Agroecology for Peace

This displacement forced many families into situations of poverty and limited opportunities. Over 700,000 victims of the armed conflict reside in Valle del Cauca alone.

However, thanks to the 2016 Peace Agreement and other recent initiatives, families and communities are now able to return to their ancestral practices through the creation of agroecology projects.

One such project is being led by AZOOVALLE (Asociación de Zootecnistas del Valle del Cauca), which seeks to help resolve conflict, create inclusive spaces co-designed by the community itself, and rebuild the social fabric.

This project will be implemented in two strategic locations:

1. Instituto Educativo Diego Rengifo Salazar (Bugalagrande) – Seeks to promote peacebuilding, coexistence and food security via agroecology workshops for 50 students and their families, construction of a school garden with traditional crops, and implement monthly workshops on conflict resolution and cultural activities.
2. La Huerta de la Menta (Cali – Barrio Belén) – Seeks to foster community health as well as intergenerational integration through agriculture by cultivating a medicinal & culinary garden with 30 adults and 20 children, implementing workshops over the use of these, mapping underused green spaces to expand the garden, leading exchanges with other community gardens, and selling excess produce in local farmers markets thereby generating income.

AZOOVALLE’s goal is to bolster community-led efforts in agroecology, peaceful coexistence, and social reconciliation. To achieve this, they have partnered with SENA to certify participants in sustainable farming and with the Cali and Bugalagrande mayors’ offices for land/resource access.

The Agroecology for Peace project is not just a response to urgent needs in conflict-affected communities—it’s a tool for social and territorial transformation. Please help us support this project.