Angela D. Nichols, Ph.D., Lina Sofía Vásquez, Brooke Zimmerman, Isa Marin, Salomé Díaz Gómez and Andrés Ramírez, Ph.D.

Faculty and Students Join Forces to Support Peace Efforts in Colombia

Translation of Colombian Truth Commission Reports into English

PJHR in collaboration with the Florida Atlantic Teachers' Research Group: Hispanic Serving Entities

What are we translating?
  • In 2016, the Colombian government signed a historic peace agreement with the FARC-EP rebels ending a 50+ year civil war in the country.
  • The Commission for Truth spent over three years investigating and documenting the stories of the victims of the conflict.
  • The documents that share these stories make up thousands of pages. No other organization has begun translating these documents.
  • A group of student volunteers at Florida Atlantic have begun translating these important documents so that they are accessible to a wider international audience.

Truth in Translation flyer english Truth in Translation - Spanish

 

 

 

 

 



 


Student Leaders 

 Salomé Diaz GómezSalomé Díaz Gómez
“I am full of dreams and with hopes to get to know the world due to my own efforts but without forgetting where I came for. I think that’s why am here in Florida doing my undergrad in economics to have a bigger picture of the world and its economy. This is also why I am participating in this project: to get to share with the world a little of the reality of where I came from.”- Salomé Díaz Gómez





Brooke ZimmermanBrooke Zimmerman
“I wanted to be part of this project because my time in Colombia profoundly impacted me and has influenced my passions and goals in life. This project allows me to give back to a country that means so much to me, and will allow others to understand and study Colombia in new ways.” - Brooke Zimmerman, political science and Spanish,previously lived in Colombia and Mexico City

 

 

Isa MarinIsa Marin
“I believe we are the stories we know and tell. I like to imagine a world sensitive to the magic of the unfamiliar. The stories I know, particularly those of Colombia's civil conflict, have defined my time as an undergraduate English major at FAU. They underpin my research interests in 20th-century Latin American literature, postcolonial and posthuman ecologies, and oil and speculative fictions.”- English, born and raised on Miccosukee and Seminole land, with Colombian heritage

 



Lina Sofia VasquezLina Sofía Vásquez
“This project means a lot to me because these reports transmit the emotions and experiences that the victims of the conflict went through, being in the middle of the crossfire. I encourage everyone to read these reports with an open heart and empathy for those affected. Many of the victims have opened their hearts to share with the world the truths about their lives, their past and a future that is yet to be built upon justice and peace. I am excited to be part of this project and thankful for the opportunity to bring to the world such important documents for my beloved homeland, Colombia.”- Lina Sofía Vásquez, social work, born and raised in Colombia

Juliana RestrepoJuliana Ramírez Restrepo
“I am passionate about struggles related to the defense of human rights. I enjoy understanding Colombia's history and its political struggle. This project excites me because it allows the collection of testimonies and stories from different communities to be disseminated worldwide and heard.” - Juliana Ramírez Restrepo, social work, Tecnológico de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

 

 



Sofia BlancoSofia Blanco, born in Cali, Colombia
“I am a rising senior at FAU High School and plan to major in biomedical engineering. I was born in Cali, Colombia and have lived in the United States for ten years. The civil unrest in Colombia has profoundly affected my family and our loved ones. By taking part in this project, I aim to share similar testimonies through translations, hoping to forge a more harmonious and united community.”

 

 

 


It is Not a Lesser Evil

Our Plans

Possibilities and dreams

  • Expand number of volunteers
  • Translate several texts simultaneously and speed up the publication of reports.
  • Socialize the initiative at the national and international level.
  • Create bilingual curriculum using the Spanish and English texts already created.
  • Conduct research that evaluates the impact of these activities on the students engaging in them.

 


Colombian Efforts Team
Current Project Team

From Left to Right: Andrés Ramírez, Ph.D., Laura Sofía Gallo, Angela D. Nichols, Ph.D., Sofía Vasquez, Salomé Díaz, Brooke Zimmerman Aura Cuasquer Ordoñez, Gabriela Quintero, Cleo Miyake, and Sofía Blanco.

Aura OrdonezAura Cuasquer Ordoñez 
"On spring of 2024 I graduated with my Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from the Los Andes University in Colombia, and this fall I started my Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at FAU. As a Colombian, I know the importance of the JEP documents in the history of my country, and understand the value of the testimonies of the victims. I believe it is crucial that everyone has access to and understands these testimonies. I'm excited to be a part of this project and help make these documents available to a wider audience." - Aura Cuasquer Ordoñez, born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia.

 

Sofia GalloLaura Sofía Gallo
"I was born and raised in Colombia, and I know the impact of violence and war that the country has experienced. One of my goals has always been to help others and make a difference in the world, and in this case especially for my beautiful Colombia. I am proud to belong to this project, to contribute to the consolidation of peace and resilience of the Colombian reality and to feel the personal satisfaction of helping to make a change in my country, which is still rebuilding its future." - Laura Sofía Gallo,




Cleo MayakeCleo Miyake
“As a Rising senior at FAU High School, I plan to Major in Political Science, with specifics in International Relations & Affairs. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil, but grew up in urban areas of Florida and Puerto Rico, growing up sheltered and unaware of much of the history happening around me. Participating in this project is both teaching me about the lives these people have lived and giving me the amazing opportunity to spread their stories, and truth.” - Cleo Miyake, born in São Paulo, Brazil, raised in Puerto Rico

 

Gabriela QuinteroGabriela Quintero
"Although I did live in Colombia for a long time, I quickly learned about the injustices brought about by the civil unrest prevalent throughout my country. Being able to bring the stories and lived experiences of those affected is something truly profound, and I look forward to being able to use my skills within literature and political science to bring this project to life," - Gabriela Quintero, FAU High School student, born in Bogotá, Colombia.