By Olver Castellanos
COLOMBIA: Internally displaced families are benefiting from a new Food For Work Program in World Vision supported development programmes in Colombia.

In the 'Altos de Cazuca' development programme in southeast Bogotá, capital of Colombia, displaced families are helping build infrastructure, in exchange for food, hygiene kits, medicines and other tools.

More than 500 families in 'Cazuca' and neighbouring town, 'San José de Bosa', are participating in the Program, helping establish two education centers. One of them is 'La Isla' School. Participants in the program are currently building the first floor cement terrace to which other stories will be added later.

The amount of time each family works depends on its size. The leader of the family must work a half day for each one of its members. Once their commitment is fulfilled, they receive a ration for each member of the family. The ration corresponds to 40% of the basic daily food requirements and is provided every 25 days.

The food package consists of food essentials, non-perishable goods, such as: spaghetti, sugar, oil, salt, rice, beans and other grains.

Each family participates in the program for three months, while they attend workshops on topics such as human rights and human values.

According to UN figures there are more than 1.6 million internally displaced people in Colombia, as a result of decades of armed conflict.

Food for Work Program activities aim to improve their living conditions by utilising their existing skills.

After completing the workshops, families are trained in several areas and receive hygiene kits. The families are then included in economic development programs which allow them to take advantage of their main skills, to gain general knowledge and generate their own source of income.