Cevian reports from Colombia

Geraldine Maier, 24, grew up with Cevi Meinisberg in the canton of Bern. She is part of the Change Agent Program, which trains young people from various YMCAs worldwide to participate in decision-making processes at local, national, and international levels. For the past five years, she has been traveling the world, and during her stay in Colombia, she visited the Horyzon project "Paza la Paz," where she volunteered with the local partner organization YMCA Medellín. Geraldine shared her insights from this experience:

"During my four-week volunteer placement with YMCA Medellín, I got to personally know two 'Paza la Paz' youth groups. For nearly 50 years, YMCA Medellín has been committed to providing young people with a safe space to grow and discover new perspectives. In five different districts across the sprawling metropolis of Medellín, a range of activities are offered, directly reaching around 420 young people through 'Paza la Paz.' 'The Big Boss Dance' is one such youth group. Through the project, these young people are not only encouraged to develop their artistic talents but also benefit from a secure environment. Regular workshops focus on topics like peacebuilding, and the youth gain practical skills in conflict resolution. The importance of this refuge was made personally clear to me during my visit with this youth group. The story of a young participant, who lost a friend the day before because she was shot, makes me unexpectedly aware of the brutal reality that still exists. It is just one of many stories that makes me realize how valuable the support from Horyzon is, which reaches Colombia through "Paza la Paz"."

Geraldine has also published her impressions in her column in the Bieler Tagblatt.