The Transit of the Circus Colombia No.5 by the municipality of Dosquebradas aimed to change the mentality of violence in childhood and youth and encourage art and culture through the symbolic campaign of Disarming Hearts.
The National Army gathered about 320 minors and parents of the municipality next to Pereira, who exchanged more than 200 war toys and knives for school kits and snacks.
Through the Disarming Hearts campaign, the families came to the Colombia No. 5 Circus tent of the National Army to symbolically surrender objects and toys that incite violence, for circus culture and art.
During the performance, the soldiers characterized as clowns, mimes, acrobats and more, distributed messages highlighting principles, values and a culture of peace.
The inhabitants, who mostly reside in areas where there are still conflicts due to micro-trafficking and forced displacement - according to reports of the Mayor's Office of the municipality - thanked the members of the Military Forces for this space of integration and especially for encouraging young people and children to disarm.
"Disarming Hearts really makes us as parents want our children to change their way of thinking, because sometimes we think that by giving a toy that incites violence we do well and today's presentation taught us that from home you can change that way of education," said Veronica Vera, mother of a family and attendant to the Disarmament presentation.
For his part, Colonel Álvaro Iván Santana Forero, commander of the Comprehensive Action and Development Support Brigade No. 2, explained that "the example starts at home, that's why with our campaign we made a symbolic exchange with war toys that promote violence; it also taught that what really works in education is art and sports, that's where the future of Colombia lies."
The Mayor's Office of Dosquebradas, the Civic and Youth Police, different foundations of the city and private companies that supported this initiative of the National Army joined this campaign.
In this way, the Disarmament Plan contributes to making children and young people more aware of the consequences of the use, carrying and possession of weapons and begin to give more relevance to education, sports and culture for their future.
Once again, the National Army reaffirms its commitment to work to create better social development spaces for the inhabitants of the coffee grower’s zone, promoting culture and respect for life.
Source: Press - Fifth Division of the National Army