Colombia is a country in the throes of change. Following the peace agreement signed between the government of Juan Manuel Santos and FARC on November 24, 2016, the peace process has given rise to initiatives to reintegrate ex-FARC into civil society. To better understand this process, here are 3 examples of reintegration projects that enable ex-FARC to participate, each in their own way, in local life.
A farm and sewing workshop in Guajira
Are you familiar with the sumptuous desert and lagoons of Guajira, in north-east Colombia? Well, in this arid desert, it’s also possible to farm. The Nueva Colombia (New Colombia) farm is a fine example. It’s a 150-hectare farm run by FARC members who grow 10 hectares of tomatoes, peppers, bananas, corn and manioc. Around 30 FARC members and 12 community members work for the cooperative. An ecotourism zone has even been built for those who want to learn more about their life in the jungle during their years of combat.
The area also boastsa sewing workshop, equipped with 37 sewing machines. Uniforms for the staff of restaurants, hospitals and schools are made here, and their Wayuu finish gives them an original touch. Ex-combatants and women from neighboring villages have received training from the Colombian government.
A bakery in Antioquia
In Anorí, Antioquia, in the north-west of the country, young ex-FARC fighters now work in the village’s new bakery. One of them, Jaime Zapata, 26, has 2 dreams: to obtain his baccalaureate to become a nurse, and to raise his daughter in a country at peace. After being trained as bakers by the state, the ex-combatants were given the opportunity to reintegrate into the community thanks to the opening of this bakery.
« It was great to move from a time of conflict to a time of peace, where you get to meet and exchange with the civilian population. Now I want to progress and, as I love baking, I work here and hope to become a better person » says Jaime. The premises are small, but the bakery is a success: 300 products are sold on average every day, and as it’s the first bakery to open in the area, word has reached the surrounding villages, which are now placing their orders. « After breakfast, we start to smell that bread smell and we go to the bakery to eat what’s fresh out of the oven. We never imagined that this would happen, » says another former FARC member who, like Jaime, is in rehabilitation. In Anorí, peace is a reality: soldiers, policemen, FARC members, community members, government representatives, all greet each other, make jokes and even share bread or churros from the new bakery.
