Armed conflict victims in Colombia hold on to life thanks to "Reconciliation Choir"

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - APRIL 07: Marcela Correa, who is a teacher in Medellin, Colombia and the coordinator of reconciliation choir, teaches people with vocal techniques to enable them to join society. With the reconciliation choir, the people who have been in the middle of the armed conflict in Colombia, decided to use the language of music to heal the scars and the damage of violence and bullets that were left on them. "This project is one of the most beautiful things that has happened to me in my life. It is a choir that is made up of victims of the armed conflict, signatories of peace and we are seeking to expand the population that is within the choir much more," Lopez said. Stating that he is very happy and very grateful that he is achieving his dreams of childhood, Edwin Correa, who is a member of reconciliation choir said, "The concert with the most people was in the Explora Park, singing Christmas carols were in December. I don't know how many people attended but it was very crowded. There was no room for more people." The reconciliation choir was born in 2019 and made up of armed conflict victims. The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra directs this project in which the labels of victims or ex-combatants do not fit, where the origin or the difficulties that its members have experienced, do not matter. They have made massive presentations with the philharmonic and they follow a rehearsal schedule with dedication to continue training and expanding the repertoire they have. About 20 people belong to this choir who, with their talent, assume art as a tool for healing life and transformation allowing them to be seen in an artistic context by society.(Footage by Tatiana Nino/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)