Juan David Latorre
Last Tuesday, the Embassy of Colombia held the award ceremony of the seventh edition of the 10 Outstanding Colombians in Spain Award, recognition that every year the Embassy gives to Colombians who, through their professional career and example of life, have contributed to strengthen the image of the South American country in Spain.
The Colombian Ambassador, Eduardo Ávila Navarrete, told the award winners in his welcoming remarks that “you are an example to follow for all Colombians who have decided to settle in Spain. Your hard work, passion, dedication have been recognised and rewarded in a nation that values diversity and talent. I am sure that their story and their success will inspire many young Colombians, to achieve their dreams and be part of building a future.”
“Colombian migration to Spain has had has been significant in both countries in different aspects, such as economically with the contribution of that migration to the Spanish economy; as regards culture, with the consequent increase of cultural diversity in Spain, and has enriched Spanish society with the richness of Colombian culture; socially, creating communities of Colombians that have allowed them to maintain their cultural identity and sense of belonging while building lives in their new home; and in terms of challenges, such as their integration into Spanish society and access to economic and employment opportunities.”
Referring to his country’s new government, the ambassador pointed to the quest for “total peace”. Total peace is more than the absence of conflict and violence, “he said. It is a state of harmony and balance in which people can live free from fear and injustice. Not only is it a fundamental right, noted Eduardo Avila Navarrete, “peace enables the building of strong and united communities, where people can grow, learn and thrive together. However, achieving total peace requires collective efforts and international cooperation to address the root causes of conflict and promote justice and equality”. “Total peace,” the ambassador concluded, “requires complete reconciliation among Colombian nationals. This is a fundamental issue for strengthening cohesion and peace in Colombia.
This year, the award winners were the following: Victims Abroad representative, John Jairo Romero Munevar; CEO of the business consortium Grupo M&M Restauración, Mario Gil; doctor of the Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit of the Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital in Santander, Juan Andrés Echeverri Cifuentes; creator of the Lakama Group, Jarvy Orozco; founder of the Jose Pan bakeries, José Humberto Rodríguez; entrepreneur and PSI professor at the University of Huelva, Mónica Montaño Garcés; Colombian motorcyclist, Pablo Echeverry; acrobatic salsa and Latin rhythms dancer, Stefany Moreno; social communicator, Martha Patricia Goyeneche Guevara; and the director of Conciencia Afro, Yeison García.
