Colombia and Northern Ireland Unite through Creative Peacebuilding Project

Beyond Skin founder and CEO Darren Ferguson recently visited Bogota, Colombia during the week of the public vote regarding the Peace deal between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Invited by the Fundación Nacional Batuta in association with the British Council and the Ministry of Culture, Darren was a guest speaker at the Seminario Internacional Música y Transformación Social (International Seminar on Music and Social Transformation) in Bogota, Colombia. The visit to Colombia was also part of the Beyond Skin International Arts Abroad 'Parallel Versing' project development strategy supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland. (www.parallelversing.com)

Through Beyond Skin's membership links with United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), Darren whilst in Bogota met with partner organisation La Fundación Escuelas de Paz as part of the ongoing discussions to develop an international project.

Plans now are already in motion for a music, arts and multimedia peace project between Colombia and Northern Ireland.The Project called FUTyoURES 2030 has already been endorsed by well known journalists and musicians within the music industry who will also play an active roll in the project. The Parallel Versing project also looks to extend to Colombia forming a partnership across three Countries with Beyond Skin, Escuelas de Paz and The Music Project (Sri Lanka). The project will focus on the Sustainable Development Goals themes and #Youth4Peace UN Resolution 2250

Resolution 2250

In December 2015 the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2250, the first ever thematic resolution on Youth, Peace and Security. This historic document is very important for all young peacebuilders worldwide because it brings recognition and legitimacy for youth's efforts in building peace. Beyond Skin are the all-Ireland representatives and members of UNOY leading the #youth4peace programme in Northern Ireland.

The FUTyoURES 2030 project through creative processes in schools and utilizing new media will aim to strengethen International Relations between Northern Ireland and Colombia enabling children to share their experiences living in countries impacted by the legacy of conflict.

Beyond Skin has set up a project development team in Northern Ireland with representatives from the Colombian community. For more information contact the Beyond Skin office  +447877756987  [email protected]

#futyoures #youth4peace @beyondskin @EscuelasdePaz   www.beyondskin.net  www.escuelasdepaz.co

Reflections on the Possibility of Peace in Colombia by Amada Benavides de Pérez President, Fundación Escuelas de Paz is online here at peace-ed-campaign.org