About CORECO

WALKER

WALKER OF PEACE TAKE MY HAND,

ONLY TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE THE PLANET ALIVE,

THE RIVER BORN OF THE MOUNTAIN WILL SWELL

WHEN IN ITS WAY, A BROTHER JOINS.

WALKER, FACING THE SUN, LET US GO ON

WITHOUT FEAR TO THE TRUTH, TO JUSTICE AND TO DEATH,

THE HAPPINESS OF LIVING IS NOT ONLY LUCK,

IT IS STRUGGLE WITHOUT CEASE FOR WHAT WE LOVE.

THE LOVE FOR LIFE IS NOT ERRANT,

IT IS LOOKING AFTER THE FLOWER THAT IS NOT ANOTHER’S,

IT IS RELIEVING PAIN, CRIES AND SORROWS; IT IS SHARING WITH YOU, WALKER.

ANTONIO GUERRERO

WHAT IS CORECO?

The “Commission of Assistance towards Community Unity and Reconciliation” (COmisión de apoyo a la unidad y REconciliación COmunitaria) known as CORECO, is an organization of the civil society which was founded July 8, 1996 in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México

We collaborate with communities and civil organizations in the resolution of their differences and in their efforts towards unity and peace with justice and dignity.

WHO ORGANIZED CORECO?

When The National Network of civil organisms for human rights called “All Rights for All”, the National Civil Alliance, the National Commission of Mediation (in Chiapas) and the Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas (Chiapas, México), became aware of the problems that divide communities, they thought of the formation of CORECO.

For that reason, we are an organization of the civil society. We offer assistance so that persons, communities and organizations in conflict, can find their own ways to resolve their problems.

WHY DO WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESOLUTION OF COMMUNITY DIFFERENCES?

The military response of the government to the conflict in Chiapas as well as the army itself have worsened community problems, destroyed social structures and relations and made more difficult social unity.

The differences which have increased with the conflict in Chiapas hold back the advance of the civil society, destroy community life and terminate society’s efforts in the peace process.

Without social unity, the problem of poverty cannot be resolved nor can alternative ways of constructing true peace with justice and dignity be found.

WHAT DO WE DO IN CORECO?

We work as a team to:

Help the communities who seek us out and want to find a solution to their differences.

Accompany communities and organizations in their search for a solution to specific conflicts providing the necessary atmosphere and methods.

Offer workshops on the constructive resolution of conflicts.

Provide formation and accompaniment to local commissions which promote of reconciliation and peace.

• We promote and organize meetings of different civil organizations so that they can unite their efforts for peace democracy.
• Peace is only possible if it is based on justice, the dignity of each person, respect for differences and diversity.
• Peace is necessary for the construction of a new, democratic society where all persons take an active part in the building of their own history.

Our methodology in the positive transformation of conflicts (TPC):

After almost eight years of work we have established an appropriate methodology that allows us to elaborate adequate strategies for the cases in which our intervention is petitioned.

Our work is based on two main principles:

1. The different parties are interested in resolving their conflict
2. They accept that CORECO takes part in the process of finding solutions

Our method establishing a strategy for a conflict consists of the following main points:

• Receive the case
• Gather information and investigate
• Analyze the case
• Decide what sort of intervention would be appropriate and establish a strategy to propose to the parties involved:

  A)Follow up the case and keep ourselves informed or

  B)CORECO acts as mediator or

  C)coreco supports the people and organizations that have the best possibilities to influence positively or mediate

• The different parties define the role of CORECO depending on the type of intervention and strategy required.
• Working with the problem establishing a process of dialogue, ways to continue and important indicators of the peace process (basic rules, the number of meetings, the number of people-delegates required for making decisions, etc.).
• Accompany the process.

Methodology of training

Our aim in the training of promoters of peace and reconciliation:

• Favor consciousness and analysis of their own practices of conflict management and mediation
• Strengthen the integration of the group
• Improve their mediation skills through providing instruments that have served other communities in the creative resolution of conflicts

First module

Aim: Recognize our position in conflicts in accordance with our own personal experience in order to create a common vision that allows us to introduce the theme of positive resolution of the conflicts.

Second module

Aim: Analyze the conflicts in our lives with the help of tools that allow reflection from different perspectives.

Third module

Aim: Reflect on the topic of mediation, practicing techniques and skills that allow us to intervene in the resolution of conflicts.

Fourth module

Aim: Create a plan to continue the promotion of peace applying what has been learned to our reality and our specific conflicts.

Once the process, be it mediation or training, has been terminated, CORECO is available to the groups for consultation or other types of intervention when it is requested.

TO WHOM DO WE OFFER OUR WORK?

• The communities of Chiapas
• All civil organizations
• The different churches
• And all persons and organizations who are searching for real ways to reach peace based on justice and dignity for all.

Peace benefits everyone

Peace is the road

M. Gandhi