19 June 2008

Quibdó, Colombia: UNV in Colombia is supporting a project for university volunteers to share their energy and skills with displaced people.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 3 million Colombians have been displaced by ongoing civil conflict, the largest group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the world. Lacking understanding of the necessary procedures, many have not been able to acquire the benefits they are entitled to and often feel alienated within their own country.

Their particular needs are access to education, health and accommodation, and this is where the University of Chocó volunteers come in. Supported by UNHCR and UNV, the student volunteers are assisting IDP communities in putting together concrete project proposals to present to local authorities, enabling them to gain access to services.

Though the spirit of volunteerism is strong in Colombia's universities, there are few structures in place to manage them. With the support of UNV and UNHCR, the University of Chocó in one of Colombia's poorest regions set up its volunteering project in 2007. Some of the initiative came from former UNV volunteer Dennis Mairena, and the current phase began in February 2008.

Through workshops at the University, UNV provides technical expertise on Volunteerism for Development (V4D). At present, the University of Chocó programme involves 30 students working with perhaps 15,000 IDPs. Some students are themselves from IDP backgrounds.

The students also assist IDPs in setting up community committees to manage their own affairs, and advise on business administration and accounting. Examples include projects to make and sell handicrafts such as leather-bound diaries and products like soap and shampoos. Once in business, the IDPs' reliance on UNHCR and Government aid is reduced.

Furthermore, the student volunteers organize workshops where IDPs can discuss ways to improve their living conditions. Many IDPs come from rural areas and find adjusting to life in cities difficult; the scheme has helped find ways for women's groups to grow the medicinal plants they are used to.

Youth volunteering brings work and life experience, promotes citizenship and contribute to an increased self-esteem.  Beyond the support the university volunteers bring to the communities, they also gaining close understanding of Colombia's IDP situation. As a result of the UNV-supported initiative, volunteerism is now integrated as 'interdisciplinary work' into the Chocó student volunteers' study programmes, with the Rector and academic supervisors taking an active interest.

With Colombian Government support, UNV and UNHCR hope to develop the project in other areas such as Antioquia. They are also examining the possibility of projects to offer psycho-social support to IDPs, and working with universities to offer research on the refugee problem that goes beyond statistical analysis.

Finally, UNV is supporting 'Enradate', an umbrella programme to help universities and volunteering organizations coordinate with each other under the Government's National Volunteer Platform.