"Stories from under the tree" #51 31 January 2005

The Sycamore Tree Project ®

PFI Centre for Justice and Reconciliation

Prison Fellowship International

 

PF Colombia  – Sycamore Tree Project ® implemented

Dan Van Ness , Director of the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation and Miguel Tello , Restorative Justice Programme Manager for the Centre participated in two sessions of the STP which is being implemented in the Bella Vista Prison and in the Pablo Escobar neighbourhood of Medellín , Colombia .  The following is from a report noting the powerful experience that both Dan and Miguel witnessed.

Bella Vista Prison

Bella Vista Prison, which means “beautiful view” in Spanish, fits its name.  It is nestled in a valley and surrounded by mountains.  However, even more beautiful than the surrounding mountains is what is happening inside this prison, until recently known for its high levels of violence.  The prison has seen a significant reduction in violence despite holding members from diverse warring parties including paramilitaries, guerrilla members and drug lords.  It is also a prison that holds close to 5,000 inmates and was designed for approximately 1,300 offenders. 

PF Colombia's work in the prison has contributed much to changing this situation.   Joining these efforts for peace is the Sycamore Tree Project which began two weeks ago under the direction of Lacides Hernandez , Director of PF Colombia ,  and with the work of Consuelo Martinez and Janine Brabon , also members of PF Colombia. 

Participants in the STP share one thing in common; their lives have been shattered by the violence in Colombia .  One woman participating in the STP has lost 6 of her 7 children to the violence and yet is able to join this program and express her forgiveness for those responsible for the deaths of her children.  So much so, that she hopes to meet with the man responsible for the death of one of her children currently serving a sentence in Bella Vista. 

Offenders participating in the STP at Bellavista are mostly men who have committed homicide.  They are men whom PF Colombia has been discipling and are seeking to live new lives.  The STP is helping them to do so.

Pablo Escobar Neighbourhood

The Pablo Escobar neighbourhood is one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Medellin .  It was built by drug lord Pablo Escobar as a way to find additional security by buying the love of the poor for whom he built houses.  It is a neighbourhood where drugs are easily available and where violence is a way of life. 

The STP is bringing new understanding and helping offenders to become aware of the impact of their crime.  Men, who have committed several homicides, meet together with victims who have lost family members to violence.  The stories told by the participants are chilling. They are stories of cold blooded murders and vengeance.  They are also stories of broken families and horrific childhoods.  In the midst of this, the STP is helping offenders and victims to heal and seek new ways of living.

PF Costa Rica gains permission to implement The Sycamore Tree Project ®

Mr. Miguel Tello and Mrs. Rocio Ramirez report that the director of the Adulto Mayor Reforma prison in Alajuela has given his authorization to start the STP. A presentation on the STP has been made to a group of 10 inmates selected by the prison director and his staff for possible participation in the STP (4 to 6 participants will be further selected from this group for the first STP). The ministry has already been recruiting victims. They have identified 3 candidates and hope to find at least one more before starting the program.

Migeul Tello will be facilitating the first STP. Mrs. Rocio Ramirez and a volunteer from the Prison Pastoral working at the Adulto Mayor Prison will be participating as facilitators-in-training. They are very excited about starting STP in Costa Rica and ask for our prayers.

PF USA – InnerChange Freedom Initiative, Texas  – Sycamore Tree Project ® continues to impact lives

Tommie Dorsett, Program Director, IFI Texas reports,  “This is just a note to let you know that STP is still going strong in IFI Texas. Every 3 months 40 offenders start the 13 week course. STP has proven to be the most powerful program that we have”.

Thanks to those who send in information on progress of STP. It is always a blessing to hear what God is doing through this unique programme. Let's keep these various Sycamore Tree Projects® in our prayers as they are used to impact the lives and victims and offenders across the globe!

Graeme Taylor