Youth are kept on the margins of society in urban areas where violence and gang activity is high. Organizations and individuals who focus on community youth development and conflict resolution can transform violence into peace.

Students watch a short film, Barrio de Paz by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, about a retired nun and her transformative work with youth gangs in Ecuador. 

In this lesson, students explore how respect, trust, and love can transform youth violence. Through classroom discussion, students examine reasons why young people join gangs and ways those instincts can become the foundation for creative participation in society. Reflective writing prompts are also included for students to demonstrate their understanding of the story.

Click here to learn more from the Global Oneness Project Collection.