The issue of gangs in our city is extremely serious.

I can say I’m the only gang leader who is a woman here in Ibarra.

I’m a leader of a gang.

I joined this gang, which is called the Bloods.

There were some who thought we should fight to be the best, to dominate the area.

You have to be very tough – as tough as a rock.

The Bloods had a dispute with the Latin Kings gang here in Ibarra.

Then, when the fighting escalated,

we started to use weapons and to fire shots.

The most painful was the death of our friend, Franklin, who we called El Toro.

He just left

and fifteen minutes later we get this call that he is dead.

It was horrible.

Maybe wrongly, they have entered into this situation

but this helps them feel good.

The Peace Education Program was introduced to gang members in Ibarra, Ecuador

We got involved with the youngsters from the gangs.

The situation came up with the gang leaders –

they had expressed a real desire to not continue with the same ongoing vengeance.

And Dr. Castillo suggested, “Why don’t you go and share Prem Rawat’s message?”

When you don’t realize who you are, how are you going to respect another person?

Am I to consider that you are so different than me,

that you don’t feel that same urge?

That urge to be fulfilled?

We began to meet every week, watch a little video, and talk.

This story of the animals,

that whenever they feel threatened they stop fighting...

They will growl, they’ll snarl, they’ll kick, they’ll buck.

But they know, “Okay, after this point, if we keep going, we’re going to kill each other.

When wars happen, innocent people always get killed.

We didn’t think about that, and we kept fighting harder and harder.

I think that once I understood the message,

that was my moment of change.

Before, I was living in a fantasy, caring about nothing at all.

I had thought, “Well, this is one more person

who is going to talk about spirituality, like religion.”

But now he was talking about something that you have inside.

Peace is inside you. That’s what hit me the most.

When I heard Prem’s message, I felt like he knew me.

So I thought he must be a very wise person.

There was a parade coming up.

The Blood gang were going to march in the parade for the first time.

And they came up with this phrase, “Peace is not only possible. It’s inevitable!”

Peace is inevitable because it is in everybody.

The president was coming, Mr. Correa.

He acknowledged us because of the banner.

He read it and said, “It is very good today’s young people

take on these attitudes.”

I think we are seeing a practical example here,

of how these young people can unlearn those things they had to learn.

Members of the Bloods were invited to meet Prem Rawat

We have seen our brothers and friends die.

My question to you is:

“How would you bring this message of peace to young people who are gang members?”

Learn to respect yourself.

All you have to be is the candle

that lights the unlit candles.

Now I could talk and share.

I felt wonderful. Different. Because from then on

my life at home, in the streets, at work changed.

So what you’re telling me is that

as the Bloods organization,

you have chosen another way to do things.

It’s not really a change, so much as a discovery.

My perspective of peace has influenced the other members of the Bloods.

We want to do good things, not hurt others,

Every day we have a positive objective

to do good things with my brothers

for all human beings.

There used to be a rivalry before with the Latin Kings

over territory in the streets.

So we felt there was a need to sign a peace agreement so that we could be at peace with each other.

Because they saw what we were doing, and they wanted to do the same.

It’s very clear and you can’t avoid it. You can’t escape it.

You can’t run away from yourself.

If you’re in conflict with yourself, everything is going to come out wrong.

And the core of me is actually full of peace.

And if I can get in touch with that,

then everything changes.

Peace Is Inevitable

the prem rawat foundation