“MISIONES SALESIANAS” of Madrid, in collaboration with “ISCOM” Association presents the documentary “Alto el Fuego” (Cease Fire) on the process of the personal rehabilitation and social reintegration of Child Soldiers thanks to the Salesians

(Rome, January 27, 2017) - Over 50 years of armed conflict in Colombia between FARC, ELN, the Paramilitaries and the State left on the field eight million victims. Throughout this time, thousands of children were part of armed groups and in their turn became the victims, because their childhood remained attached to arms, the forest was their only home and the battalion their sole family.

The use of child soldiers is a very widespread practice in countries at war: they are cheap labour, easy to manipulate, with few exigencies, loyal, easily replaceable, they do not cost much to feed, create less suspicions in enemy lines, and are perfect companions and sex slaves… According to an estimate, in Colombia there are still from 8.000 to 14.000 child soldiers.

Deprived of education for years, the minors that have been driven away from the conflict are hosted in the Salesian house “Ciudad Don Bosco” of Medellin, that in the last 14 years accompanied over 2.300 ex child soldiers. The programme “Construyendo sueños” (Constructing Dreams) welcomes them, cares for their rehabilitation and educates them, helping them to overcome the traumas they suffered through a pedagogy of trust, transforming their fears into the desire of learning, and teaching them a profession so that they may reintegrate in the society and reunite with their families.

The documentary “Alto el Fuego”, directed by Raul de la Fuente, traces in 21 minutes the fears, dreams and hopes of the protagonists, Catalina and Manuel. It recounts their entry in the guerrilla warfare, the phase of de-militarization, the process of personal reconstruction in the Salesian house and their dreams of a future of peace and as actors and constructors of that same peace. “I want to buy a small house… no, a big house! I want to go to University, to think big…”, says Catalina who has just obtained her diploma in Graphic Arts at Ciudad Don Bosco.

“MISIONES SALESIANAS” of Madrid, in collaboration with “ISCOM” Association hereby invites journalists to the presentation of the documentary.

Information for the Media

Day: Thursday, February 2nd, 2017 - Hour: 11:00 - Venue: Borgo Pio 172, Rome

Participants: Catalina and Manuel, young people delivered from FARC in Colombia; Rafael Bejarano, Salesian and Director of “Ciudad Don Bosco” in Medellin; and James Areiza, educator and responsible for the Programmes of Child Protection at “Ciudad Don Bosco”.

The SALESIAN MISSIONS were born in 1875, when Don Bosco sent a group of ten missionaries to Argentinian Patagonia. Since then, over 140 years have passed, during which more than 10.000 Salesians were sent to mission countries. Now we are present in over 130 countries, where we carry out projects to the benefit of the most underprivileged children and youth.

For further information:

José Luis Muñoz +39 340 181 71 76 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - +39 06 6561 2579