April 29, 2026
At 16, Joseph recounts how life on the streets led him to the brink of the irreparable, in a neighborhood where gangs set the rules and shape the dreams of the youngest. He describes a daily life marked by fear, but also by the illusion of quick success embodied by armed, well-dressed, and untouchable men.
“For us, the children, it was normal. We didn’t have many opportunities to play sports or have fun, and there really was no hope for the future.”
For him, joining a gang was not initially an ideological choice, but a survival reflex. The lack of activities, prospects, and hope made this option seem almost ordinary in the eyes of the children in his neighborhood.
The trap closed quickly. At first tasked with monitoring police movements, Joseph realized he was only a replaceable cog when the gang leader handed him a weapon and demanded that he confront law enforcement.
“We were told that a major police operation was being prepared, and I was told that I would have to fight the police. I was afraid, because I didn’t want to be killed.”
Refusing was not an option. Beaten and threatened with death for wanting to return home, the teenager understood that joining the gang meant the complete loss of any freedom.
His escape ultimately allowed him to find help through a community organization, which is now providing him with medical and psychological support.
“Someone in my community told me about an organization that could help me receive medical care and support. I contacted them in September 2024.”
This testimony, relayed in a report by the United Nations, illustrates the urgency of protecting children in a country where gang violence continues to shatter lives before adulthood.
