Businessmen Promise to Support Peace in Times of Economic Crisis

Near 50 businessmen from some of Colombia’s top companies took part in the event Una Puntada por la Paz (A Stitch for Peace). The meeting, organized by GM Colmotores, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Presidential High Commissioner’s Office for Reintegration (ACR), the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) and the Corporación Industrial Minuto de Dios (Industrial Corporation God’s Minute), sought to invite the business sector to join Puntada Joven (Young Stitch), a jointly-executed initiative that since 2006 has been creating job opportunities for the demobilized.

Puntada Joven, a program that seeks to help 100 people reintegrate into civilian life and 80 more in vulnerable situations to find a job, was created by USAID and ACR with an US$434.785 investment. This is made possible through the creation of an efficient, productive and sustainable clothing industry business. The factory, staffed with 20 full-time operators and run by the Corporación Industrial Minuto de Dios, manufactures uniforms and provides maquila services.

So far GM Colmotores has been their primary client, with an order of 9,000 uniforms for their employees. This represents 70 per cent of the factory’s’ production. Nonetheless, the current world financial crisis has recently forced the automotive industry to cut back on their order. Hence, it is key to guarantee the sustainability of this initiative it is crucial that other companies be invited to include Puntada Joven among their suppliers.

Under this program, the demobilized receive technical training in the clothing industry. Beneficiaries also develop skills that allow them to return to society and to acquire knowledge and experience. For those who do not continue to work at the factory, they have the opportunity to join another clothing manufacturing company or open their own business.

In a symbolic act, businessmen committed themselves to identify business opportunities within their company that may allow the inclusion of vulnerable sectors, in an alliance with actors involved in the peace process, hence providing support towards the construction of a better country.