To Siloé and Comuna 20 in Cali, “we must see them with different eyes and perhaps thus, we can definitively change our reality, that they support us because what there is here is talent, culture and a territory that could be a tourist jewel”, he told says Darío, a young leader, to TuBarco.
Cali News.
These have been difficult years for more than 80,000 people who live in Comuna 20, which has neighborhoods such as Siloé, Tierra Blanca, La Estrella, Brisas de Mayo, Lleras Camargo; many times negative situations have overshadowed the work of social leaders, youth leaders; women and men who are putting up the ‘fight’, “to do good things, to do them well”, have not given up and the “fruits” are beginning to be seen because today, part of Siloam is territory of peace, tourism, culture, and TuBarco has accompanied part of that transformation.
This December 7 YourBoat achieved an unprecedented event for this sector, but first we will tell you why and how it was possible to bring together various associations, collectives and social groups on the same stage.
A community that screams: “Here we are and we are more than bullets”
Steep streets, hundreds of stairs, houses one on top of the other, walking them or seeing them from the air with the MIO Cable cable car is connecting with that hillside of the city that for years has been ignored.
A star that guides, and that turned on again after some years turned off due to lack of institutional attention. With this means, it was possible to reactivate its lighting with the municipal companies.
I love Siloam.
A ‘I love Siloam’, the point that has helped create a sense of belonging.
A community that was born from the coal mines more than six decades ago, that seeks peace.
The coexistence with which this popular neighborhood began broke down at some point in its history, and gave way to harsh years of violence, where a few marked ‘invisible borders’.
Stigmatized, “forgotten” and separated for many years, he lived his drama.
Some of its inhabitants They didn’t give up, they didn’t shut up, they didn’t bow their heads to pass by, and began to stir feelings for their community.
The bullets snuffed out many lives and displaced hundreds of families, “but you couldn’t just leave the neighborhood,” says Jiselle Tatiana, a lifelong resident of the area.
She helps the children find in the dance, for example, a different option of life.
talented, very talented
From the touch of drums or violins with a symphony, or instruments with recyclable material, dance and dance seedlings; whether for children, young people or older adults, to tourist routes, a museum, the carnival of little devils and much more.
Colors, talent and diversitythere, there is nothing less.
Even a salsa viewpoint, music lovers and collectors have managed to establish themselves on this ‘hill’. Helping with melodies and steps, “to pacify this place,” says Miguel, its creator.
There are also young people who come together and recover spaces for children to do sports or play, who help organize their stables, who support sports and other activities.
In the dream of many boys who have walked these streets since they were children and who dream of seeing them prosperous, full of tourists, TuBarco with the support of entities, took a group of them to see the example of Comuna 13 in Medellín.
During the tour, they shared experiences with leaders of that area in Medellín who have managed to turn it into a tourist territory, and a local economy through its landscapes, arts, and local talent.
TuBarco in Siloé and Comuna 20
Your Boat Calihas joined the community initiative to make visible, “that here we also have life beyond violence or problems,” says Stiven Osorio, a dancer.
Changes that Siloé is having, but also Tierra Blanca, and it is that in these steep streets, what some point out is that from here, “there has been a badly told little gossip.”
#White land and a social project with which they want to change “a bad gossip”. On steeper streets children play and there is hope.
?? stories of #citizen journalism in #Siloam: https://t.co/7syVnLEbg5@ValleyCommitment Y #YourBoat #School of Citizen Journalism. pic.twitter.com/ZxKIfbZhhr
— TuBarco (@tubarconews) August 1, 2022
forgiveness and support
“Here we go, slowly but we are moving forward,” says Doña Miriam, who applauds “all the boys who have left violence to sing or dance.”
She suffered the loss of two children and a grandson between invisible borders, but “I already forgave”.
He says that today, he is happy that one of the young people who was involved in these acts of violence and who was an enemy of his relatives, has “changed for the better.”
Applaud that young man who wielded a gun, “dance and this going around the neighborhood to do nice things».
Others have also changed their lives to make art, music and more, for example, in the Lleras Camargo neighborhood:
“From delinquent to Rap exponent”: Alejandro, an example of life in Comuna 20 de Cali
“This is a bacanería”, the community tourism that was born in #Siloam and Comuna 20: the beauty between mountains and ruins, the friendly face of the Cali hillside, from the La Cancha Grande collective is another example.
This means of communication has been around for a long time, counting the good things that happen in Comuna 20.
Not only counting, but also supporting initiatives in different sectors, helping activities that can be very significant on the hillside.
There, with field work, citizen journalism supported by Compromiso Valle in the first phase, and now by EMCALI, to continue advancing, this Siloé Special has been built.
What is changing…
YourBoat He has spoken with social, sports, cultural, animal rights leaders and many more. He has told their stories, their projects, and their impact on this hillside area of the Valle del Cauca capital.
During all this time, the voice has been made visible from the bowels of Siloé on the hillside, to tell the world through social networks and our portal tubarcon.newsthat “good things are happening”.
It’s not a cliché, it’s a reality. The positive changes are
The visibility that there is talent and ingenuity, the desire to live in peace, for opportunities to come and change the face of pain and stigmatization, for one of art and joy, has led foundations, support and companies to want to help.
#silomira, the mural with the Mosaicaps technique, built with ‘tapitas’ between the young people, the communities of La Nave, Belén and Siloé, and the plastic artist Jonathan Cadavid. ? https://t.co/uD1Oapaggt #citizen journalism @ValleyCommitment pic.twitter.com/yHO0KndHUJ
— TuBarco (@tubarconews) November 14, 2022
A unique artistic show, organized by TuBarco
A long journey, of months, of visits, of working together to bring us closer to the communities, to the young people, which has led us this December 2022, to a special show.
The cultural, artistic and social expression in full at the Yo Amo a Siloé viewpoint, was given an unprecedented presentation in this Commune 20.
Over there from children to the elderly, they came with their costumes, smiles and talent to appear before the cameras; dance, dance, acrobatics, with different rhythms and steps, telling Cali, Valle, Colombia and the world, that “here we are this, joy, love for art and dreams.”
Among the groups and collectives that showed talent:
The presentations of all these groups, can be seen on our Youtube channel
There are many more, who are also at work joining together, showcasing their art and talent on different stages.
Siloé and its history, that there are musical instruments, with dance, with undertakings. And more, much more.
- This story is told with the Comuna 20 visibility program in Cali, with support from EMCALI.
