PANAMA / COLOMBIA REFUGEE FASHION

When Delsy fled Colombia 18 years ago for Panama, her dreams of working in fashion disappeared. But after taking part in a programme that helps put skilled refugees back to work, her hopes have been rekindled. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:29
• Production Date: 12 March 2020
• Asset Language: Spanish
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: EMPLOYMENT; REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: COLOMBIA
• MAMS Id: 2540511
• Parent Id: 2540511
• Alternate Title: unifeed200312g

Description

STORY: PANAMA / COLOMBIA REFUGEE FASHION
TRT: 2:30
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: SPANISH /NATS

DATELINE: NOVEMBER 2019, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

Shotlist

1. Close up, Delsy face and hand
2. Various shots, Deley working on fabric
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Delsy, Colombian refugee:
“Our lives were in danger because of the armed groups, the guerrillas.”
4. Various shots, tools
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Delsy, Colombian refugee:
“My husband had to get out first to save his life.”
6. Various shots, Delsy working on a sewing machine
7. Wide shot, Delsy with Dagmar Mejia
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Dagmar Garcia, Owner, Dacre:
“Refugees contribute a lot to the market and our work.”
9. Med shot, Dagmar talking to workers
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Dagmar Garcia, Owner, Dacre:
“Working with Delsy has been amazing.”
11. Various shots, Talent Without Borders coaches refugees how to write a CV and apply for jobs
12. Various shots, Delsy sewing
13. Wide shot, Delsy trying on a shirt

Storyline

When Delsy fled Colombia 18 years ago for Panama, her dreams of working in fashion disappeared. But after taking part in a programme that helps put skilled refugees back to work, her hopes have been rekindled.

Finding a durable solution to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers requires the engagement of all sectors of society. Talent Without Borders, is a good example of a comprehensive approach, where the government, private sector, UNHCR, and locals are working together to integrate refugees through job placement.

Talent Without Borders is an employability programme developed by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, ManpowerGroup, the global leading employment solutions company and international NGO HIAS. The programme seeks to improve the opportunities refugees and local youth have in accessing formal employment.

Through Talent Without Borders, refugees and young Panamanians receive training to strengthen their soft skills. ManpowerGroup specialists provide the groups with the basis for effective communication, customer service and teamwork, among other skills. Each participant receives personal counselling based on their skills, interests and the opportunities available in the current job market. During a month of weekly sessions, refugees also get to know more about their rights and responsibilities under the country’s labour laws. After graduating the programme, they are accompanied during the process of finding stable employment.

Since the beginning of the programme in late 2018, 214 refugees, asylum seekers and Panamanians have received a certification after completing the programme. 50 percent of the trained refugees have found a stable job and have increased their family income by 65 percent.

Decades of conflict has displaced millions of Colombians. While the vast majority have remained internally displaced within Colombia, others fled to neighboring countries like Panama. Colombian refugees began arriving in the mid-90s mainly to the Panama City and to border communities, through the Darien jungle. By 2018, Panama hosted 1,691 refugees and 1,791 asylum seekers from Colombia. Most Colombian refugees have moved to or stayed in urban areas in the capital city or nearby provinces. Like Delsy, Colombian refugees consider Panama their home, where they have built new lives.