Laura Gonzalez
Some would say that it is the beautiful sunsets on the east prairies, other would say that it is the amazing topography of the Andes or the astonishing landscapes of the coffee region.
Many would say that it is the sugarcane smell that can be sensed when strolling through the Cauca Valley or the history that encloses the coastal region of the country, but the real reason why Colombia is the third happiest country in the world, is its people, according to a global study done by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.
Colombians are hard working people who continuously try to show the world that they have overcome obstacles with a smile on their face and with intense passion.
Singer and songwriter Shakira is not only famous for her music but also for her humanitarian work in Colombia. “Barefoot Foundation” is the name of her non-profit organization that helps children who are victims of the violence in Colombia.
Grammy Award winning singer Juanes is an inspiration because he has dedicated his career to raise awareness about peace in the world and helps victims of landmines get the treatment and the rehabilitation they need with a non-profit organization called Fundación Mi Sangre, or Foundation of My Blood. Juanes’ lyrics are filled with social consciousness and his concerts are a constant shout out to peace.
“So many ironies that life gives us, while thousands die of hunger, the leaders buy arsenals cultivating pain,” Juanes, lyrics from “Bandera de Manos”
In the scientific community, Colombians Rodolfo Llinas Ph.D., M.D. and Manuel Elkin Patarroyo have excelled. The first is a professor of neuroscience and chairman of the department of physiology and neuroscience at the New York University, School of Medicine, and the latter is a pathologist who developed the vaccine against Malaria.
Colombia’s representative in the literature world is Nobel Prize for Literature recipient Gabriel Garcia Márquez, who with his magic realism, has managed to become one of the most eminent writers in the world. Garcia Márquez, a consecrate journalist, founded the New Iberoamerican Journalism Foundation, which helps young journalist in their professional development.
When talking about Colombians that have left a mark in the world, Jaime Jaramillo is unforgettable. Jaramillo has dedicated his life to help homeless children in Colombia. He created Fundacion Niños de los Andes, or Foundation for the Children of the Andes, and personally went to the poorest regions of the country to find abandoned children and gave them a home, health care and nourishment.
Colombia is without a doubt a stunning country with a rich topography, showered by two oceans and a complex fauna and flora but the most beautiful feature of the land of the coffee and emeralds are its people. Colombians are characterized by their strength and their willingness to help their own. Even in times of skepticism, Colombians rise in the darkness and come triumphant into the light.
