Colombia’s youth live in one of the most violent countries in the world. Colombian Red Cross youth have created a method of working with young people, developing attitudes and skills of peaceful coexistence through PACO — Peace, Action and Coexistence.

Red Cross volunteers and other key persons from the communities are trained as facilitators, and subsequently arrange workshops and activities with the vulnerable communities in their immediate surroundings. In addition to this peer educator approach, the programme also includes psychological support to children affected by violence and disasters; violence prevention in schools and dangerous places.

Based on Red Cross Red Crescent principles, the activities of PACO evolve around seven basic social skills: communication, interaction, group decisions, caring for own health, caring for the environment, valuing social and academic knowledge, and not using violence. So far 55 communities and 250 schools have been involved in the programme, and the 2,200 volunteers have reached over 25,000 beneficiaries.

PACO is supported by sister societies and the Inter-American Development Bank. The programme runs throughout Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America.

The Antioquia Branch of the Colombian Red Cross has information about PACO (in Spanish only), and two other related programmes: Nicolas Hincha de Paz (Supporters of Peace) and Adiós Violencia (Stop Violence).

Click here for a leaflet giving more details of PACO
More information about the Columbian Red Cross youth section

Contact:

• Colombian Red Cross youth:
  crjuventud@sncruzroja.org.co
• Antioquia branch, Colombian Red Cross:
  crantioquia@epm.net.co