In her reflection for this past Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Lent, Pax Christi International's Latin America Regional Coordinator, Martha Inés Romero, wrote:  "In the midst of the suffering caused by poverty and marginalization, in Latin America and the Caribbean, every day people build stories of change, resistance and resilience."

This is the work that Pax Christi International is engaging in all across the world, living out what Pope Francis wrote in his 2017 World Day of Peace message: "In the most local and ordinary situations and in the international order, may nonviolence become the hallmark of our decisions, our relationships and our actions, and indeed of political life in all its forms." In Latin America, nonviolence is being put into practice on a daily-basis, in particular by grassroots communities committed to building fairer societies.

Pax Christi International, through our project, "Latin America and the Caribbean, between hope and violence", strengthens the capacities of local communities on strategies to counter the impact of extractive industries -- a direct way our movement is supporting concrete nonviolent practices. To continue carrying out this initiative,  I ask you to consider giving a gift to Pax Christi International.

Our project, which came out of the request of local Pax Christi groups in the region, is embracing and training grassroots groups in active nonviolence in Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Extractive industries have a huge impact on the livelihood of our local communities. They pollute our water and land and cause conflicts between communities and local/national authorities. Through our training we empower people with the skills and knowledge of their rights to protect their land and culture from the impact of this industry and to transform these conflicts from a nonviolent approach. In Mexico, as a result, local leaders have the skills to present recommendations to the  United Nations rapporteur on Dams and Human Rights.

"This training experience has resulted in our young people having more clarity and consciousness of the dangers caused by the mining company," said Maudilia López, a Mayan community leader from Guatemala. "They now believe in the importance and power of transforming conflicts nonviolently."

The project also has produced a training manual and community leaders have become trainers themselves, all contributing to replicate the initiative across the region.

Solidarity is one of the main pillars of this initiative. Solidarity among communities, but also with people and groups from other countries in the region. In the same spirit, I ask you to give generously to Pax Christi International, so nonviolence can have a stronger voice and become a mainstream practice of our communities in Latin America. You can give easily, quickly and securely by clicking here.