Empowering At-Risk Youth in Colombia: The Impact of Paying Them to Not Engage in Risky Behavior
Introduction
Growing up in a rough Colombian neighborhood governed by criminals and their mob law, Franklin Mina was destined to become a gangster. Instead, the 27-year-old today studies social work at a technical college and runs a small business in gang violence-plagued Buenaventura, on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Mina is a beneficiary of a new government plan to pay young people aged 14-28 in at-risk areas to stay out of trouble. He receives the equivalent of about $250 per month, with which he bought a computer and started his own business.
Empowering Youth Through Incentives
This innovative approach of paying at-risk youth to not engage in risky behavior is a game-changer in Colombia. By providing financial incentives, the government is not only offering a way out of a life of crime and violence but also empowering young people to pursue education and entrepreneurship.
Impact on Individuals
For individuals like Franklin Mina, this program has been life-changing. Instead of succumbing to the pressures of his environment, he is now able to focus on his education and building a future for himself. By receiving a monthly stipend, he is no longer forced to turn to illegal activities to make ends meet.
Impact on the World
The impact of empowering at-risk youth in Colombia reaches far beyond the borders of the country. By investing in the future of these young individuals, the government is not only reducing crime rates and violence within the country but also creating a model that can be replicated in other nations facing similar challenges.
Conclusion
Empowering at-risk youth in Colombia through financial incentives is a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of violence and crime in marginalized communities. By providing opportunities for education and entrepreneurship, the government is not only changing the lives of individuals like Franklin Mina but also setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.
