COMUNA 13 - MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA | Eileen Aldis

In this vlog we visit Comuna 13 in Medellín, Colombia. This neighbourhood of over 156,000 people was once considered the most dangerous place in South America. It has been transforming since 2002 and is symbolic of the broader transformation of Medellín and Colombia. In 2015, the Colombian government installed escalators that allow people to travel up and down the steep hills quickly and easily. The installation of a metro cable as part of the public transportation has also played a role in increasing the accessibility of this part of the city. Our guide, Walter, told us about the history of the neighbourhood and how an art school called Casa Kolacho has been, and continues to be, instrumental in keeping children and teenagers away from gangs by teaching them how to paint graffiti, breakdance, and rap. For this reason, hip-hop culture is extremely important to the people here. The colourful graffiti tells the stories of Medellín's violent past, particularly in Comuna 13. A football pitch that was once the site of public executions is now a space for children to play. Images of elephants are prevalent as they represent long memory. Colombians want to remember what has happened here so that some things will not be repeated in the future. There are many other social programs and supports that continue to help Comuna 13 revitalize and renew. It now stands as an example for other parts of the world that massive change is possible. This was my favourite part of Medellín and the best day we spent exploring the city. I highly recommend taking the tour we did, which you can learn more about here: http://www.comuna13tours.com/ Ver más vídeos en español: http://bit.ly/2qIOfQO ABOUT ME: I'm travelling around the world as a nomad. I left my apartment, bought a one way ticket, and don't have a plan. Come along for the adventure! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE for more videos by clicking that gorgeous red button. Don't forget to hit the little bell beside it to receive notifications of new uploads (3 times per week)! MY LINKS: INSTAGRAM = https://instagram.com/eileenaldis TWITTER = https://twitter.com/eileenaldis FACEBOOK = https://www.facebook.com/eileenaldis SNAPCHAT = eileenaldis AIRBNB = www.airbnb.com/c/emccurdy3 (Get $50 CAD in travel credit!) *MY GEAR: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II: http://amzn.to/2pYeMw9 Sony NEX-FS700R Super 35 Camcorder: http://amzn.to/2oY3jvw DJI Phantom 4 Professional+ Quadcopter: http://amzn.to/2pXTPBN DJI Osmo Handheld Fully Stabilized 4K 12MP Camera: http://amzn.to/2oofUJN Canon EOS 6D Digital Camera (Body Only): http://amzn.to/2pXTVt0 GoPro Hero5 Black: http://amzn.to/2psMEBq Benro A2573FS6 Tripod: http://amzn.to/2oDVVSr MUSIC: Vibe Tracks-Shake Otis McDonald-Otis McMusic *Some links may be affiliate links which helps out my channel so I can make more videos! :)