Bahay Pag-asa is, for many of its residents, an escape from violence. As our volunteers settle in and have time to spend with the boys, they begin to hear the stories of their lives. Some of the stories would be hard to believe except for the fact that the staff of Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center have heard many such stories. In our conversation with one resident we learned that, while incarcerated, he had been badly beaten on the soles of his feet and on the back of his legs with a large wooden stick (takal). On another occasion he was required to climb up on the bars of his cell and remain there the entire day, risking a beating if he fell down. Violence in the police lock-ups and jails is matched by the violence in local gangs or "fraternities." The resident whose hands are shown below has a large circular scar that is several years old. This is the result of a gang initiation. A coin was heated and then placed on his wrist.
As well a being extremely painful, these types of initiations mark a young person for life and create problems when they look for employment. At Bahay Pag-asa we must show young people that there is a way of living in which violence is not the norm and where brotherhood is the product of compassion and dedication rather than intimidation and ordeal.
No comments:
Post a Comment