Ashley Cain, a former professional footballer turned presenter, recently shared his harrowing experiences during a visit to the favelas of Brazil, regions known for their high crime rates and complex social dynamics. In his new BBC series, Cain embarks on a quest to understand the driving forces behind youth involvement in criminal activities. With his experiences, he wishes to shed light on the often devastating consequences of such choices, not just for the individuals engaged in crime, but for their families and communities as well.
During the documentary, Cain expresses the dire situation in these impoverished areas, stating, “It’s absolutely devastating. People are losing their lives every single day.” His journey through various favelas takes him from the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro to the darker corners of criminal enterprises. He encounters young men caught in the web of illegal activities, grappling with the harsh realities of their choices while seeking to comprehend why they feel compelled to adopt such lifestyles. Themes explored in the series also include serious global issues such as rhino poaching in South Africa and illegal mining operations in Colombia.
One of the most heart-wrenching moments for Cain occurred when he met a mother in a Rio de Janeiro favela, who shared the trauma of losing both of her children to violence. Cain recalls, “It hit me deeply… to find out how she picked her son up in nothing but a bag of bones from one of the cartels was devastating.” As a parent himself, who has faced the loss of a child, Cain found it vital to provide comfort and empathy, feeling that sharing in the mother’s pain allowed her to voice the many problems afflicting her community.
The experience of walking through the favelas opened Cain’s eyes to the normalization of crime and violence, with individuals brazenly selling drugs or brandishing weapons as if they were mere everyday items. He comments on how easily young people are lured into a life of crime, often using promises of care and protection that lead to tragic ends: “In the end, they always end up in the same place, unfortunately.” Many he met expressed sentiments of hopelessness, indicating they did not desire the lives they were leading, feeling instead the weight of fear and pain in their daily existence.
In searching for understanding, Cain also ventures into favelas where few outsiders are welcome, speaking with armed individuals involved in drug trafficking. He frequently posed the question of why they didn’t pursue other means of making a living, to which he received responses highlighting the stark lack of job opportunities in their neighborhoods. Remarkably, he met a young man from a relatively middle-class background who had taken a dangerous turn towards crime, prompting Cain to reflect, “You’re risking your life every single day because of what you believe to be perceived as a good thing, as a cool thing.”
Yet not all stories from the favelas are steeped in despair. Cain also encountered individuals striving to change their trajectories. He recalls a young man running a music venture aimed at offering alternatives to gang life through music education, allowing others to hone their DJ skills and secure a more promising future. Cain describes one particularly inspiring young graduate from a cocktail-making class, a survivor of gun violence who chose a new path.
This journey has left Cain with an essential realization about parenting and community engagement. The hope is that his series will encourage families to engage in open dialogues with their children, fostering a sense of awareness and connection that can potentially help deter youth from entering cycles of crime. Cain sees this as vital, suggesting that parents might reconsider their pathways of communication with their children: “Somebody might be sitting next to their young son, who’s the same age as some of these guys here wielding weapons… and just think, ‘Maybe I need to pay more attention.'”
Through his exploration of the Brazilian favelas, Ashley Cain aims not only to depict the stark realities of crime and violence but to advocate for understanding and dialogue as essential tools for making a change. His documentary invites viewers to reflect on broader societal issues while encouraging a more empathetic approach to the struggles faced by those involved in crime.