Matthew Levin, the Canadian Ambassador and Diana Muñoz, the Development Official for the Division of Technical and Financial Cooperation of the Canadian Embassy, visited the Center for Youth Reference and Opportunities (CROJ) in the Department of Antioquia on September 19th.  This Center has been operated by COMFENALCO Antioquia since 2004 with $235 million in resources from the ACI Canadian Cooperation Agency and the International Organization for Migration - IOM.

During the visit, which was also attended by Mr. Juan Manuel Luna and Ms. Areliz Hernández Lopera, the coordinator and the monitor of Program for Attending to Boys, Girls and Youths Separated from Illegal Armed Groups of the International Organization for Migration - IOM, the process of reintegration of the youths benefitting from the CROJ was presented using dance, theater and music.

Personal and family conditions, abilities, experiences, needs, aspirations and career expectations of the youths that have left the armed conflict are identified through the CROJ, in order to create a particular action plan that will respond to their new life project.

To date, this Center renders services to 186 youths, of which 86% come from a farming background.  151 now remain in the city and only 35 are returning to the countryside or their provinces.  67% of the participants are currently studying and 11% are receiving job training and human development.  28 youths are employed with all benefits and another 24 have a trade and do freelance work.