Sembrandopaz / Sowing Seeds of Peace

Sembrandopaz builds the capacity of grassroots organisations in Colombia, with the goal of developing a culture of peace and supporting development.

Asociación Sembrando Semillas de Paz (Sembrandopaz, the 'Sowing Seeds of Peace Association') builds the capacity of grass roots organisations in Colombia, with the goal of developing a culture of peace and supporting processes of integral and sustainable human development within the population of the Caribbean region in Colombia.

In 2012, Sembrandopaz helped the leadership team of Mampuján to organise a peaceful 3-day march to demand reparations as victims of the civil conflict. This march was part of a process that saw Mampuján become the first displaced community in the country to receive financial reparations.

Similarly, in 2013, Sembrandopaz assisted the 32 communities of the High Mountain Movement in the Montes de Maria in organising a peaceful march designed to pressure the governor's office to address their claims. The governor and his cabinet met the marchers en route and opened negotiations with community leaders. 20 additional conflict-affected communities subsequently joined the movement.

The peacebuilding efforts of Sembrandopaz have led to their director, Ricardo Esquivia, receiving death threats and being politically persecuted, and one of the community leaders they work with has been imprisoned for 10 months without trial.