Program That Keeps Young People Away from Violence in Medellin Wins New Award in the US
The Medellin Mayor’s Office, which works to restore and maintain security in that city, the second most important in Colombia, is clear: 43% of the country’s criminal groups operate actively in the capital of Antioquia, and these gangs (which have around 6,000 members and can reach up to 12,000 when those who serve them indirectly […]
Parceros, a Medellin program aimed at keeping young people and women away from criminal gangs, has been honored with a new international award in the United States. The program, run by Medellin’s Secretariat of Security and Coexistence, has served over 12,000 young people since its inception in 2024.
According to Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez, the initiative has helped 9,211 participants graduate, 1,318 find employment, 128 receive scholarships, 606 receive entrepreneurship training, and 4,840 gain access to education. The Mayor celebrated the achievement, stating, “We are taking young people away from criminals.”
The award, the Inter-American Dialogue’s Award for Crime Reduction and Youth Opportunity presented at the 2026 Leadership for the Americas Awards gala in Washington, D.C., recognizes the program’s role in crime prevention and creating opportunities for young people. This is not the first recognition for Parceros; it previously received awards for Best Project in Crime Prevention in Spain and the Educating Cities Award in May 2026.
The program has expanded to include children and girls aged 10-15, introducing Parceritos and Parceritas, respectively, to provide support and alternatives against sexual exploitation. Mayor Gutierrez emphasized the need to continue this preventive work beyond changes in government and stressed the importance of upholding democratic values and alternatives to criminal culture.
The program’s impact assessment highlights improvements across various indicators, including a 23% decrease in criminal behavior, a 15% increase in formal employment, and a 9% rise in the intention to continue studying among participants. With an ambitious goal of reaching 15,000 minors and women over the next four years, Parceros aims to create a future where opportunities outweigh fear.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
