Finding My Place in Bogotá — A Journey of Work, Culture, and Connection

My journey began during the first week of September when I embarked on a 12-week internship with Redepaz, an NGO (non-governmental organization) based in Bogotá that has been working on the Colombian peace process for over three decades. Working at Redepaz has been an eye-opening experience, offering me a front-row seat to the complexities and challenges of fostering peace in a region with a tumultuous history. My tasks, though often performed independently, have allowed me to carve out a niche within the organization.

One of my last projects with Redepaz was to develop a conceptual map with recommendations for the organization. My background in political economy, a rarity here, intrigued my colleagues. They encouraged me to integrate this unique perspective into our projects, reinforcing my belief in the value of my major and the diverse insights it brings to international peacebuilding efforts.

One of my most cherished experiences with Redepaz was our initiative in Marmato, Caldas. Accompanied by several Redepaz representatives, including the president and a team of environmental lawyers, we journeyed to this small mining town to advocate for the community's rights. Situated more than nine hours away by car from Bogotá, Marmato hosts a significant gold mine that serves as one of the economic powerhouses of the entire Caldas region.

As stated in a publication by Redepaz, “traditional mining in Marmato has resisted the pressure of excessive industrialization, thus preserving not only the economic stability but also the cultural integrity of the community.” However, recent attempts by multinational mining companies have put the people of Marmato at risk of displacement. Thus, Redepaz and I, alongside a team of environmental attorneys, ventured to Marmato, joining forces with community leaders for a pivotal meeting with officials from the Colombian Ministry of Energy and Mining. Our goal? To secure agreements that would safeguard the community's rights amidst the looming mining developments. The journey itself — marked by strategic dialogues with legal experts, local advocates, and government officials and even a descent into the gold mines to witness the mining process firsthand — was an enriching experience. But the crowning achievement was successfully negotiating an agreement with the ministry that prioritized the community's rights in the face of future developments. This experience has not only been a pivotal chapter in my journey with Redepaz but also a testament to the strength found in unity and the enduring impact of grassroots mobilization in the face of global pressures.