BBC explores a program that my friend and Security Minister of Panama Rodolfo Aguilera believes will change the face of many parts of Colon, San Miuelito and Panama City.

“They killed one of our guys and we didn’t do anything, no vengeance, nothing, nothing at all,” says 18-year-old Jesus.

“We really want to change, we want a new life,” he insists.

Jesus is a member of the now defunct Ninos Ricos (Rich Kids) gang in the Panamanian port city of Colon.

A year ago, the Rich Kids heard about an amnesty which newly elected President Juan Carlos Varela was offering gang members willing to join a re-socialisation programme called Safer Neighbourhoods.

Carrot and stick

The president’s offer followed the classical carrot-and-stick approach: incentives for those willing to sign up to the three-year programme and the threat of long prison terms for the rest.

The Rich Kids had already been hit hard by a police crackdown, and with 38 of the 65-strong gang in jail, the remaining 27 sat down to discuss their options.

Read the entire BBC story here.