Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Aaron Karl is calling for Jamaicans who have turned away from a life of crime to assist at-risk youth. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

For years Aaron Karl, who hails from the volatile area of Moss Side in Manchester, England, was involved in organised crime.

He was expelled from school at the age of 13 and subsequently became a menace to society.

"I got kicked out of school at a very early age and that meant I wasn't in school, I was basically on the road and I got caught up into this gang culture," he said.

Karl only started turning his life around 12 months ago through the influence of other youths who had similar experiences. The intervention of his family and civic groups such as Mothers Against Gangs helped in the rescue effort.

"I got back into school, finished my GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education), got into college, I didn't last in college because I found out that it wasn't for me and I got into this youth work thing and became a mentor. "

Karl, 22, now a youth worker for his own organisation, Black Man Can, says his transformation is a beacon of hope for at-risk persons.

Harness talent

He encourages Jamaicans to harness the talent and influence of reformed youths to bring a message of change to those trapped in the vortex of violence.

"The key is that they have had that talk before, they always get someone to talk to them like 'do this, do something constructive with your lives'. But the people who are saying it to them have no significance to them, so they can't relate to them," the youth worker explained.

Karl's impassioned plea at the crime workshop of the Third Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference on Monday earned wide applause for his proposal, to which Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent was also receptive.

Call endorsed

Karl's aunt, Jackie McNeish, a social worker, played an important role in turning his life around.

She endorsed his call to enlist youth who have beat the odds in the war for hearts and minds of troubled teenagers and young adults.

"His cousin, another young person, was also instrumental in getting him to change. If they can speak the same language, then they will get through to them," she said.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com