Alex Masi

Marvin, 20 years old, former gangster, teaching a life orientation lesson to young neglected youngsters in the School of Hope in Athlone, Cape Town, RSA, where troubled young kids at risk are getting education (run by Thembalitsha.org.za a local NGO). Marvin was a hit-man, working also for different gang such as 'The Americans' and the 'Junior Mafia' between the age of 15 and 19. He grow up in the mainly 'coloured' area of Heideveld, where unemployment is rife and gangs are flourishing. He was also addicted by crystal meth (aka 'tik'), a dangerous chemical drug very common in South Africa's poorest neighbourhoods. Thanks to his family, after having been to reformatory, he was helped to get out of the gangs and to join a free academy for skills development aimed at empowering troubled youths through training and discipline, called Chrysalis (www.chrysalisacademy.org.za). He finished a three month course there and he is now about to start working in the tourism industry; he know the wrongs has done and he does not want to go back to that life anymore. Chrysalis aim at reducing the levels of crime and violence in the Western Cape by transforming 'youth at risk' into strong, positive community leaders of the future through intensive continuous training. ?After I left the gang I was working for in the Woodstock area of Cape Town I have made myself some enemies; I cannot go back there anymore because someone has still anger left for me?I don?t want that life anymore, I want to live peacefully and fulfil my aspirations, you see: it is a matter of having little short-term goals, once you have achieved one you go onto the next, and so on. Always think you can do it, don?t give up, go for it again. I was running in dark corners, there was no way out, I did not have a goal, I had no dreams. You need to believe that you are worthwhile. Life is hard, it depends on you on how you want to make your life. Make everyday your day."