A group of displaced women are earning a living making sacks for
coffee processed by Procafecol, owners of the world famous Juan
Valdéz coffee.

The 70 beneficiaries belong to the "Asociación Luz y
Vida" (Light and Life Association), which is made up of displaced
women from the northeastern city of Bucaramanga.  The group
receives support from IOM through its Assistance for Displaced
Persons and Vulnerable Population Programme, aimed at strengthening
the marketing potential of displaced people on their road to
financial independence.

The women of Luz y Vida are heads of household with an average
of two to three children each.  They also receive support from
IOM's Social Marketing Strategy to identify and open marketing
channels for their products, both at the national and international
level.

IOM's Social Marketing Strategy promotes the commercialization
of products made by communities supported through IOM programmes.
This includes internally displaced people, ex-combatant minors,
victims of human trafficking, and men and women demobilized from
illegal armed groups.

Procafecol used the 5,000 sacks to package the café de
reconciliación or "reconciliation coffee", one of the names
of coffee that are now sold in Juan Valdéz shops.

The sacks are made from fique,  a vegetable fibre which is
a biodegradable and ecologically friendly material used by the
Asociación Luz y Vida to make most of their products,
including hats, chairs, hammocks, cushions, carpets and tapestries,
bedspreads, fabrics, tablecloths, bags, rugs and mats, and
stationery.

Thanks to the large order from Procafecol, the Association hired
an additional 140 displaced women living in the community, which
provided an opportunity for additional income for their
families.

"For IOM it is very gratifying to see how the internally
displaced are returning to a normal life.  The challenge is
huge and we know there is a lot to be done, but IOM will continue
working with the government and other partners to help displaced
Colombians to reintegrate fully into society," said the head of the
IOM Mission in Colombia, José Angel Oropeza.

According to government figures released last November, more
than 2.8 million people have been internally displaced. 

Since 2000, IOM programmes in Colombia have provided assistance
to more than two million people, including internally displaced
persons, host communities, Colombians seeking protection across
international borders, victims of natural disasters, ex-combatant
minors, adults demobilized from illegal armed groups, victims of
trafficking, labour migrants, as well as Colombian authorities who
have participated in IOM trainings.   

For more information please contact:

Jorge Andres Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel: +57.1.594.6410 ext. 142

Mobile + 57.311 561 94 95

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@iom.int">jgallo@iom.int