NPR Worldview Interview on Colombia Peace Process with Fr. Leonel Narvaez

img
Global Associate, Colombia

Fr. Leonel on far right, along with Global Associate Lissette Mateus Roa on left, and advisory board members, Sebastian Mosman and Akif Irfan at a recent ESPERE training in Mexico City.

If you missed the opportunity to hear our friend and colleague Fr. Leonel Narvaez on the WorldView news program April 14, you can stream it now:

 

In this interview, Fr. Leonel speaks about the ongoing negotiations in Cuba that give promise to a proposed peace agreement for his country. He also puts into context the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation and how they have been practiced through his leadership at the Foundation for Reconciliation in Colombia and around the world.  

About Fr. Leonel and his work in Latin America 

Those familiar with our work with Fr. Leonel know that he has dedicated his life to building peace in the understanding that "violence is the failure of dialogue." Amongst his many accolades, Leonel has been awarded the Great Cross of Civil Merit by the City of Bogota for his contribution to peace in the city. In Paris in 2007, he received the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. In 2008, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia honored him with the Order of Democracy.

International awards aside, we know personally and professionally how Fr. Leonel has worked tirelessly through his efforts at the Foundation to inspire and train over 25,000 facilitators reaching countless beneficiaries around the world in new methods of peace and reconciliation. Fr. Leonel's powerful presentations and sermons have changed the face of reconciliation efforts across the globe and the ESPERE methodology has expanded from its modest beginnings in Colombia to 15 other countries, such as Uganda, where we work closely seeing the growth of this project.

Related Articles
  • img
    Kenya | Conflict Resolution - November 18, 2016
    Youth Peace Ambassadors are preventing the recruitment of children by violent extremism groups across the region.
  • img
    Colombia - August 31, 2015
    Over the weekend we learned of growing tensions between Colombia and Venezuela over immigration policy, and the forced deportation of several thousand Colombians from Venezuela in the last week.
  • img
    Colombia - July 09, 2015
    New Developments Unfolding in Colombia - Peace Process Impacted
  • img
    Conflict Resolution - July 02, 2015
    This week we turn our attention to stories that our project work has us personally vested in: the human rights toll of 'conflict minerals' in the DRCongo and how best to reintegrate child soldiers into civil society after they have paid the price in the name of these minerals.
We're excited that you are interested in joining the global network of grassroots leaders. Complete the form below to take the first step in applying for Gather:
First Name*
Enter your first name

Last Name*
Enter your last name

Country*
Select country

Email*
Enter a valid email address