The Council of Evangelical Churches of Colombia (CEDECOL) is a partner of Global Ministries which, among many other things, offers relief and hope to the victims of Colombia's situation of violence and upheaval. The CEDECOL Women's Network is an interdenominational network of women working throughout Colombia as advocates for those affected by the violence. They empower women, especially those with a strong Christian identity, to accept the challenge of working to secure dignity for all. They especially work with women and their families who have been displaced because of the civil war in Colombia and with women's groups in poor communities.

The Women's Network offers programs and initiatives to women who face social and economic hardship, as well as those living in the midst of domestic abuse and civil violence.  They attempt to provide women throughout the country with the power to provide for themselves and their families, as well as to promote and provide opportunities for other women in a sustainable effort.  The Network also actively advocates for peace, justice, and equality, three important values often absent in Colombian society.

The Women's Network has worked hard to reach out to women in the regions of most need.  Facing the predominance of "machismo," with little and poor local institutional support, and threats of violent retribution for their efforts, the Network has worked with women primarily through local church ministries and has achieved a degree of recognition and trust among the communities of women and the churches in many areas. Dialogue and fellowship have grown, allowing for more women to hear about the Network and take advantage of the training and support the ministry provides. In 2008 the National Board of the Network met to evaluate their progress and processes and to discuss and dream about where they go next. The Board developed a plan that would bring the most benefit to those women who continue to suffer displacement, domestic and civil violence, and the inability to provide basic care and education for their children, most of whom have lost in some way or other the father, and many who have been blended into other families as a result of being abandoned or having lost both parents.

The Network will work closely with other groups formed and directed by women of the CEDECOL churches who also seek to improve the quality of life for women in peril. In partnership, these programs will work more in the future to provide psycho-emotional aid to women through workshops and training in trauma management for self-motivated recovery. In addition, they will provide training in non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution, developing healthy self-esteem, and other topics of critical importance to women.

The following are examples of special ways you can help Red de Mujeres:

• $234 can provide leadership for a training workshop.
• $50 can help support communication needed for coordination within the Network and with other groups.
• $25 can support one woman's participation in a workshop on trauma management, recovery, or conflict resolution.

Please see related story at:  Lidia and Marcela