Twenty young men and women demobilized from illegal armed groups
have replaced their weapons with micro enterprise training to
become entrepreneurs in the coffee processing business. This week,
the group launched its brand, Vivo Café, in the city of
Armenia.

The young owners of Vivo Café are actively involved in
the entire process, from buying the coffee beans, to roasting,
packaging and marketing their brand.

With technical and financial support from the US Agency for
International Development (USAID), IOM, Comfenalco Quindío,
and the Asociación Tejido Humano, the group has created a
new coffee brand with a social seal of approval.

The new business is made up of 20 young men and women, aged
between 18 and 22, demobilized form illegal armed groups and
benefitting from the support of the Referral and Opportunity Centre
for Youth (CROJ by its Spanish acronym) in the coffee growing
region of Colombia. The majority of them are mothers and heads of
household who were not working outside of the home, and in need of
an income to support their families.

"These 20 young adults, who lived a life of violence, are now
businesswomen and men.  They have launched a truly complete
business, which starts with the purchase of the beans and ends the
moment a person enjoys a delicious cup of coffee.  These young
men and women are very thankful for the support they've received so
far to make this story a success," said José Ángel
Oropeza, Head of the IOM Mission in Colombia.

The 16 CROJs, already operational throughout the country, are
financed by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and
USAID, receive technical support from IOM and are operated by NGOs
and the Cajas de Compensación Familiar.  The centres
provide psychosocial support, training and employment
opportunities, as well as support and follow up for the individuals
as they reintegrate into civilian life and recover their
rights.

In the past four years, the CROJs located in Colombia's coffee
growing region have developed 92 projects in support of youth
demobilized from illegal armed groups.

This project is part of the Specialized Assistance Programme for
Children and Youth Demobilized from Illegal Armed Groups, led by
the ICBF.  Since 2001, and with support from IOM, the
programme has assisted more than 4,000 minors released from illegal
armed groups.

Although there are no exact figures on the number of minors
currently connected with illegal armed groups, the majority of the
boys and girls are forcibly recruited due to poverty, domestic
violence and abuse, abandonment or lack of educational and/or
employment opportunities.  Many times they are recruited
through false promises and through physical and psychological
intimidation.

Once in the armed groups, a boy or girl may fight like any other
adult, but they may also perform logistic, training, messenger,
cooking, nursing, information and intelligence duties; all of which
expose them to physical and psychological risk and even
death.  A minor may be able to escape an illegal armed group
either by deciding to flee or by being rescued by members of the
security forces.

For more information please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel: +57 1 622-7774

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