Who are we?
In 1972, the Society of Jesus established the Center for Investigation and Popular Education (Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular - CINEP) as a non-profit foundation dedicated to constructing a more humane and equitable society through the promotion of comprehensive and sustainable development.
Presently, CINEP has three main functions. On the one hand, it is a center for thought on current social and cultural issues in Colombia. On the other hand, in terms of the Colombian social conflict, it is an organization for mediation that takes the side of discriminated and excluded sectors by promoting their participation in the development of Colombia. Additionally, the Center is a documentation base that aids in understanding the nation’s development, in addition to inspiring, documenting, and disseminating proposals for social change, as well as the agreements needed for the transformation of Colombia.
As a center for thought, CINEP has carried out extensive research on conflict, types of violence, human rights, politics and State, public services, poverty and development, social movements, and popular education.
As an organization for mediation, CINEP has extensive experience in the areas of educating and organizing for local and regional development. Over the last years, a considerable amount of CINEP’s work can be seen through the Magdalena Medio Development and Peace Project (Proyecto de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio). This project brings together and puts into practice different elements developed by CINEP, including discovering and initiating the action of the regional partner organizations; organizing community participation for decision-making in relation to regional development; and offering methods for communities to be trained in short- and long-term planning, and in controlling their own political development.
As a documentation base, CINEP has an information system with the following basic components: a specialized press archive; databases on urban and rural struggles, and collective actions for peace and human rights; as well as a geo-referenced information system (GIS).
Additionally, in order to strengthen our action, CINEP participates and coordinates in national and international networks in which alliances have been established with other organizations, academic centers, and media centers. Lastly, CINEP has been widely recognized nationally and internationally in the areas of research, education, dialogue, and publishing.
