The event that took place from February 8 to 11, in the framework of the commemoration of the assassination of the leader Jesús Orlando Grueso Obregón, had the participation of leaders of the Pacific coast of Cauca who addressed issues related to territory, culture and peace.

We are here with all the spirit of learning, of exchanging experiences, but above all of building learning that hopefully can be transmitted throughout the length and breadth of our Department. The Physiotherapy teacher, Jonathan Centeno Muñoz, said to refer to the Orlando Grueso “Kujar” Training and Leadership Workshop. Seed of Peace, Life and Social Transformation, organized by the University of Cauca, the Guapi Municipal Mayor's Office and the MOEP Pacific Ethnic and Popular Movement.

The event took place in the municipality of Guapi from February 8 to 11, to remember the life and work of the leader Jesús Orlando Grueso Obregón, murdered at the beginning of 2018, in the village of La Soledad when he was leaving a community meeting with Jhonatan Cundumi. The activity had the active participation of students from different programs at the University of Cauca and leaders from the Pacific region who addressed issues related to social cartography, methods of citizen participation, environmental leadership, and public speaking, among others.

“We want to understand the moment in which we find ourselves: a moment in which we build hope around peace in our country, but unfortunately the failure of the national government and the difficulties of the very structure of the State have meant that we have not been able to pass the war page, that is why we are here, so that we can analyze the reality that we are living”, added the Teacher.

For the student of the University of Cauca, Ingrid Corpus, this is a unique experience for all people because of all that Guapi means. "The initiative to come here to strengthen leadership is about the communities being able to organize themselves and working to build the peace that is built from the territories and from the feelings of the communities."

For her part, the leader Jessica Rodríguez referred to the way they live their youth and leadership in this municipality. “We have a healthy youth, which we share with those who live in the municipality. This is a youth that dreams of seeing a different Guapi where there are opportunities for all the young people who leave their basic secondary school and who want to enter the University. It is a youth that thinks about building in its territory and being able to do something for it and achieve those opportunities that today are not so reflected”.

“Our leadership workshop became one of the most important training experiences that we have coordinated, where young people from our University of Cauca and the municipality of Guapi exchanged feelings, knowledge and experiences to continue in the fight for Peace. Thanks to those who allowed us to make this dream come true,”concluded teacher Jonathan Centeno Muñoz.

More Info:

Jonathan Centeno Muñoz

Professor of Physiotherapy Program

Email: jecenteno@unicauca.edu.co