Project Name: VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM (VTT) TO TRAIN WOMEN PEACE-BUILDERS IN SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

MARCH26 – APRIL 2, 2017 – BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

Since 2011, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), a Rotary cooperating organization and Strategic Partner of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, has successfully organized International Training Institutes (ITI) focused on building the capacity of women to do peacebuilding work in conflict affected regions. The first ITI, was held in two stages: Istanbul in 2013 and Belfast in 2014, and trained Middle Eastern and North African women leaders. The second ITI, held in Bucharest in 2015 and Jakarta in July 2016, trained women leaders from South East Asia. The Jakarta ITI supported by a Global Grant involving 3 Districts, 8 Clubs and RI Inter-Country Committees was highly rated in a thorough evaluation. The plan is to hold a similar ITI, supported by a Rotary Global Grant, in Bogota, Colombia March 26-April 2, 2017 for women peace builders from South America. Host Club: Bogota Capital, District 4281– International Club Latino Unidos, District 5280.

The 2017 ITI/VTT project will be funded by a Global Grant, to support the goals as delineated in the Area of Focus Policy Statement from The Rotary Foundation , are to “enable Rotarians to promote the practice of peace and conflict prevention/resolution by: 1) Training leaders…to prevent and mediate conflict;

2) Supporting peace-building in communities and regions affected by conflict;”

AREA OF FOCUS: Peace and Conflict Resolution/Prevention

NEED: Geo Focus: South America (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru & Venezuela). Most conflicts in this region are intra-national. They are pervasive, persistent and deadly local conflicts that undermine the economic development and humanitarian work done by Rotarians. Women and children are especially victimized by these conflicts. The region has extraordinarily committed and courageous women committed to peace and conflict resolution work, but often they lack sufficient training to have any impact on these local conflicts. The specific peace skills they need will be identified by interviews and surveys of regional groups, potential trainees and other community leaders. It will also be based on the assessments made related to other Global Grants in the Region.

GOALS: Strengthen the capacity of women leaders to advance peacebuilding and conflict resolution work in conflict-impacted communities and build ties between Rotary, MBBI and local and regional conflict resolution/prevention partners.

OBJECTIVES: Hold a multinational ITI/VTT, to prepare 25 community leaders, primarily women, selected from 5 different countries in South America. Participants will receive 5 days of intensive training provided by a diverse group of world-class MBBI trainers and other peace building activities requested by the Host Club.

Budget: $80,000 (est.) – PLEASE SUPPORT THIS GLOBAL GRANT

CONTACT Rtn STEVE GOLDSMITH [email protected]

 Project Name: CHILDREN AND YOUNGSTERS AS BUILDERS OF A HOPE CULTURE

 

Host Rotary Clubs in Colombia: 1- Bogotá Centenario, 2- Ibagué Ciudad Musical y 3- Armero Ibagué

Site: Two vulnerable communities in Colombia: Soacha and Ibagué

Why to work in peace projects in Colombia?

• The eldest guerilla in Latin America is that of Colombia.
• Colombian government and the guerilla are close to signing a Peace Agreement next march.
• This process requires strong civil society participation in order to achieve an effective and long lasting result.
• Soacha and Ibagué are two cities where a great number of displaced people by violence and armed conflict are gathered.
• We as Rotarians want to be active participants in this Peace Process in order to attain a better country.

What were the requirements identified by Soacha and Ibagué Communities?

• To be recognized as Human Rights’ Subjects.
• They don’t want to be forced to participate in juvenile delinquency, gangs and illegal drugs micro-traffic.
• To be peace and nonviolence builders.

Who are the beneficiaries and our strategic allied?

• 200 children and youngsters in Soacha and 100 in Ibagué, victims of forced displacement and armed conflict from 7 to 25 years old. The indirect beneficiaries will be their mothers, families, neighbors and their close community.
• Our strategic allied will be MENCOLDES, the Menonite Colombian Foundation for Social Development. It is an NGO which has been working in Colombia for more than 40 years supporting peace and conflict resolution. (fundacionmencoldes.org)
• We have recently developed together with this NGO two successful Matching Grants on Microcredits.

What will Rotary Clubs and their Strategic Allied do?

• Training and educating victims who are children and youngsters to be peace builders.
• Workshops to achieve skills to build their own life project and healthy habits; to recognize themselves as Human Rights’ subjects; to rebuild social network, to be leaders for nonviolent resolution and forgiveness and self esteem recovery.
• The Rotarians will visit the vulnerable communities and will attend to: the workshops, the exchange of experiences and the visible commemorative peace dates.
• Time estimated for completion: 8 to 12 months

How will the results be measured?

• Direct beneficiaries number, trained children and younsters tested by direct observation, before and after.
• Community number that report conflict level reduction, measured by interviews and test questions.
• Number of children and youngster leaders who arise after the training.

How much does the project cost and what expenses will it cover?

• $ 38,191 USD
• The expenses covered will be: trainers with experience and skills in peace formation; pedagogical materials and didactic support; complementary meals for workshops attendants; audiovisual aids for non literate participants; transportation for leaders’ exchange experiences between Soacha and Ibagué; rent payment for lecture halls, and community meetings on peace commemorative dates.

Contact: Project e-mail: [email protected]

Project Name:  WOMEN PEACEBUILDERS IN COLOMBIA

Host Rotary Clubs in Colombia: 1- Bogotá Centenario, 2- Ibagué Ciudad Musical y 3- Armero Ibagué

Site: Two vulnerable communities in Colombia: Soacha and Ibagué

Why work in peace projects in Colombia?

• The eldest guerilla in Latin America is that of Colombia.
• Colombian government and the guerilla are close to signing a Peace Agreement next march.
• This process requires strong civil society participation, in order to achieve an effective and long lasting result.
• Soacha and Ibagué are two cities where a great number of displaced people by violence and armed conflict are gathered.
• We as Rotarians want to be active participants in this Peace Process in order to attain a better country.

Which were the requirements identified by Soacha and Ibagué Communities?

• To be peace builders, and support prevention and conflict resolution in their communities.
• Women want to be recognized as Human Rights’ subjects.
• Women want to see themselves as social change agents and don’t want to be seen just as victims. And they want this training to also cover their children and families.
• They want a safe place to live.
• They want to participate in solidarity economies, such as: savings and microcredit loans.

Who are the beneficiaries and our strategic allied?

• 150 women in Soacha and 150 women in Ibagué, victims of forced displacement and armed conflict from 15 to 60 years old. The indirect beneficiaries will be their families, neighbors and their close community.
• Our strategic allied will be MENCOLDES, the Menonite Colombian Foundation for Social Development. It is an NGO which has been working in Colombia for more than 40 years supporting peace and conflict resolution. (fundacionmencoldes.org)
• We have recently developed together with this NGO two successful Matching Grants on Microcredits.

What will Rotary Clubs and their Strategic Allied do?

• Training and education for women victims to be peace builders.
• Workshops to overcome their painful memories, to recognize themselves as Human Rights’ subjects, to overcome psychological effects of conflict, for nonviolent resolution and forgiveness, for leadership and self esteem, to rebuild social network, and to be leaders in their families and communities through nonviolent behavior.
• The Rotarians will visit the vulnerable communities and will attend to: the workshops, the exchange of experiences and the visible commemorative peace dates.
• These activities will be done according to UN1325 resolution established for women victims in countries affected by armed conflict.
• Time estimated for completion: 8 to 12 months

How will the results be measured?

• Direct beneficiaries number, trained people tested by direct observation, before and after.
• Community number that report conflict level reduction, measured by interviews and test questions.
• Number of women leaders who arise after the training.

How much does the project cost and what expenses will it cover?

$ 38,040 USD

The expenses covered will be: trainers with experience and skills in peace formation; pedagogical materials and didactic support; complementary meals for workshops attendants; audiovisual aids for non literate participants; transportation for leaders’ exchange experiences between Soacha and Ibagué; rent payment for lecture halls, and community meetings on peace commemorative dates.

Contact: Project e-mail: [email protected]

 

Project Name: “PAZificARTE”: A PROGRAM TO BUILD A CULTURE FOR PEACE USING ART IN A VULNERABLE COMMUNITY

Host Rotary Clubs in Colombia: 1- Bogotá – Centenario

Site: Bogotá, Chapinero locality: San Isidro-Patios (On the way to La Calera)

Why do we want to teach pacific coexistence and to strengthen social development, through art, in Colombia?

• Because the country has suffered many years of armed conflict and violence. This has particularly compromised the youngsters´ life project and the harmonious coexistence with their families and communities.
• Because spending free time in artistic activities helps to achieve the following: to work as a team, to reorganize the way of thinking and to consolidate skills for pacific coexistence and nonviolence.
• Because art is a way of preventing and discouraging: street fights, illegal use of guns, micro-traffic of illegal drugs, and violent behavior in teenagers.

 

Which needs were identified by the community?

• To reduce conflict and street fights.
• To achieve skills for reducing violent behavior in their families.
• To prevent teenage delinquency and to recuperate children and teenagers from law-breaking
• To learn about microcredit and solidary banks
• To recover self confidence and trust on others
• Youngsters want to be recognized as Human Rights’ subjects.

. Who are the beneficiaries and our strategic allies?

• The beneficiaries are: 1,000 adolescents and young people from 12 to 18 years old who live in a poor community in San Isidro Patios on the way to La Calera in the NE of Bogotá and 4 adjacent quarters. The indirect beneficiaries will be their families, teachers and classmates, neighbors and their close community.

• Our strategic allies will be 1- “Fondacio”: A Christian Foundation for the World, an international NGO which has worked for more than 10 years in peace and education themes in Colombia. Together with Centenario RC and its Rotaract Club it has worked on social projects for more than 3 years, with the help of District Grants (www. fondacio.org y www. fondacio.org.co)
  2- “TAAP”: Learning Workshop for Arts and Thought Foundation, an NGO created on 2008 and specialized in art as a tool to  develop thought in children and so encourage the process of living together in peace. It has worked with more than 16,000 beneficiaries in various countries in Latin America. The workshops are based on Harvard’s Intelligence School and the foundation is Ashoka fellow ( www. fundaciontaap.com) (facebook: Fundación TAAP)

What will Rotary Clubs and their Strategic Allies do?

• Training and education for children and youngsters through art, games and photography, by workshops for the formation of their character, done in their free time. This will permit them to change themselves into builders of peace and nonviolence.
• To connect them with institutions where they can continue their technical training.
• To help them to be visible in their neighborhood and close community for being people who are able to solve conflicts, with good communication and mediation.
• The Rotarians will visit the youngsters in the project and will evaluate their progress and achievements.
• The Rotarians will assist to experience exchange days between the vulnerable youngsters involved in the project and youngsters their same age of a Private School in Bogotá.
• Time estimated for completion: 12 months.

.How will be the results measured?

• Direct beneficiaries number: trained children and youngsters, tested by direct observation.
• Number of Communities that report conflict level reduction, measured by interviews and test questions.
• Number of children and youngsters leaders, who arouse after the training, measured by direct observation.
• Other specific indicators proposed by TAAP are: school quitters reduction, reduction in micro traffic in illegal drugs, reduction of violent behavior in their families, reduction of restricted violent areas in their neighborhoods.

.How much does the project cost and what expenses will it cover?

US $ 33,207

The expenses covered will be: trainers with experience in arts workshops and human rights and children rights training and pacific coexistence; pedagogical materials and didactic support, for arts, games and photography; transportation for leaders for exchange experiences; and lecture halls rental.

 

Contact: Project e-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]   (President RC 2015-16)

[email protected]     Martha Castillo

[email protected]   Beatriz Crismatt

[email protected]   Margarita López

RC Bogotá-Centenario and TRF: Successful MG:

69699; 69726; 73010; 74521; 75429;

77212 in process to be closed; 77784 and 77906.