Fundacion para la Reconciliacion .

Fundación para la Reconciliación (the ‘Foundation for Reconciliation’) was started in 2001, working on peacebuilding and since 2003 has developed ‘Escuelas de Perdón y Reconciliación’ (‘Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation’ – ‘ESPERE’) in order to promote peace and co-existence. It works with communities in vulnerable areas of the country by encouraging civil participation, training young peace leaders and providing psychological assistance to ex-combatants, displaced people and victims of violence. Currently, it is promoting a programme on “putting together the peace” through its network of schools.

The ESPERE method has been applied in different scenarios including prisons, companies, schools and churches, and its good practices and experiences have been taken to countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the USA, for them to replicate the peacebuilding model.

The foundation emphasises the experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation in its workshops by addressing the memories of violence, so that, they contribute to the conflict resolution and peace. Fundación para la Reconciliación believes also in a solution beyond the military confrontation or negotiation process – society needs to be healed at a more fundamental level – to provide a basis for communities in conflict to build a common future together.

In 2004 the foundation, with support of the UN University of Peace, held a training course for promoters of reconciliation and co-existence to help the reintegration of ex-combatants into society.

The implementation of the centres in the city of Bogotá was highly praised by the city council, which recognised it with a prize. In 2006 the Fundación para la Reconciliación was also rewarded for its commitment and efforts on peacebuilding by UNESCO.