Toribío, Cauca, Colombia. August 2018.
Nonetheless, Yisela´s Smile
Yisela Martínez is an indigenous women, victim of the armed conflict between FARC guerrilla and Colombian Army. She is also mother of a disabled baby, Juan José, who has microcephaly and cerebral palsy, product of the Zika virus, transmitted by a mosquito from the Forests of Zika in Uganda.
Toribío, the town where she was born and raised, is the place with the greatest harassment in the history of the colombian armed conflict. Its inhabitants suffered the anxiety and fear of war for more than 50 years. However, since the peace deal between the members of the FARC guerrilla and the government, the confrontations in the area has ceased. Thanks to this, Juan José does not know violence.
Maribel (38), Yisela (22) holding her son Juan José (2), and Nayibe (24) Members of the Nasa Indigenous Community, and victims of the armed conflict in Colombia.
Juan José´s Orthopedic boots. People with disabilities in Toribío have been historically stigmatized, only since a few years ago has started their Recognition as part of the Nasa Community. The Disability Program in Toribío was implemented in 2016 thanks to the will of Mayor Alcibiades Escué. Today, more than 150 people benefit annually from this initiative.
Yisela´s Smile. Yisela Martínez is an indigenous women, victim of the colombian armed conflict and mother of a disabled child.
Yisela´s Smile. Yisela Martínez is an indigenous women, victim of the colombian armed conflict and mother of a disabled child.
Blurred Smiles. Yisela never thought to leave Toribío, the place where she was born and raised despite the violence of the Colombian armed conflict. Nevertheless, Maribel and Nayibe tried to leave the place because of the attacks against the civilian population by the National Army and the FARC guerrilla.
Finger peace. Yisela Martínez holds her son Juan José in one of the town streets. She wants to be pharmacologist one day.
