• Communication that some feel difficult to get through hence they tend to stick to companion of groups that they feel 'understand' them.
• Wanting to try something dangerous and thrilling to kill boredom.
• Due to the influence of friends and not wanting to be deem as timid if never oblige.
• Wanting to gain parents' attention to know if they are loved by them.

Labels: Downtown East gang fight

In 2010, 30 October, while people are celebrating Halloween, a staring incident happened in Downtown East which ended in a fatal attack on a Year 2 Republic Polytechnic student, Darren Ng. 4 were arrested 48 hours after the incident and charged with murder, age between 18 and 21 years old. Youth gang involvement is no longer a new phenomenon in Singapore. Gangs have been known to exist in Singapore since the early of 1970s. Few decades ago, gangs like "Sah Lak Kau", "303" gang, "Omega" gang and the "18 SYH" were well known in Singapore. Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? I believe that it cannot be explain by a few sentences nor it can be completely resolved by solutions. However, there are few ways we can do minimize the growth of gang involvement.

Everything happens for a reason. Before we resolved the problem, we must figure out what it the reasons that contributed to youth gang involvement. There are a few reasons for youth involved in gang violence. One of it is youth are searching for love which they could not find in their family. Many teens do not join gangs because their friends do. Instead they join gangs in replacement for a family because they feel that gangs give them the support and love of a "real family". Also, it might be due to a family tradition that leads them to join gang. For instance, when a father himself involved in gang activities and is not able to provide a stable environment for his family, the child might follow the father's trail that leads to gang involvement.

"The best place to begin is at the beginning of a child's life. Parents play an essential role in their children life. They might often feel that putting food on the table is enough love. Children of these families may often go to the gang due boredom and to achieve the sense of belonging. A better parental control is a key for gang prevention. Parents have the power to influence their children to be on the right track in their future. Parents have the responsibility for guiding them to the right track by having conversation like alcohol consumption, drug abuse, gang involvement with them will more or less helps them to understand the risks and the consequences of getting involved in such issue. Parents should understand that one of the main reasons youth choose to join gangs is because it offers them a sense of belonging and commitment. The family is essential to the development of the child's social, emotional and physical needs. If the family is the source of love, guidance, and protection that youths seek, they are not forced to search for these basic needs from a gang.

In my opinion, recreational program such as sports, music, drama, and community activities help build a sense of self-worth and self-respect in young people. Youth are able to spend their free time wisely and meaningfully and their less likely to seek a membership in a gang which hang around at the shopping mall or void deck of HDB flats. Through joining those activities allow teens to express their feeling in a right way as well as learning skills for their sake. Also, school should organize conflict resolution campaign regularly in order to teach their students how to deal better with conflicts and help eliminate gang intimidation tactics.

Gang members need to realize that gangs only bring a wasted future and certainly are no solution. Gang prevention should deal with the individual involved in order for them to have hope for a better life.

By Hui Min