Author: Lissette Mateus Roa

By Lissette Mateus Roa, Co-Facilitator, Global Alumni Network Colombia is the third most unequal country in the world, and the gap is growing. That is what is causing the latest mass protests in the country. Colombians no longer care about FARC guerrillas, they no longer protest nor fear this group that signed a peace agreement… Continue reading Colombia Protests Inequality

[quote]Being in a Colombian jail working with women and girls who are serving time after being child soldiers is an interesting place from which to reflect on the last day of Women’s History Month.  The unique challenges and insights of women and girls who were child soldiers are often lost in the conversations about demobilizaiton… Continue reading Reflections on Women’s History Month from a Colombian Jail

Over 1,500 El Cauca Native Indians march on Bogotá’s Bolivar Square I would like to thank those of you in the Goldin Institute network who have expressed well-wishes and concerns over Colombia’s recent ‘No’ vote on the referendum for the Peace Agreement. It has been a whirlwind of emotions for myself, my family and my… Continue reading Colombia Update: Photos from March for Peace

As the conflict in Colombia reaches near finality with the ratification of the Peace Treaty and weapons being laid-down by both sides, it is worth examining the devasation created by the half-century civil conflict. Here are eight of the major consequences to the war-torn country:  There are 7.6 million war victims registered on the government’s… Continue reading Eight Humanitarian Consequences of Colombia’s War

For over forty years, a civil war has raged in Colombia between the central government, leftist opposition groups and more recently armed paramilitary groups. While accurate counts of the number of children involved in combat are not available, many experts believe that approximately 10,000 child soldiers are still active in Colombia today despite the demobilization… Continue reading Schools as Centers for Reconciliation in Colombia

New Developments Unfolding in Colombia – Peace Process Impacted The international reports coming out of Colombia in recent days, reflect the most current on-the-ground information from our Global Associate in Bogota, Lissette Mateus Roa.  Although the situation is volatile and things are changing almost daily, Lissette remains committed to finding solutions to the violence in… Continue reading Colombia Update

If you missed the opportunity to hear our friend and colleague Fr. Leonel Narvaez on the WorldView news program April 14, you can stream it now:     In this interview, Fr. Leonel speaks about the ongoing negotiations in Cuba that give promise to a proposed peace agreement for his country. He also puts into… Continue reading NPR Worldview Interview on Colombia Peace Process with Fr. Leonel Narvaez

One of the core issues of the Goldin Institute’s mission has been our work partnering with communities to promote co-existence, reconciliation and peace-building efforts. Our partners in Colombia have made great strides in achieving this mission by building community-driven reconciliation tools that are an inspiration to our global network. Since 2007, when we convened with… Continue reading GI Global Associate Issues Progress Report on Project in Colombia

In this short video, Lissette Mateus Roa brings us up to date on what the partnership project has meant to the teachers, parents and students involved. This multi-sector approach has allowed for practices on how best to bring about change that will allow for acceptance and a better understanding of the issues faced by those… Continue reading Update on Pedagogy of Care and Reconciliation Partnership Project