The influence of gang affected neighbourhoods

Greetings!

Working with young people who are living in gang affected neighbourhoods is a constant and organic challenge. The speed of change which affects young people is difficult to keep up with. The use of social media including Youtube which is used by young people to 'big' themselves up whilst goading and antagonising their 'pagans' (those with whom they don't like) is highly destructve. The video attached demonstrates this point. It is not for the faint heated. It shows boys from Tulse Hill and Clapham Park (aka New Park Gunnaz whom I know) taunting young men from Brixton and Notre Dame. The culmination is the use of a girl associated with a Brixton gang, under the influence, bad mouthing and basically betraying members of the Brixton gang.

This is dangerouse territory for the girl and the lads involved. Tragically, many girls are sexually exploited within gang affected neighbourhoods. And many young men's lives are taken over such acts.

The lads I know who are in this video were challenged about this. Thier initial responses were flippant. However, when asked how they would feel if this was their daughter, sister or girlfriend, the responses became more honest and engaging.

There is hope for these young people. There has to be, and we can all do something to make that hope real. Peace.