From the rifle to the paddle: an embodiment of conflict and peace from rafting in the Colombian Amazon

Abstract

This text relates a research experience embodied by the Amazonian Motricities research group of the Bachelor’s program in Physical Education, Sports and Recreation at the University of the Amazon. The intention was oriented towards the recognition of the feelings embodied in the lives of peace signatories and former guerrillas of the former FARC-EP, “Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army”. It was about recognizing and understanding their incarnations as guerrillas, and now signatories of the peace process agreed between the Government of Colombia during the presidency of Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC-EP in 2016. And the significance that their life as members has had. of the Rafting project Rowing for Peace, becoming the Colombian Mixed Rafting Team and representing the country in two world championships. This walk revealed personal and collective challenges in the deployment of human feelings experienced and dimensioned from rafting for the union of communities, the harmonization of the social fabric and the rural peasant territory in search of a stable and lasting peace.