PBI-Colombia welcomes two new brigadistas, seeks applications until September 12

On August 6, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project posted: “We welcome two new brigadistas, Mayara and Charlotte!”

In this article, they share some of their thoughts as they begin their placement with the field team in the city of Barrancabermeja.

Mayara: “I am Mayara, Brazilian. This opportunity to work with PBI seemed like what I had been looking for a long time. The principles applied in this organisation in pursuit of peace and non-violence are in line with my ethical and personal values. My expectation is that this work will be a continuous exchange of knowledge about human rights, as this organisation is multicultural with collaborators from different countries. So, I hope that during the 18 months I will be able to contribute to the project as a Latina.”

Charlotte: “I identify very much with PBI’s mandate to create spaces for peace and the protection of human rights. What convinced me to get involved with PBI Colombia is the protective role that foreigners (with non-Colombian citizenship) can play in enabling the local Colombian population to develop their own local ways of life, a role that in an ideal post-colonial world should not exist. The initial and ongoing training within the project in Colombia reassures me that I am not involved in voluntourism.”

PBI-Colombia has also just put out a call for new brigadistas.

As noted on this webpage, the deadline to apply is September 12, the training week would take place January 8-15 (to be confirmed) and new volunteers will be incorporated into the field teams at the end of February 2022 and at other dates.

All the information needed to apply can be found here.

The PBI-Colombia brigadistas that arrived in April 2021 and December 2020.