{
  "id": 16264435,
  "title": "Program That Keeps Young People Away from Violence in Medellin Wins New Award in the US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/program-that-keeps-young-people-away-from-violence-in-medellin-wins",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-24T02:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/23/program-that-keeps-young-people-away-from-violence-in-medellin-wins-new-award-in-the-us/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAccording 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.”\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "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 […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Parceros program in Medellin honored with US award for crime reduction.",
    "Program serves over 12,000 young people since 2024 inception.",
    "Achievements include 9,211 graduates, 1,318 employed, and 4,840 in education."
  ],
  "editors_take": "International recognition for the Parceros initiative validates a preventative model that replaces criminal culture with formal employment and education to stabilize vulnerable populations in Medellin.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}