Israel

What is the connection between street gangs and violence? Who are at risk? What roles do families, societies and even educators play? Do media play a role in gang violence and what does racism and stereotyping do with gang violence? Family problems, financial problems, low employment opportunities lead to one path ‘Gang Related Violence’. Social and economical situations has arose gang related violence and gangs. The cause for gang related violence may vary from reason to reason but the widely known reason is family, employment and even educational opportunities. Questions are raised but remain unanswered.

Family situations include parental abuse for kids, parental abuse of illegal drugs, and parental hatred for children and also family separations’. All these reason can be one cause to gang related violence. Many who are involved in gang related violence are influenced by the ways of the family. These ‘gangsters’ want to make a family of their own with other troubles youngsters who are facing the exact or similar family problems. The cause is a treacherous one but can the solution be a blissful one? One question remains, one action not taken.

Many people in the streets related in the action of doing illegal crimes such as prostitution, selling drugs from cocaine to heroine, why? All because of one cause ‘Money’. Many who are involved in these illegal activities are to make money because of low paying jobs, low wages and even no employment opportunities so these unemployed people take the wrong direction and end up in jail or dead. Is there a solution to this, or is it a mystery that will be a mystery for the upcoming years and will these people in the streets always be in the streets and can they ever see the light again? It is all up to employers, the society, family and the government to take action to reduce these crimes and make everyone’s lives better.

Suspensions, expulsions and teacher’s actions is also a cause to gang related violence because of involving the police for most things and not giving chances to people who want to change. An example of this is a student who is 17 years of age went to school a week later after school started and the result from the principal of the school is “come back when your 18 years of age”; the principal is literally saying you are expelled or suspended. The affected victim chose the wrong path and got involved in gang related violence. The result from joining a gang is being on a wheel chair that resulted from a rumble. This could have been stopped if the principal allowed him in school and if teachers guided, supported and helped him, he would have not been in gang related violence. If schools take actions towards gang related violence by giving chances to students, providing better and interesting programs; by providing a better atmosphere and reducing the involvement of police for almost everything and if that happens gangs and gang violence will reduce in numbers dramatically.

The solution for this is to take actions towards everything that is causing gang violence. Taking new steps in life, giving chances, counselling, changing the TDSB or other school boards Safe Schools Policy, introducing new programs for educational purposes and recreational purposes; more employment opportunities, better laws, changes in the government, changes in family; showing more care for kids, and showing love, educators to guide students and show them the light to success and many more. All these ideas can be a solution that one day will stop gang violence for good. It is all up to us, the government, societies, people, families, educators, employers, neighbours and even strangers who are willing to give a chance to people in need. These small steps like introducing better programs and making every little change in schools, laws and society can be the change to gang violence. These small steps one day will be a step that ends gangs and gang related violence. It is up to us!