By Rishi Mulloth
Gang culture can often be misunderstood by people outside of the community, and this can lead to some harsh and untrue stereotypes. As a result, these communities remain unhelped or forgotten. Barrio de Paz explores one community in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a country facing extreme economic hardship. The documentary follows Nelsa Libertard Curbelo, a peace worker who created SER PAZ (Being Peace) in 1999 to help local gang members reintegrate into society through skills, training, and education. Curbelo got rival gang members to unite and create businesses like pizza shops and music studios, bringing economic opportunity to the community. Barrio de Paz allows many of the gang members to share their hardships and explain what led them to Curbelo’s community. Their stories are heartbreaking. Curbelo has given them hope that they can lead a better, more successful life. She is seen as a mother to these young people, and her work has been vital in helping a struggling community get back on its feet.
From director Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Barrio de Paz was curated for the Planet Classroom Network by the Global Oneness Project. Vaughan-Lee shares a powerful story about a struggling community and the amazing woman who helped them. Her inspiring work and insightful wisdom illustrate the profound impact one person can have on the world. Additionally, the film does a deep dive into the lives and personalities of these gang members. It teaches the fallacy of stereotypes, and how, in reality, these communities are struggling and need help.
This is a great documentary that should be watched by all, and will be a great addition to the Planet Classroom Network. The stories of this community are important to understand because Guayaquil isn’t the only place where these problems exist. The world needs more Nelsa Curbelos. I think this documentary will be inspiring for young audiences. I highly recommend this documentary for everyone to watch, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Rishi Mulloth is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in film and media studies and economics, and is attending the University of Scranton for a masters degree in business analytics.
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