Gang violence has plagued Honduras for many years and given it the reputation of being a very dangerous country. More than 4,700 children and youth belong to gangs in Honduras, according to a report by UNICEF in 2012. Since 2010, Honduras has had one of the highest murder rates in the world, according to the U.S. State Department.
According to a 2013 report by Honduras’ National Human Rights Commission, 458 children under the age of 18 were murdered between 2010 and 2013, mainly by members of gangs or other organized crime groups. Because of the violence, many youth decide to leave Honduras entirely; a 2014 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees found that 34 percent of child migrants from Honduras gave gang violence as a reason for leaving home.
Gangs in Honduras contribute to a vicious cycle of poverty and crime. Due to high violence and crime rates, children feel endangered and respond by joining gangs that further prolong the violence. ChildFund works to end this cycle by providing youths with vocational training and educational opportunities so that they can create safer, sustainable livelihoods. We provide training and professional development programs in areas such as auto repair, electrical engineering, clothing alteration and carpentry, where young people learn the skills they need to find work and support themselves as independent adults.
ChildFund works to provide children and youth with alternatives to joining gangs or fleeing their home country to escape violence. By implementing the “Miles de Manos” (Thousands of Hands) project in several communities, we involve young people, parents, educators and other community members in learning about peaceful conflict resolution, good citizenship and advocacy for children’s rights. We also offer youth-friendly spaces where teens can talk about their problems and seek advice in a confidential setting.