CRS Work in Colombia

In Solidarity with Colombia

In Solidarity with Colombia actively promotes cooperation between the U.S. and Colombian Catholic Church to confront the increasingly violent conflict that has claimed nearly 40,000 lives in the past decade, and displaced over two million people since 1990.

The program supports church partner and civil society organization efforts to provide emergency and humanitarian assistance, and to promote peacebuilding through peace and human rights education, promotion of reconciliation processes, and conflict transformation.

Some specific examples of our work include:

Integrated Response to Displaced Communities in the Diocese of Quibdo

This project, managed by the Diocese of Quibdo, provides emergency humanitarian assistance as well as legal, psychosocial and spiritual accompaniment, justice and peace education, and support for the return/reestablishment of displaced communities.

Jesuit Mobile School for Peace and Coexistence Program

This program works to develop local level peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Project Ruth—Database For The Displaced

The National Secretariat of Social Ministry created this database compiled of information on the displaced population of Colombia in order to better coordinate and direct the Colombian Church's humanitarian response.

Bodega Ecumenical Prayer Vigil

CRS participated in a special vigil in May 2004. This vigil included prayers and reflections that emphasized the need to address poverty and injustice and expressed hopes for peace.

Advocacy and Awareness Raising

CRS works with other Catholic, ecumenical, and civil society organizations to increase U.S. understanding of the complexities of the situation in Colombia. CRS also works with these groups to encourage advocacy that responds to our Colombian Church partner's concerns.