These are the stories of people who reflect Colombia’s diversity and who are united by the pain wrought by the armed conflict, and through a shared hope for a true and lasting peace.

Originally from Choco, Father Marcial tries to articulate the message of the bible through economic solidarity initiatives; he also organises theatre, music and dance workshops to involve new generations in the process of constructing a more inclusive society. “In the community we work from the basis of cultural expression, so that we don’t lose the rooting of identity in the land; now we are thinking of building a marimba school.” Threatened by the paramilitaries for his commitment, he continues to do community training. “You have to generate a concrete strengthening process, so that people overcome the fear and break the cycle of violence generated by the conflict”. Marcial also tries to bring to the fore other topics related to the environment, like the water pollution caused by the Trans-Andean oil pipeline.

Delphine and Mario wrote the stories for the ‘Beautiful madness’ after a trip to the Naya river basin in June 2016.  During that journey they accompanied the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission (CIJP) and met with women and men from indigenous, Afro-descendant and farming communities from around Colombia, and witnessed the inauguration of the University for Peace’s first campus, the beginning of an initiative that seeks to generate initiatives that will bring peace to the territories.