The human footprint in Panama's coastal beltway

One year ago, Alcibiades Alberto Aranda, married, with three children to support, recycled cans that he collected in the streets and garbage containers during festivities. Today, he is a part of the working force that is building the emblematicCinta Costera III(Coastal Beltway III). "The CREER (Believe) program meant a lot to me, as having a job has helped me stay away from bad company and gangs. Today I can buy school supplies for my children and provide for my family."

Alcibiades has not been the only beneficiary of theCREERprogram in the district ofEl Chorrillo. More than 200 residents of the district have benefitted from a respectable job and technical training that will allow them to get a job in any construction project in the country.

"There is nothing more exciting for me than working at the Coastal Beltway. It is important to know that I am part of this mega project", says Carlos Antonio Fuentes, while he walks with his coworkers over the construction of the marine section of the Coastal Beltway III. "I took two courses, and today I like my job. It is the first time that I work in carpentry, and I have loved it. With this job, I found the experience that I never had, and it was good for me and my neighbors to get away from the gangs. It is an opportunity that we have to change our livelihoods. 

The CRECER program grants a certification which is validated by the University of Panama, the Instituto de Formación Profesional y Capacitación para el Desarrollo Humano (Institute for Professional Education and Training for Human Development) (INADEH, for its acronym in Spanish), and works in cooperation with the Universidad de Trabajo y la Tercera Edad, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, Ministry of Public Works, and the  Odebrecht construction company, which executes the Coastal Beltway project.