"Moving from Ghana to the UK was a real shock. In Africa we have what you imagine poverty to be; not enough medicine, limited education and many young people are orphans. Moving to Brixton I thought that everything would be nice and sweet, but the reality was still poverty."
At Brathay we focus on four key areas directly relating to the Every Child Matters agenda and performance indicators set by the government to 'increase the number of children and young people on the path to success.' Dennis is just one of many young people who are now on that path to success.
Dennis' story
"I remember looking out my window, I was so curious that I used to jump out of my window and move to the streets to see what the youth were up to. Things started to happen - we wanted things that we couldn't afford - so at first we did street robberies. From there it was just a little step to dealing drugs on the street.
I was recruited to the Brathay programme by a member of the family on the street - Solomon. At first I didn't want to join, particularly as there was a police officer on the team, but Sol kept on at me. After twelve weeks of group work we all went to Brathay Hall. I loved it. It united all the youth on the programme. We were from different areas, but we learnt to understand each other. It taught me to be a leader, to keep focussed and to achieve my goals. I learnt to weigh up my choices and options and I decided to take a positive path.
Brathay unites organisations to get young people to achieve. I am now working for Brathay as a youth worker, helping young people to see they do have options and to show them by example that they too can make positive changes."