A student waves a flag during a protest in Cali, Colombia, Wednesday. AP Photo/Juan Bautista Diaz. All rights reserved.
In 2016 Colombia’s President Juan Manual Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. This award is a tribute to his government’s relentless efforts of the last few years to reach a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an agreement that will put an end to more than five decades of armed conflict. The implementation of the agreement is a historic opportunity for the more than 8 million victims of this conflict and will bring hope to the next generation of Colombians. In particular, children, adolescents, and youth will have an opportunity to escape suffering and violence and return to school.
Two out every ten children living in rural areas in Colombia never attend school. Half of those who gain access to education do not get beyond primary level (five years of education). By the time they reach the age of 17, almost 75% have left the education system. This means that children and youth aged 12, 13 and 14 face an uncertain future, with little education and scarce or non-existent job opportunities, which makes them extremely vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups or the illegal drug economy.
