One of the objectives of the Truth Commission is to promote and contribute to the recognition of the armed conflict victims in Colombia, and recognize them as citizens whose rights were violated. This recognition exercise seeks to evolve into truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. However, there is an fundamental and substantial point in this search: navigating through the facts, learning the story as it happened, and, above all, approaching the victims’ stories. The Truth Commission has carried out important recognition processes that precisely evidence the events that occurred in the context of the conflict. Out of those processes, 12 graphic novels were born: fictional stories that are based on testimonies and interventions of victims, perpetrators, accompanying organizations and institutions that participated in the so-called Encounters for Truth.

Click+Clack developed 6 of those novels during a complex, interesting, reflective, and creative process. For the creative team behind this project, the novels meant a chance to hear those voices that narrate testimonies laden with pain and truth. “We took the testimonies and all the material that the Commission gave us and turned it into stories that convey the most human part of the narratives, without leaving aside what each victim has to say about the conflict and the implications it had in their lives. All those things that are not evident to those who have not suffered the conflict directly,” says Diana Ospina Obando, author of the 6 novels. Today, those novels that translate the ravages of war into sensitive but relatable narrations become a necessary input to open relevant conversations about our history both at home and in the classroom.

1. La fuerza de la tierra / The Strength of the Earth (See novel)

Browse other projects and originals from Click+Clack!

1. Guerra a voces (Voiced War) is a book and an audiobook which shares the voices of those who lived the armed conflict in Colombia on a daily basis. Their stories, decisions and dilemmas are reflected in each chapter.

2. The book has 11 stories from campesinos, soldiers, landowners, guerrillas, leaders, youth and paramilitaries, who share their experiences and allow us to understand the complexity of this war. The compilation of archives, interviews, and testimonies of each of the actors in the conflict was the basis for creating the book.

3. Each sound, voice, and story helps adults and young people to be reflected in the narrators’ testimonies. In that sense, the book goes beyond a reading exercise and becomes a listening and appropriation experience.

4. It is aimed at young people and adults, and seeks to incite conversations at home and in the classroom about what happened in the context of the armed conflict in Colombia.

5. It is accompanied by creative, investigative and analytical challenges that seek to delve into the contexts of the stories and generate an exercise in dialogue and reflection. The pedagogical intention of these challenges is to explore the central topics of each of the stories and shed light on the reflections and dichotomies around war. In addition, it evidences how each of the voices narrates their circumstances, and shares their dilemmas, fears and decisions.

6. Pedagogy is oriented for grades 9, 10 and 11 within the Chair of Peace. Particularly, it seeks to contribute to the reflection on education for peace and culture of peace. FIND THE PEDAGOGY HERE.

Do you want to talk about the armed conflict in the classroom or at home? Find the book HERE.