Though it may not always seem it, most of us get involved in politics because we want to do something good. Maybe we “get the bug” when participating in Model U.N. or writing for our high school newspaper. But at the heart of the matter is a bit of idealism – the notion that, with enough energy and care, we can actually do something good.
For those of us lucky enough to pursue those kinds of dreams beyond late night “House of Cards” binges, there ends up being more than enough cynicism to eventually disillusion us. What good, if any, do good ideas really do?
With the right people, it turns out, a great deal of good can be done. Christine Balling, Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations at the Institute of World Politics, is living proof. As an American married to a prominent Colombian politician, Christine found herself campaigning in the countryside with her late husband, seeing firsthand how a lack of options left far too many young people vulnerable to the grips of FARC, the far-left Marxist–Leninist guerrilla army that had terrorized the country for half a century.
In her conversations, she discovered that the children lacked basic joys and security any parent would desire. One such example? There were no playgrounds for the children. Christine soon learned that many kids in the area lacked community hubs like these. Without access to any resources, these young people often turned to FARC to provide them with opportunities to obtain a basic level of corporal security.
Christine decided that wasn’t good enough for the kids of Tolima. She launched a project, Non Sibi, that partnered with the American government to teach the children about self-governance, democratic values, and the importance of charting a different path in life. The project grew throughout the region, despite immense threats from FARC and its local allies, and area children embraced Non Sibi as a springboard for a better future.
Christine recently returned to Colombia, where she met with several of the original Non Sibi kids whose playgrounds were the foundation of a peaceful and more prosperous future. A documentary crew followed her as she reconnected with the community and recounted how her small project changed their lives forever.
Click the video below to watch Christine’s story and learn how American public diplomacy (frugally and thoughtfully delivered!) helped children in desperate need of hope.