The Bogota Wage Subsidy Project (BWSP) is an initiative for Internally Displaced women residing in Bogota, Colombia. The project helps prepare women to enter the formal workforce with participation in a 13-week training program that integrates:

• Pre-employment training
• Actual “hands-on” work experience
• Employment counseling
• Job retention assistance

By leveraging existing relationships, the BWSP is creating training opportunities with local employers who participate by employing the women in their businesses for a 13 week period. 

The participants issupported by an employment counselor who will serve as a support system and liaison between the participant and the employer. Each participant is paid Colombia's legal minimum wage of approximately $2.00 per hour x 20 hours a week for 13 weeks.

The Bogota Wage Subsidy Project was founded in October of 2011. In collaboration with the  Colombian Campaign Against Land Mines.  (CCAL),  we recognized a need to help displaced persons prepare for and access employment in the formal sector.

The Colombian Campaign Against Landmines has been working with victims of land mines for over ten years and many of the their clients were also displaced from their homes. Partnering the existing know how of the CCAL in terms of identifying actual victims of displacement, services needed and best practices allows the Bogota Wage Subsidy Project to leverage their expertise to make sure stakeholder's donations are going directly to people who are affected by displacement.