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Since October 2007, Aid to Artisans has undertaken two projects funded by the Pan American Development Foundation working with internally displaced people in Huila, Choco and Tolima Colombia. Colombia has about 3 million internal refugees, the second highest number of internally displaced refugees of anywhere in the world according to the United Nations.

Working with internally displaced and vulnerable people who have suffered greatly as a result of the drug war that surrounds their everyday lives is a challenge. However, we know we can improve the quality of their lives by showing them they can earn lasting income through craft. The program aims to strengthen their entrepreneurial and collaboration skills and their spirits by teaching them how to become profitable artisans. Our goal is to take them out of desperation and give them hope””proving to them that it is possible, even in a decade-long drug war, to feed their families by developing income generating craft enterprises.

We encourage you to read today’s New York Times article, which describes the unrelenting terror taking place in the Choco Region.

Below, is a story written by an internally displaced artisan we work with in Neiva. Her name is Lorena Guzman. In her own words, she describes her escape from guerillas and her struggle to launch a craft business that would bring food to her “empty hands.”

MY LIFE STORY
By Lorena Guzman
Artisan from Huila who will be attending the 2009 ATA Awards Dinner

On June 11th 2004 my family and I arrived in Neiva, (capital of Huila State),escaping from the guerrillas in the state of Caqueta.

We were forced to leave our house, all our belongings and to abandon everything because we received threats to our lives when my husband started to work with a contractor for the Colombian Army.

After continuous threats and alarms, we requested help from the Municipal Authorities to be transferred by plane to Neiva, since traveling by bus exposed us to be intercepted by the guerrillas.

We arrived in Neiva,and then looked for my mother’s help in the nearby town of Garzon. We spent there seven very difficult months, having no luck in finding jobs.

We went back to Neiva and stayed with my husband’s family but they denied us any help. Having our hands empty, with children to feed and no jobs, we struggled but remained together as a family until finally now, we’re working.

In 2008 I became familiar with ATA through Doctora Blanca’s program “FAMILIES IN ACTION”. They invited me to attend a meeting and from that day my life changed.

I learned how to work with leather. I started to feel more secure (more confident) of myself and a better mother. Now I feel alive and useful as a member of our community.

In the process I learned how to price the items we produce, I learned also how to sell, how to work in groups, how to dream and mainly how to LIVE IN PEACE, thanks to ATA.