Author: Catherine Disney Ramírez Alfonso
They say Sibaté is a town of madmen. Among them lives a small, young 24-year-old woman who teaches, designs, cooks, and leads. She describes herself as energetic and sensitive in a place that is both unbalancing and magical. It is this very place that led her to want to transform it through the small actions she takes—whether individually or collectively. Her calling places her within a horizon of hope and utopia.
Coming from an activist family, Aura grew up among the landscapes of Sibaté—the same ones that have led her to be part of community gatherings. And how could she not, she wonders, when everywhere she looks, most people are engaged in more than one activity, and there is a pervasive desire to truly live: “How could we not do something for those around us?”
Through her work with the community, as she observes the elders, a feeling of gratitude arises in her. She remembers that knowledge should not be a privilege and that the will to learn can overcome any obstacle—even time itself, because it is never too late to learn. Similarly, in her daily work, she watches the children and youth who inhabit the same space. The lack of resources makes them vulnerable and invisible. But… why does this happen when they have their whole lives ahead of them? And when they speak out, they’re labeled as fragile; they live with anxiety and emotions they can’t express, along with the uncertainty and loneliness of the future. That is why Aura says: “It’s important to keep thinking and working more collectively.”
Starting projects in these situations means getting used to the idea that making a difference is indeed possible.
