Colombia is a very beautiful place, but there has been fighting in some parts of the country for many years. Let’s find out how the fighting has affected Edile and see if he’s feeling safer now.
Edile's story
This is Edile Beite Chaverra. He is nine. He lives in Las Camelias, west Colombia. There has been lots of fighting over land where he lives.
Some people want to take land from the people that live there and use it to grow plants that make palm oil, which can be sold for lots of money. Hundreds of people, like Edile, had to leave their homes when they were attacked.
When Edile was only little, his father was killed in the fighting. The rest of the family were so frightened that they ran away from their home. They were too afraid to go back.
Christian Aid is helping people who have been affected by fighting in Colombia. One of the charity’s partners (the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace) has helped to create a safe area for people to move to. Edile and his family live here now.
This safe place is called Las Camelias. It is very special because no one is allowed to bring weapons here. This means that people can feel safe and live in peace, and are not afraid of being attacked or forced out of their homes.
The weather is warm and wet here, so houses in Las Camelias are very airy and open. They are all raised off the ground so that they don’t get flooded.
Edile loves his new home. ‘I am very happy here. It is a lot of fun, and I have many friends,’ he says.
The whole family are thankful they can live in peace.
