Steps of Hope by Juancho Torres

Private Story

Steps of Hope

Copyright Juancho Torres 2024

Updated Nov 2023

Colombia's landmine survivors through 'Steps of Hope,' a visual journey that captures their inspiring tales of triumph over adversity. This project bridges the divide between viewers and the multifaceted experiences of conflict, using the medium of photography as a powerful instrument for reconciliation. Among those who shape this narrative are individuals like Enrique, Cipriano, Fabio, Antonio, and Juan Jose. Their stories are emblematic of the unyielding spirit of Colombia's survivors. Take, for instance, Juan José Florián, who on July 12, 2012, discovered a package at his mother's doorstep. When he bent down to pick it up, it detonated. This was the vengeance of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) against his mother for not paying the demanded tax. Years prior, Juan José had been forcibly recruited into the FARC but managed to escape and joined the Colombian army until the attack.

The explosion cost Juan José both his arms and his right leg. He endured 12 days in a coma, underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries, and grappled with depression. Sport became his refuge and salvation. He began with swimming and later transitioned to cycling, eventually becoming a Colombian Paralympic champion in road and time trial events. Juancho Torres/ Anadolu Agency

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Juancho Torres

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