Discussing the young people participating in an abruptly terminated USAID program, a former participant in northwest Colombia said: “They have withdrawn and are working in mining. In other words, child labor has increased. Young people, children who prefer not to go to school … children that I, we as leaders, used to guide. And they have lost respect now, even towards us."

Date: 2/26

Region: Latin America & Caribbean

Country: Colombia

Topic: Peacebuilding & Stabilization

Policy Lens: Security & Resilience

Entry Type: Field Observation

Additional Context: This quote was collected as part of The Aid Report's original reporting found in the Devex featured article "USAID moves out, gangs move in: The cost of aid cuts in Colombia." Our journalist traced the unraveling of years of prevention work in Colombia to better understand how gangs and armed groups were quick to exploit the vacuum left behind when this work was cancelled.

This quote is attributed to Luz Mely Moreno who participated in the ‘I Decide to Be’ empowerment program. She lives in the Reposo neighborhood of Quibdó in northwestern Colombia.

Source: Devex