I was born in the Netherlands, where I studied Romance Languages and Cultures. In 2000, during my university practice in Colombia, I got to know the Colombian reality, the armed conflict and the existence of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC.

In 2002, I joined the guerrilla forces, where I performed various activities, such as teaching English, Marxist philosophy and other topics to combatants, as well as developing all daily activities in the jungle.

In 2012, I joined the peace negotiations between Government and guerrilla in Cuba for 4 years. After the signing of the peace agreement, I lived in a Transition Area for the Decommissioning of Weapons and Reincorporation of ex fighters in the West of Colombia. I finished my Master Degree in Interculturality, Development and Territorial Peace at the Javeriana University in Cali. I also completed a Specialization in Investigation Methods with CLACSO. Currently, I’m doing a PhD at the University of Basque Country on social representations of the enemy during the conflict in Colombia.

I continue working for reintegration of ex combatants in Colombia, through organizing cooperatives. I’m part of a cooperative called De Mano en Mano – from hand to hand – which helps former combatants commercialize their products. On a broader level, I’m part of the leadership of Ecomun, a national Federation which umbrellas more than 130 cooperatives of former fighters in the country.

I am living in the city of Cali with my husband, also ex fighter, three dogs and two cats.