Being Paloma and Accompanying the Community of Peace

What does “accompany” actually mean? “Accompanying” means “going with someone,” and that is exactly the role of us international companions: we are with people to be there for them and go with them wherever they need us. In fact, being born in Europe and holding an Italian passport comes with a “privilege,” so we can make a difference if we stand in solidarity with the people of the Peace Community, who—we must remember—are constantly under threat of death from those who seek to displace them in order to exploit their lands for enormous economic gain. Continuing to farm and raise livestock in those Colombian mountains is the true resistance of this community, which, in doing so, asserts its right to the land and acts in line with its own plan for food sovereignty. So, “accompanying” means setting out on the journey and traveling along rugged trails by mule or on foot to reach distant lands where the community cultivates the fields and raises livestock. It means living together in a house and sharing spaces, daily life, and meals. It means, when asked, helping them with their work in the fields or when they go to milk the animals, sitting on a rock or a log and waiting for them to finish their work. It means, therefore, mostly simply being present in time, which is stretched out and flows differently.When we wait, however, we do not do so passively; we try to be mindful of our surroundings and those passing by, making ourselves visible. This is why the international presence of Operazione Colomba (the Nonviolent Peace Corps of the Pope John XXIII Community) and the support for the project—to which you can contribute—are so important. The members of the Peace Community feel safer when accompanied by international volunteers—a presence that acts as a deterrent to violence. If you’d like to help the project continue supporting the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, please donate here and share the fundraiser! Thank you, and peace be with you.