Dear Friend,
“We know that has great respect for the community and has walked with us throughout these past years... It cannot be doubted that their physical presence has helped to stop killing, stop torture and stop displacement. This has not only been achieved as a product of a presence in the field, which is vital, but comes from the effort made together by many people of FOR working arduously from afar. There is a deep feeling of solidarity because FOR understands our struggle for life. And that is why it is so effective, because they are not only there but also share our dreams for peace and for a better world lived here on earth.”
- San Jose de Apartadó Peace Community Internal Council
As you know, I have been involved in the Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Colombia Program over the last ___X__ years, including [member of Colombia committee/serving on team/participating in delegation/working as an intern] in [dates]. During this time, I have witnessed the impact of the program…(fill in here what you would like to say!) And its effect on me…(here too!) For these reasons, I am taking a moment to reach out to all my friends and family and ask for your support as the FOR Colombia Peace Presence works to become an independent entity.
As you may know, the Colombia Peace Presence is a program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the oldest peace and social justice organization in the US, and began working in Colombia in 2002 when the peace community of San José de Apartadó requested FOR's ongoing presence as a way to protect them from violence. FOR responded to their request and established a team of two volunteers to carry out nonviolent protective accompaniment, has maintained a year-round physical presence ever since, as well as carried out political work to ensure the community's safety. Since 2002, the project has grown to a team of five volunteers that also accompanies the Red Juvenil (Medellín Youth Network), a dynamic organization that works to protect the rights of Colombian conscientious objectors and carries out arts-based organizing with youth. In 2005, a Bogota team was established to coordinate our work with political authorities, host delegations, and work with the Red Juvenil and other groups. FOR has also carried out grassroots organizing and lobbying in the US to end US military aid to Colombia. The project produces a monthly newsletter, takes two delegations a year, organizes speaking tours and participates in national coalitions that work to change US policy towards Colombia. Just this year, through a process of mutual discernment with FOR-USA, we’ve decided to make the Colombia accompaniment project an independent organization. We will remain a close member of the FOR family (our name will continue to be associated with FOR) in philosophy and shared vision for a world of justice, peace and freedom.
The newly independent organization’s mission is to support nonviolent resistance to the militarization of land and life in Colombia. We will accompany the peace community and campesino organizations as they resist the militarization of their land and youth organizers as they resist the militarization of their lives. We stand beside them, physically and politically, within Colombia and around the globe, our accompaniment providing safety and space that allows them to continue their work and live their vision for a different world. We hope to expand our work in the coming years to support other communities and organizations doing work to resist the militarization of their territories.
This is extremely important work that can only continue with your help! There are three different ways you can lend your support to this project:
1. Become a monthly sustainer: with a monthly donation of $10 your bank account won't be too squeezed, while at the same time you can help us establish long-term sustainability. Go to www.forcolombia.org and click on the "donate" button.
2. Become an angel: with an annual donation of $500-$1000 over the next two years, your gift will help launch the newly independent organization to success! Go to www.forcolombia.org and click on the "donate" button.
3. Join our Facebook cause at: www.causes.com/collectivateforcolombia and make a donation to help us reach our $10,000 goal by July 1st, 2010!
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