PORTRAITS in COLOMBIA: Youth Helping People Overcome the Trauma of Violence
A group of young people in the village of La Rica, Colombia are using their energy and creative skills to help bring awareness about the issue of violence in their community. Trained as “Psychosocial Companions” they recognized the pervasive, negative impact that violence was having in their small community, with women of all ages being the most affected.
As part of their efforts to support those suffering to overcome the trauma of violence, they created a series of murals in very prominent locations throughout the community. These murals carry messages speaking out against violence against women and encouraging support for survivors. Their hope is that these messages will promote greater awareness of the issues and help transform the way people think about violence and how they relate to each other. Resources and support for the project were provided by the ANDA Program.