Faith Matters - The Church Program

Colombia has suffered more than half-a-century of civil conflict, involving left-wing guerillas, right-wing paramilitaries and government troops. So far, the violence has claimed more than 220,000 lives, with a further 25,000 "missing,” and 4.15 million displaced. On average, there were 3,600 kidnappings annually at the height of the conflict, one-and-a-half decades ago.

This is a report about three courageous women who are struggling to establish peace in Colombia. Diana Avella from Bogotá is one of the nation’s best-known HipHop singers. A single mother, she raises her voice against injustice and appeals vehemently for peace. In the northeastern town of Puerto Berrio, Teresa de Jésus Castrillón, a mother of four, has set up Colombia’s first organizations to assist the victims of violence. Most of them are women, whom she helps to articulate their pain and work through their traumas. Yamili Ocampo, on the other hand, puts her faith in literature and education. In the infamous slums of Medellin, she reads books to children and young adults. With her network of libraries she has created safe havens for the next generation.