While some cities are famous for being technology hubs, others unfortunately become well known epicenters of violence. This is the case of San Pedro Sula, a city in northern Honduras. In the last few years, San Pedro Sula dethroned Caracas and Acapulco as the most violent city in the world (excluding warzone areas). With a staggering 1,411 murders in 2013 (187.14 per 100, 000 habitants) this city has been labeled as “the murder capital of the world”.

In Honduras as well as in many parts of Central America, crime and violence are the result of complex and multidimensional issues. The fate of many Central American cites like San Pedro Sula has been shaped by the remnants of wars, inequality, poverty, unemployment, immigration and corruption. These elements have become entangled with other problems such as weakness of institutions, impunity, lawlessness, lack of access to education and health, as well as poor…