace), mediation and conflict resolution; with these students we have been carrying out a monthly process of follow-up and evaluation .

Sanctuaries of Peace returns to the churches of Cali. In December Hernando Padilla of Justapaz led indroductory workshops with members of local churches on sanctuaries of peace as a proposal for God´s people. The next dates are March 28 and 29 , July 25 and 26 and October 24 and 25.

Colombia is chosen to host the pilot program of the MCC Young Adult Initiative, which will have a duration of 2 years and will be made up of Foreigners and Nationals who will be placed in projects that will have a focus on social service in local churches that are located in lower economic sectors.


Political Advocacy
"We, the Mennonite Brethren, based on the teachings of Jesus, dedicate ourselves to disciple each person in our community to live in a way that reflects the character of Jesus Christ. A fundamental part of this discipleship is the formation in justice, active non-violence, education for peace and conflict resolution, conscientious objection, absolute rejection of war and separation of the church and state as biblical and anabaptist values. In addition, we work in the holistic stregthening of the family as a fundamental organ of society, out of the principles of love, honesty, discipline and mutual submission. In that way we are fundamentally advocating for policies that would bring about the development of a nation where justice, active non-violence and peace may reign."

Taken from the Confession of Faith from the Mennonite Brethren of Colombia

Testimony of the Month:
Christine Dussault, North American teacher living in Cali

"The discussion group that was formed in September of this year at Edupaz has been exceptionally valuable for me. I have been living in Colombia for a year and a half, as an American teacher at an upper strata bilingual school.

Previous to joining the group, I had a very incomplete understanding of the conflicts of this nation. It was difficult for me to recognize the complete culture of Colombia, and the challenges Colombians face day to day.

However, with the leadership and bi-cultural awareness of Erin Sigler, several of my colleagues and I have been able to learn and discuss many important issues. We often have personal testimonies from guest speakers with different backgrounds. We can ask questions, and learn in a non-threatening environment.

I hope to use the information I've learned to promote an understanding of what Colombia has endured, and continue show people what an incredible nation it truly is."

pictures from the peer mediation training at Americas Unidas

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

Prayer requests

-For all of the kidnapping victims and that they may return to there families soon.

-For the advancement of the strategic planning in the office and that it may continue to develop without too many obstacles.

-For people who are interested in the avaible MCC position with Edupaz


Blessings,

The Edupaz Team


For more information on our schedule click here