Ayuda en Acción, in alliance with the Minuto de Dios University (Unimuto), the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation (PARES) and the Foundation for Citizen Participation (Parcomun), has led a diploma in Citizen Participation for Peace in the Northern region from Santander. More than 25 young people have actively participated in this program, consolidating key skills to energize dialogues between civil society organizations, especially led by young people and women, and local institutions.
The central objective of the diploma course has been to strengthen the capacities of municipal peace councils and civil society organizations. Through a training plan in citizen advocacy, these young people have acquired essential knowledge and skills for non-violent conflict management and violence prevention.
Within the framework of citizen participation in the peace process, the importance of addressing the challenges that it entails was recognized, considering the minimum agreements and relevant issues established by Colombian regulations. Participants immersed themselves in a constructive dialogue, highlighting the need to strengthen public policy advocacy capacities at the national, regional and local levels to facilitate the transition from conflict to peace.
Community communication for peace building
This diploma is complemented by a Community Communication module, which allows participants to identify effective strategies around communication for change, exploring how to actively contribute to peacebuilding through appropriate communication media to make local reality visible.
The culmination of this process took place at the Hotel Casino Internacional, where each participant exhibited their unique vision of peacebuilding through a photographic exhibition. Each image captured what it means to build peace from the perspective of those who have experienced the challenges and hopes in the region up close. The guests toured the room, in a visual commitment that culminated with a collective message of peace, inviting reflection on the importance of investing in training in these crucial scenarios.
This diploma represents a milestone in the empowerment of local communities and reflects Ayuda en Acción’s commitment to creating concrete opportunities for peacebuilding. Through training processes like this, the active participation of civil society and specialized training are encouraged. Strategic investment in capacity development contributes palpably to the advancement of peacebuilding in Norte de Santander, generating a lasting and sustainable impact in the region.
