Uppsala ungdomsjour and the police held an information evening on gang recruitment at Kulturpunkten in Gottsunda on Wednesday evening.
Participants included guardians, school staff, local residents and representatives from associations, religious communities, the family unit and local coordination for Gottsunda/Valsätra.
The evening was based on the material Gängsnacket and covered how criminal networks recruit children through social media, schools and people close to them. Attendees received information on warning signs and how adults can talk to children about difficult topics.
Social worker Alma Aittimaa at Uppsala ungdomsjour said everyone has an important role: "It takes a village to raise a child, and everyone who was there was part of that village." She noted that many parents expressed difficulties getting their children to talk about the subject.
A key conclusion was that preventive work requires cooperation among multiple actors. "All adults are needed. Being present, asking questions and showing that you care can make a big difference in a child's life," Aittimaa said.
