Fundraising by Eliana Marignoli

It is not easy to explain what it means to be here. But maybe I can tell you why I am asking you to stop for a moment today.

Sometimes we think it takes grand gestures to change something. In reality, change comes from the simplest choices: stopping for a moment, looking beyond yourself and deciding to help.

Today I have the privilege of being here, in Colombia, accompanying together with volunteers from Operation Dove - Nonviolent Peace Corps of the Pope John XXIII Community - the Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó. A privilege, because I can choose to come here, to share a few months of my life with people whose strength, resistance and resilience are so breathtakingly great.

For nearly 30 years this community has continued to choose peace, denouncing Human Rights violations and staying on their land despite threats, violence and loss. Yet here people continue to live, to farm, to smile. Here I am learning every day what it means to resist without hate.

What we do is not easy to explain. Our presence is one of accompaniment, listening and nonviolent civil defense. Operation Dove volunteers choose to be here by providing time, energy and a part of their lives. Donating means making this daily presence on the ground possible.

This fundraiser directly supports that: the concrete possibility that volunteers will continue to be there. Because without them, this project of accompaniment and protection simply would not exist.

Even a small donation is a concrete way to be there, to walk together.Because sometimes we cannot change the whole world, but we can choose sides.

Here I am receiving much more than I can give.

If you want to give a gift, give it to them: it is the truest way to give it to me too.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.