Violence and lawlessness was rife in what was one of the most Dangerous barrios (districts) of the most dangerous city in the world.  Citizens were short on money and opportunity and were often left with nowhere to turn. Life was tough in Comuna 13. This was the most dangerous barrio in Medellín.  It was impossible to reach the centre of town; we were stuck here. All our elder brothers were on drugs or dealing drugs. I just lived in the house, and the bullets came flying in, during dinner… Sebastian, 16 What a difference fifteen years can make though.  As it stands today, it’s almost impossible, as an outsider, to imagine Comuna 13 (a part of the San Javier district) as it once was – a haven for guerrillas, local gangs, drug cartels and paramilitary groups. In place of the danger that used to envelop the region, there’s now a surprising sense of peace; a living, adapting community that is a testament to the human spirit. If Medellín is to be considered one of the most innovative cities in the world, Comuna 13 would have to be one of the most transformed. What did the community come from though? An All-Too-Recent History […]

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