My adolescence was so lonely and somber that I felt attracted to the idea of joining a community gang. Fortunately, that was also when I found my purpose through hip hop. I fell in love with its culture of peace, and my life was changed positively and permanently. This didn’t just give more meaning to my existence, but also filled the existential voids I had due to family conflicts, extreme poverty, and forced displacement in my country.
Being a hip hop promoter and b-boy breakdancer has helped me build a positive image with the young. I’m living proof that even in the darkest moments and the most extreme poverty imaginable, where violence is a daily occurrence, dreams can still come true!
Thanks to the confidence and empowerment hip hop gave me, I discovered my vocation to teach and help others make more effective life decisions. We have a saying in our workshops: “A youth practicing any artistic or athletic discipline is one less delinquent on the streets.” Many young people mention local gang members when asked who they look up to. The arts and sports have the power to help them break away from those values and guide them towards a better life philosophy with sound aspirations. These disciplines not only entertain, but also help build resilient communities through protection factors.
Still, over the last 10 years, we’ve lost many friends and program beneficiaries to violence, stigma, and social discrimination. Social injustices are when young people don’t have access to the tools to help them flourish; when lives are lost to the claws of crime by community gangs or corrupt government authorities. My dream is to build safe and violence-free communities for all. Although inspiring the youth to act isn’t easy, I will continue to do all I can with passion and perseverance.
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