PASO Colombia

One Earth Future's PASO Colombia program (Paz Sostenible para Colombia, translated as Sustainable Peace for Colombia) believes strategic and inclusive collaboration across all sectors of Colombia’s diverse population is key to sustained peace after decades of civil war. PASO is committed to working with local communities to identify and develop economic opportunities, spur job growth, strengthen the social fabric of the country and encourage communities to be accountable for maintaining long-term stability and peace.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• 17 Rural Alternative Schools (ERAs) throughout the country, as a successful economic reincorporation model in collaboration with 63 partners including the United Nations, the Colombian Government, international cooperation agencies, private companies, social and academic organizations
• 1,243 former combatants participating in the ERAs have created their own collective entrepreneurships in collaboration with local communities, generating 2,802 jobs and USD $888.000 in income and savings for their cooperatives. 98% of ex-combatants and 97% of rural farmers consider that the collaborative projects in the ERAs have been important for their regions
• ERAs build trust. 71% of community members consider that their trust in ex-combatants has improved. Similarly, 82% of ex-combatants stated that their trust in community members has grown. Trust in PASO Colombia has improved for 89% of respondents, and for 61%, their trust in other NGOs has increased. As for local governments, 35% of participants reported an increase in their trust and 20% towards the national government

To learn more, visit www.pasocolombia.org