More than 600 children and young adults from internally displaced
or vulnerable families in Colombia attending football training
schools, will receive football kits, vocational training and
psychosocial support as part of a new project to be launched next
week.

"Vení Jugá" or Come and Play, to which IOM is
providing logistical and technical support is being carried out in
the city of Buenaventura, the most important maritime port on
Colombia’s Pacific coast. Residents there are predominantly
afro-Colombian who have suffered from the violence of illegal armed
groups fighting for control of this highly coveted region used by
drug traffickers to move their merchandise.

The long-standing violence endured by the region has resulted in
serious social problems including the forced displacement of some
74,000 persons and high rates of recruitment amongst children and
young adults by the illegal armed groups operating in the area.

Vení Jugá is the original idea of Bonner Mosquera
and Osman López, two well-known Colombian former football
players who have been managing this project which promotes the
youngsters’ natural skills while creating future
opportunities for the participants. IOM psychosocial services and
technical support for the purchase, transport and delivery of all
project-related materials complements the original initiative.

The project is expected to expand later this year to benefit
some 800 youngsters.

Marcelo Pisani, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia says, "This
project will help vulnerable communities to improve their quality
of life, exercise their rights, reduce their vulnerability, and
develop their skills. This initiative will not only strengthen the
sporting abilities of the youngsters, but will also encourage them
to stay in school and help prepare them for success later in
life."

As part of the project, students and their families will be
involved in a community communication strategy including writing
articles and producing audio-visual material to promote project
goals.

IOM will also assist the football schools to strengthen their
administration processes in order to comply with the legal
requirements necessary for recognition by institutions such as the
International Federation Football Association (FIFA).

Vení Jugá is funded by United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), the Colombian Fund for
Modernization and Technological Development of Micro, Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises and the Sociedad Deportiva Bonner y Osman
Ltda.

According to official figures a total of 3.6 million Colombians
were registered as internally displaced between 1996 and 2010.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: +57 1 639 7777

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