Tuition for Colombian Peace-Builder!

I would like to invite you to invest in building peace in Colombia. Not through humanitarian aid, not through sending more good-hearted folk like myself to do accompaniment, but through a scholarship, through sponsoring the education of a proven local advocate for Christs' nonviolent third way, human rights, and social justice. 

This is Oscar. His brother was killed by a corrupt policeman, he has been in and out of university after being threatened by both paramilitary and guerilla groups; after his own professional soccer dreams fizzled, he spent four years working in a Christian organization as a soccer coach to children in the hill-side comunas, the centers of violence in Medellin (a field he trained on was land-mined at some point), before he was again threatened and had to leave. Oscar co-pastored a struggling church for eight years, unpaid, and currently is again volunteering time teaching nonviolence and human rights in a men's prison and supporting our local church group's work with victims of violence. 

Through all of this his dream has been to graduate as a lawyer and take on the cases of those treated unjustly. In a country where speaking of human rights has often been a death-sentence, he still believes that it is a framework that can help restore some sanity to this corrupt context. Having had to step out several times before, Oscar is now more than ever dedicated to finishing his last 3 semesters of law school.  He has applied for several jobs and when he can assists a lawyer friend with his case-work he does, but it's not enough. I know Oscar will make it, he is determined and intelligent and faithful, but I also know that a little help would go a long way.  Unemployment and underemployment are endemic in Colombia, and Oscar has now been unemployed for nearly a year; it is a god-send that he can live with his family so as to not pay food or housing costs, but with no income, paying for studies becomes impossible.

One semester at Oscar's university costs about 1200 US dollars, including the websites´fee, though we would need to raise 1350$. That's my goal If I can help raise enough money to take some pressure off for just one semester I know it would give him some breathing room given that right now even paying bus fare is a struggle, my hope is to raise this before April 15th. Every little bit helps. I understand that the world is full of need and we must all chose what we believe is worthwhile, good, sustainable, etc. Personally I believe that helping Oscar get his degree is a direct investment in grassroots peace building and solidarity in Colombia. I'm hoping you will think so too.

If you have any questions or would like more information before donating, please feel free to  write to me at [email redacted]

Many thanks and God bless!