Gang Prevention

USAID and the Central American Integration System (SICA) have teemed up to develop the Regional Youth Alliance USAID-SICA, also known in Spanish as Alianza Joven Regional USAID-SICA.

Gang activity has contributed to dramatically increasing crime rates in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The project is a direct response to the public security, economic, and development challenges caused by youth gangs throughout Central America. It uses innovative and participatory programs to rehabilitate and reintegrate former gang members into society and prevent the participation of youth in gangs. The Alliance uses community-based public-private alliances to leverage in-kind and financial support, for crime and violence prevention activities for youth.

The project also seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of gang life and sensitize the public to becoming more engaged in prevention and reintegration through a grant award program.

The program awards grants to regional organizations in 45 targeted communities working with gangs and gang prevention in the three target countries. The grant program will reach approximately 300 community leaders and serve 3,000 at-risk youths. The program will serve as a catalyst to help countries develop regional solutions to address youth violence and promote uniformity of youth-crime legislation throughout Central America.

The Regional Youth Alliance’s key partners are:

• Central American Integration System (SICA),
• Commercial Industrial and Financial Associations in Guatemala (CACIF),
• El Salvador National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP),
• National Business Council of Honduras (COHEP),
• Rotary Clubs,
• local churches, and vocational training institutions.

In Honduras the program has opened several youth centers to provide at-risk youth with a safe and constructive environment to learn new skills and keep them from falling prey to gang influence. Along with prevention, the programs developed job training, business development, and mentoring programs for former gang members to help them become responsible contributors to society.

It is anticipated that 450 rehabilitated gang members will obtain permanent employment through the Regional Youth Alliance’s program. The job placement component is based on the Challenge 100 program which provided former gang members – young women and men alike – with mentors and job training.