People & Power - Salvadorian Salvation - 09 Mar 08 - Pt.1

El Salvador is awash in violence. Fifteen years after the end of a bloody civil war, the small Central American country has become notorious for its vicious street gangs, or maras, as they are called.

Among the worst are the Mara 13 and Mara 18 which sell drugs, extort protection money and fight relentlessly for territory.

In Santa Anna, EL Salvador's second largest city, gang members are always on the lookout for new recruits.

They pressure youth, many as young as 10, to participate in criminal activities and prove their worth as foot soldiers - or face the consequences.

Fear and economic pressures force many to become part of the gang life, setting them on a violent course that too often ends in jail time for capital crimes or tragic death.

But an innovative organisation in Santa Ana, Barefoot Angels, has been battling for more than 10 years to shelter kids from violence and away from gang life.

Barefoot Angels staff run great risks, along with the children they help, and have witnessed dramatic results.

Producers Steve Baum and Adam Raney documented Barefoot Angels' daily struggle for the hearts and souls of EL Salvador's youth.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• People
• Power
• al
• jazeera
• aljazeera
• El
• Salvador
• Central
• America

[jonykastle]

wow what makes yo think theyll even except you? LMAO!

P.S.- FUCK MS13 and 18th Street for making our BELOVED COUNTRY A PLACE OF FEAR!

[dmendez1349]

El Salvador is a beautiful country, and maras 13 or 18 are just a small part of population, we're over 5millons in El Salvador plus 2 or 3 millions over the world, don't judge an entire nation because of the gangs.

[CuscaKid]

Very well documented. But to find the root cause of this epidemic in El salvador we must look at the history of this war torn country. The people of El salvador have always been impoverished. The rich minority control the country and receive backing from America. High unemployment, rising food prices make matters worse. I hope that one day, these troubled youths find a righteous cause to fight for instead of killing each other. A REVULOTION!!

[MrGoodJason]

@jonykastle its so true i refuse to travel to this country because its a scary place to go to

[MrGoodJason]

@dmendez1349 no its a huge part i practically will never ever go because its so fucking dangerous

[salarrue78]

@jonykastle you only have the US to thank for that

[ccarina59]

El Salvador is such an amazing place just like the rest of Latin America

i know everyone has an opinion about the situation in central america especially in el salvador because of the gangs but in all honesty if you've never lived or spent some actual time in these countries you shouldn't be so rash to judge the people, for example saying that "it's their fault" because you've never been there,you've never had to deal with what these people have undergone i truly wish it was different i miss it

[HanKSN101]

@RONY691000

Lies.

[Rachaul100]

@inferno0020 i cant beleive you think america rapes your country all your surronding countrys have used you more and raped your kind in gangs , drugs some one elses doing a job and asshole told him ?? i am american el salvadoran and i am not believeing it for a moment i am poor person here wishing i could go there and be with family i only meet ones , i am proud of being spanish and is saden because the gangs all over the world are brain wash and only train to kill just like the military stupid

[Rachaul100]

this video is the same i teach my daughters and her freinds in america and now watching this is what i have been saying oll along to the that thought i was crazy in the small towns we live in and to know this is biger than i thiught the world in so brain washed

[RONY691000]

@RATERO00 pero seguiras siendo sangre de puro indio,sangre traida a traves de los esclavos por los espanoles en tiempos de la conquista,la eredaste te guste o no aunque te sintas indio americano solo porque son blancos.aunque por tu ignorancia no sabes que todas las ciudades de EE.UU, tienen pandilleros hispanos y negros y algunos blancos lo unico que no se llaman mara 18 0 MS, pero son pandilleros tambien y malos,no son sacerdotes solo por ser americanos.

[RONY691000]

@busyguy1994 No pidas eso por favor,yo fui policia y se como manejan la delincuencia los gobiernos.conozco a varios jovenes que fueron pandilleros porque se vieron obligados por vivir en un lugar que no tenian otra opcion que meterse o morir.En muchas ocaciones me senti desanimado,con corage al ver que ninos lloraban frente a mi,cuando yo los aconsejaba o conversaba con ellos,es triste no poder ayudarles y solo molestarles porque las leyes asi lo mandan;algunos ninos querian irse conmigo lejos.