EDUARDO | Colombia

Growing up without a mother, Eduardo* felt like a victim of abandonment and turned to a life of delinquency and crime as an act of rebellion against her. He joined illegal guerrilla and paramilitary groups and lived a criminal lifestyle for many years. Eduardo’s actions eventually caught up to him when he was sentenced to 14 years for homicide. When his mother found out about his incarceration, she tried to establish a relationship with him, but he did not want to see her as he was hurt and upset by her previous lack of commitment to him. He knew this was an unfair accusation against her, as his mother was very young when she had Eduardo and was forced to leave him with his grandfather. Still, he was not ready to reconcile with her, as he couldn’t understand her reasons for leaving him and not sharing who his father was. In prison, Eduardo joined the Sycamore Tree Project, a decision that encouraged him to reflect on the poor decisions he had made, actions he previously felt were justified by his upbringing.

Through the program, he realized it was time to take responsibility for his actions, face the consequences and make amends for the damage he caused. He decided to ask his mother for forgiveness and invited her to the prison for a conversation. She was elated to see her son and immediately opened up to him. She shared that she was devastated that all four of her children were or had been incarcerated and expressed that she felt responsible for Eduardo’s situation. Despite her pain, she was happy to witness Eduardo’s remorse and change in demeanor since assuming responsibility. By giving and experiencing forgiveness, Eduardo and his mother have reestablished and reconciled their relationship, changing both of their lives for the better.

*name has been changed