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LONDON CRIME
WAVE WORSE
THAN NEW YORK
... CONTINUES FROM COVER
Although alarming , some experts claim that two months is too much of a short time frame to make speculations about this trend .
In any case , what most people can agree on is that one teenager dying on our streets is one too many . But why does it happen ?
There is no straightforward answer . Some people blame socio-economic factors , as nowadays the norm is that both parents work , leaving kids to their devices . In other cases , there is only one parent in the home . Others believe that cuts to funding in after-school programmes could be a factor for more kids being on the streets . There is also the effect of glorifying this type of lifestyle in the media .
What can we do more as a community ? We live in a world where we ’ re all connected to anyone via our smartphones but at the same time have lost touch with each other . We need to take action ; kids need to know that whatever their personal circumstances , there is a way out and that it ’ s never too late to turn your back to a life of crime .
Up next is the testimony of Moyo Sunope , who did just that and was able to move away from a troubled past . He was able to find the strength and empowerment to take his life in a new direction .
Read his story below to find out more . i was ambushed
AT A BUS STOP !
Moyo started smoking weed as a way of gaining popularity during his teenage years , having lost the trust of his family and falling in with the wrong crowd — to the point of getting stabbed . He explains how he has managed to leave his old life behind and now helps others who are battling the same problems .
‘ No one forced me to start , it was my own doing . I wanted to be popular , and at school the way to achieve that was to smoke . There were different tiers ; the most popular kids smoked weed , then the next ones smoked cigarettes .’
Moyo achieved his goal of popularity , but it came at a price : he lost his old friends and he lost the trust of his family , but the biggest consequence was that he almost lost his life .
‘ As I was beginning to gain popularity , I got closer to the gang life . I was ambushed at a bus stop , first by two boys but then it quickly went up to eight boys circling me ’, says Moyo . He then noticed a wet patch on his trousers ; he had been stabbed . He managed to get away by running into a pub . This is when Elijah knew that he had to turn his life around . ‘ My lifestyle was affecting too many people ’, he explains .
Moyo was invited to a youth group at the UCKG Help Centre by a friend . ‘ I remember thinking how happy people were there .’
‘ I started to attend more , and I realised I didn ’ t have to be stuck in the life I was living . I gave God a chance , I decided to trust in God and each time I activated my faith , life got better .’
However , Moyo was stabbed a second time before he decided to turn his life around for good . ‘ I was with some friends at one of their houses watching football , when all of a sudden , I heard commotion outside . I saw a guy with a bat , but as I went for him , I saw a knife so I turned around and told everybody to get inside and lock the door .’
Moyo explains that in that moment of danger , he thought about how this would affect others , ‘ I just thought about how this would affect my friends if I died , because before they met me they were normal boys , not involved with drugs or crime .’
It has been six years since Moyo found the courage to seek help . He says he attended the UCKG with an open mind , ‘ I saw people that were in the same stages as me – so I thought if they can do it , so can I .’
He says that the most rewarding part of the journey is being able to help others now . ‘ The way I was helped is the way I help others , and it ’ s amazing because when I see people coming out of that period of their life and changing it brings me joy .’ The thoughts , urge and desire for weed is gone , and Moyo is now six years clean . ‘ I ’ m a much happier person , I ’ m not lazy anymore , closer to my family , closer to my brother and sister , and I can help people who are going through what I went through .’
Moyo Sonupe