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We are women small-scale farmers, beautiful and courageous

the Fourth Gathering of Women Small-Scale Farmers from North-East Antioquia
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PBI accompanies Cristy (left) from Cahocupana in the village of Campo Vijao, municipality of Remedios (Antioquia) as she prepares and holds the Fourth Gathering of Women Small-Scale Farmers from Northeast Antioquia.<br /> <br /> Foto reportage realised by Bianca Bauer
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PBI accompanies Cristy (left) from Cahocupana in the village of Campo Vijao, municipality of Remedios (Antioquia) as she prepares and holds the Fourth Gathering of Women Small-Scale Farmers from Northeast Antioquia.

Foto reportage realised by Bianca Bauer

BrigadistasElenaYvonneCahucopanaCristy

  • PBI accompanies Cristy (left) from Cahocupana in the village of Campo Vijao, municipality of Remedios (Antioquia) as she prepares and holds the Fourth Gathering of Women Small-Scale Farmers from Northeast Antioquia.<br /> <br /> Foto reportage realised by Bianca Bauer
  • On the way we meet children who are returning home from school. These local children tell us that their journey to and from school takes two hours on horseback.
  • Campo Vijao is a small Hamlet of some 20 homes in Northeast Antioquia.
  • At the half-way point on our journey, Elena calls the PBI house in Barrancabermeja to let the team know that all is well. She uses a satellite phone because in this area of the country there is no mobile phone signal.
  • Cahucopana has worked with small-scale women farmers on economic autonomy; in addition, the organisation has supported the creation of women’s committees to address gender issues and empower women to take a leadership role in peacebuilding. This is the fourth year that Cahucopana has organised a gathering of women from Northeast Antioquia.
  • We arrive at the village and wait for the women to arrive. Many are coming from far away and will have to cross areas along rough, neglected dirt tracks. Meanwhile, Elena tells Ellen, a young girl from the village, that she comes from Spain, which surprises her a great deal. She has never met anyone from Spain before, she says.
  • The northeast of Antioquia is located on the eastern margin of the Central Andean mountains, southwest of the San Lucas mountain range in the department of Antioquia. The area is extremely rich in mining and wood production. Despite all these natural riches, the communities that inhabit the area live in poverty and marginality. Abandoned by the government, they lack basic services such as water, electricity, health and education.
  • Deforestation is a major concern for farmers in the Northeast Antioquia. According to the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) this is caused by illegal and artisanal mining, extensive livestock farming, land colonisation, timber extraction and illicit crops.
  • Northeast Antioquia has experienced violence in a systematic way. Its communities have suffered blockades that prevented the entry of food and medicines, imposed by all the legal and illegal armed actors. Today, the indigenous and small-scale farming communities suffer due to the appearance of other armed actors and criminal gangs that have emerged from the power vacuum left by the FARC in these times of post-conflict.<br /> Campo Viajo is divided by a river and both sides are connected by a hanging bridge.
  • Elena and Yvonne talk to Don Gerardo, one of the leaders from Cahucopana.<br /> Don Gerardo is one of the leaders of Cahucopana. In 2004, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis resulting from the economic blockades imposed by the illegal and legal armed actors, more than three hundred small-scale farmers from Northeast Antioquia decided to form this grassroots organisation.
  • While waiting for the start of the workshops, a young girl has written a message for her mum telling her she loves her.
  • During the night there is a strong downpour of rain, which is good for the crops, but which will also make the state of the dirt roads even worse. The people of Campo Vijao worry that the women from other far-off villages will not manage to get here or will get stuck on the way. Many women will have to travel for up to seven hours to get here.
  • Jonathan is also part of Cahucopana; he is one of the people in charge of logistics during the women’s gathering.
  • From 5am the village starts to prepare breakfast and wait for the other women to arrive.
  • Don Elías prepares the arepa corn cakes for breakfast.<br /> Don Elías is a leader and he cares about the environment in the region. He says that the farmers are making great efforts to promote reforestation and prevent more trees being cut down in the region. He adds that it is a great challenge because the presence of the ELN has expanded in the area and this group promotes the felling of trees.
  • Elena puts up the PBI flag and sign in the place where the women’s event will take place.
  • In spite of the rain, many women arrive. Elena and Yvonne from PBI will stay and observe the event.
  • Many small-scale women farmers and indigenous women in the region have lost loved ones in the armed conflict; the whereabouts of the remains of many of the victims are still unknown and the women are waiting for reparation from the Colombian State.
  • Some young women pose with their new caps that they were given at the start of the event.
  • After 15 years of work defending and promoting human rights, CAHUCOPANA has created spaces for reflection within small-scale farming and mining communities, through ongoing training, accompaniment and advice from their Humanitarian Action Teams and Women’s Humanitarian Action Teams, in addition to work to rebuild historical memory and call for individual and collective reparation for the victims of the armed conflict, all this in order to build a comprehensive vision of human rights that encourages real enforceability and transformation towards Peace.
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