Sexual violence in the Colombian armed conflict severely affected rural women in Meta, who for years suffered in silence. Thanks to the Propaz II program and psychosocial support spaces such as Asofuturo, women like Milena have found the strength to tell their stories before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. Today, Milena is a leader who transforms her pain into inspiration, defending women's rights and promoting the non-repetition of these events.

María Argensola, an Embera leader and peace advocate in Florencia, Caquetá, has dedicated her life to healing and empowering women victims of sexual violence. With her organization “Mujeres Sobrevivientes Tenemos Memoria” and the support of Propaz II, María energizes spaces for psychosocial care and healing. Her process with Propaz II has helped her transform her pain into resilience, restoring her dignity and strength as a caregiver and guardian of memory and territory, strengthening indigenous participation in justice and truth.

Judith Torres Castro, a visual artist from Ocaña, Norte de Santander, and a single mother, has used art as a tool for healing and empowerment in Catatumbo. Winner of the “Art of Truth” contest, Judith addresses themes such as female empowerment and resilience in her work, focusing on transmitting the value of peace and memory to new generations. Her work reflects the passage from pain to hope, with a chrysalis in her belly that symbolizes change and a butterfly that inspires transformation for a future of peace in her region.

Raiza, a trans woman and human rights leader in Meta, is a symbol of the fight for respect and the rights of the LGTBIQ+ population in the region. With more than fifteen years of constant work, she has established an organization that defends these rights and has been a direct victim of the conflict. With the support of the Propaz II program, Raiza and her team have opened spaces for dialogue and presented reports to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, making visible the violations suffered by the LGTBIQ+ population in Meta, and working alongside the Secretariat of Women and Gender to promote inclusive public policies.

Franklin, a 43-year-old community leader in Belén de los Andaquíes, works at the Day Center supporting older adults and is recognized for his commitment to the victims' participation board. The son of farmers, he has overcome his shyness through psychosocial healing experiences, which motivated him to get involved in local politics, driven by his desire to serve his community and protect the natural environment. His story is an example of how leadership flourishes in environments of respect and trust, promoting both collective well-being and the care of the territory.

A psychosocial capacity-building exercise with officials from the Land Restitution Unit (URT) was carried out in one of the largest territorial directorates in the country, aiming to improve the quality of service and the impact of the entity’s mission-driven processes.

Diana Rivas, a URT official, highlighted the importance of this space as a continuous opportunity for training and professional development. She emphasized that this type of experience should be regularly replicated, at least once a year, to support ongoing professional growth and the well-being of the team.

Luz Mary Villa Triana is a community and political leader in San José del Fragua, Caquetá, who has worked to strengthen Community Action Boards through the Municipal Good Governance for Peace Program. Her efforts include the creation of Women and Gender Commissions, the organization of a community service fair, and the coordination of more than 70 Community Action Boards to develop the Communal Development Plan. Additionally, she has been the only rural woman in the Municipal Council for two consecutive terms, solidifying her influence at both the community and political levels.

Paulina Cobo Mahecha has spent 20 years searching for her daughter, María Cristina, who disappeared in 2004 in Guaviare. Her story represents the suffering of many mothers in Colombia. To honor the memory of her daughter and other missing persons, she created *Cristinas de la Paz*, rag dolls that symbolize the struggle of searching mothers. Her Forum Theater production, *The Life of Absences*, which addresses the pain of the armed conflict and the search for peace, was presented on April 9, 2023, at the Teatro Colón in Bogotá, with support from the ProPaz II program of German cooperation (GIZ).