In the United Kingdom, knife crime is rampant. Disadvantaged youth are some of the most affected, with over 4 500 offensive weapon acts committed by children between 2018 and 2019. At 14 years old, Juan Lopez found himself sleeping on the sidewalk, brandishing a blade for protection. Several years later, he’s now forging a future for at-risk youth with the very knives that plague these streets.
Police confiscate approximately one tonne of knives from the streets of London every month. In an effort to stop knife crime at its source, local charity Steel Warriors began melting down the seized weapons and recycling them into outdoor gyms. Today, Lopez is a project manager and mentor with the organisation. The gyms focus on calisthenics, a form of strength training that leverages body weight and requires minimal equipment and skill. Open to the public, the gyms encourage vulnerable youth to build muscle and confidence while fostering valuable connections. “It’s crucial to break the cycle of crime, violence, and social exclusion,” Lopez says.
Along with a team of dedicated volunteers, Lopez runs calisthenics sessions and youth intervention programmes. The free classes not only facilitate a healthy lifestyle, but instil kids with the discipline and diligence to lead successful lives. “By melting down the very thing that causes so much pain in the community, we’re able to change perspectives,” Lopez says. The initiative also gives youth the opportunity to become coaches, lifting themselves out of poverty and crime. In the right hands, even a knife has the potential to rebuild lives.
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