How a bomb blast forged Colombia’s most resilient veteran

 

By Gloria García. From a landmine explosion in Colombia to royal honors in London: How a double-amputee sergeant turned battlefield trauma into an international triumph of human resilience. Sergeant Francisco Jenaro Pedraza displays the Invictus Spirit Award he received in London. (Image courtesy of the Colombian Embassy in the UK).

UKLONDON — For many veterans, the wounds of war are a private battle. But for retired Colombian Army Sergeant Francisco Jenaro Pedraza Osorio, a life-altering explosion became the catalyst for a global mission of recovery and solidarity.

Sgt Pedraza has been honoured in London by the Invictus Games Foundation with the prestigious Invictus Spirit Award.

The accolade recognises his profound dedication to supporting wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women through their darkest moments of rehabilitation.

The story of the 49-year-old father of three is one of remarkable resilience. Born in Bogotá, Sgt Pedraza served for 24 years in the Colombian National Army. His life changed irreversibly on 2 September 2004 during a high-stakes rescue operation aimed at liberating two kidnapped farmers in the volatile southern region of Caquetá.

His unit inadvertently triggered a landmine field. The blast injured four soldiers and left Sgt Pedraza with catastrophic injuries, including the loss of both legs above the knee and severe abdominal trauma.

Sergeant Francisco Jenaro Pedraza addresses the audience after accepting the Invictus Spirit Award in London.

Yet, where others might have seen an end, Sgt Pedraza saw a turning point. Just three months into a grueling physical rehabilitation programme, and with the backing of military medical staff, he took up para-sports.Within 15 months of the explosion, he completed the Miami Marathon.

He went on to dominate the track, winning gold in the 200m at Colombia's 2008 Para-National Games, alongside silvers in the 100m and 400m sprints.

He later transitioned to handcycling, securing further national titles and representing Colombia on the international stage at the World Cups in Segovia, Spain, and the Marine Corps Trials in San Diego, California.

Sport has played a pivotal role in Sergeant Pedraza's rehabilitation and recovery.

"Sport allowed me to project new goals in life," Sgt Pedraza said. "It helped me accept that while my physical appearance had changed, my true strength remained intact within my mind."Beyond his athletic achievements, Sgt Pedraza pursued academic excellence.

Sponsored by the US Embassy, he trained as a military instructor in California and later studied Modern Languages at the prestigious Javeriana University in Colombia.It is this blend of academic discipline and lived experience that he now brings to his advocacy work in the UK.

By offering mentorship, guidance, and a listening ear, he has become a vital pillar of support for fellow wounded veterans.

Sergeant Pedraza proudly wears his military uniform following his retirement from active service.

The Colombian Embassy in London issued a statement congratulating Sgt Pedraza, praising him as a beacon of solidarity whose service to others continues long after stepping off the battlefield.

For Sgt Pedraza, the Invictus award is a vital platform to highlight the psychological needs of veterans. As he puts it: "It doesn’t matter how the world sees you. What truly matters is how you see yourself, and what you believe you can achieve

Reclaiming the Dream: A Youth Group's Lifelong Bond

 

Thirty years after tragedy and distance separated them, a Colombian youth group reunites to prove that teenage idealism can survive decades of change. Diana Patricia, pictured center front. From left to right: Fernando, José Alberto, Lina, Sidney, Alexandra, Nelson Alberto, Emilcen, and Renzo.

BUGA, Colombia — More than 30 years had to pass before a group of men and women who once shared their teenage dreams could meet again. The initiative began in Chile. Diana Patricia, a psychologist living in the South American country, proposed the idea because the youth group Surgir por un Mundo Nuevo (Arising for a New World) had left a profound mark on her life.

The group was born in the late 80s and 90s, in Guadalajara de Buga, a small, historic Colombian city. Their meeting point was the parish hall of Santa Bárbara Church, an iconic temple built to resemble a medieval castle.

Lina was also part of that group. Since childhood, she was deeply immersed in the local religious community. Her mother, Doris, worked as a sacristan, and her family lived inside the pastoral house of the city’s cathedral. Surrounded by religious ceremonies and guided by the parish priest, the late Monsignor Jorge León Navia Varona, Lina discovered her own calling.

Members of the Surgir por un Mundo Nuevo youth group. (Photo courtesy of José Alberto Villarreal).

Initially, she wanted to enter religious life and join a convent founded by the late Father Edgar Alberto Segura.

Three decades later, the lives of these two women have completely changed. Lina started a family and lives in Switzerland, while Diana practices psychology in Chile. However, both returned to Buga to organize an event they titled: "Toward Arising for a New World." The reunion brought back memories of joy, teenage romances, and the beginnings of marriages that still endure today.

The iconic Santa Bárbara Parish church in Guadalajara de Buga, which served as the primary meeting place for the Surgir por un Mundo Nuevo youth group.

Among the most cherished memories for the youth of that generation were the Pascuas Juveniles (Youth Easters) held during Holy Week. Starting in the mid-1980s, these gatherings became a vital breeding ground for the youth ministries that formed in their wake. They provided a foundation in Christian principles and values that strengthened the participants' character and fueled the long-term continuity of these youth organizations.

Members of Surgir por un Mundo Nuevo attend a spiritual retreat led by the late Rev. Roberto Ospina.

Yet, the gathering also served to remember tragic times. The group honored Holmer Fabián, a beloved member known for his spirit of service, who was shot and killed near his home while working as an informal vendor. His death shook a community that could not comprehend such violence against a young man just beginning his life.

That tragedy ultimately strengthened the group's bonds. Amid the grief, Diego, the victim's brother, became a pivotal spiritual leader for youth searching for a reason to move forward.

From top right, facing forward: Holmer, accompanied by Divier, Henry, Sidney, Bannet, Rosaura, and Germán.(Photo courtesy of José Alberto Villarreal).

Over time, the group expanded under the guidance of Nosvery Giraldo, a leader in the Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Buga. She connected them with Father Roberto Ospina, whose challenging teaching style helped the youth mature in their faith, transforming them into pillars of the Catholic Church's community outreach in the region.

Santa Bárbara Park, also known as Victoria Park, in Guadalajara de Buga, Colombia, also served as a gathering place for the youth group Surgir Por Un Mundo Nuevo. Courtesy of José Alberto Villarreal.

The group’s motto, which began as teenage idealism, became a reality for many youth in Buga's vulnerable neighborhoods.

The project offered a voice of hope amid family crises, a lack of economic opportunities, and social isolation.

Members celebrate their reunion during a night out at Lea’s Karaoke in Buga.

Today, the reunion organized by Diana Patricia and Lina aims to inspire newer generations of youth who are trying to find a purpose in life and a desire to contribute to society. Many of the original members attended the gathering. Among them was José Alberto, the group's former spokesperson who now works as a psychologist; Nelson Alberto, director of the community radio station Cuántica Stereo; and Emilcen, founder of a well-known local salsa academy. Renzo, Sidney and his wife Alexandra, and Fernando also attended the event in person.

Though they could not be in Guadalajara de Buga physically, other members joined virtually, including Sandra, Diego, Luis, Rosaura, Banette, Neinets, Doris, Hercilia, Mónica, Liliana, Alexandra, Gustavo, Divier, Álvaro, and Karen, among others. Meanwhile, deceased members like Holmer Fabián remain present in the group's spirit, united by their Christian faith and a shared goal of working for a better world.

A Legacy in Names

The following is a roster of several of the group's members, including those who have since passed away:

José Alberto Villarreal, Nelson Alberto Torres, Emilcen Escandón; Renzo, Alexandra, and Sidney Viveros; the late César Molina and his brother Fernando; the late Holmer Fabián Fernández; Yoleni and Viviana Cifuentes; Karen García; Álvaro Tirado; Diego Zuleta; Sandra Luna; Diana Patricia Arias; Lina, Neinets, and Doris Salcedo; Hercilia Daraviña; Luís Reina; Rosaura and Bannet Jaramillo; Mauricio and Fernando Ortiz; Gustavo, Henry, Sandra Taborda and her sister; Miriam, Mónica, Germán, Liliana Alfaro and Jazmid.