Young males and their worst fears – picture essay

While mentoring underprivileged adolescence at north London’s Arsenal Football Club in 2016, I spotted common and alarming newspaper reviews in regards to the deaths of native younger males in knife-related stabbings and top ranges of male suicide.

I talked to the younger males about youth problems, reminiscent of absent fathers, gangs, youth poverty, a dearth of male function fashions and psychological well being problems. Existential problems with regards to the “growing pains” of turning into an grownup in difficult inner-city London used to be a not unusual theme. And so the challenge Young Men, Worst Fears used to be born.

It gave the impression that the query “what is your worst fear” ignited their creativeness and brought about them to drop their guard. It used to be as though they have been unravelling. They have been vocalising their frustrations with out inhibition and welcomed the risk to be in contact their reality.

“Taken almost 10 years ago, aged 17, my biggest fear then is not necessarily what I fear most now. I chose ‘isolation’, but I really meant to say ‘loneliness’ – I think I was too afraid to admit that at the time. Being alone was my greatest fear. Growing up gay, I remember watching my friends kiss at house parties and feeling undesirable. I worried I would never meet someone and would always be alone.”

Born and raised in north west London, Alex used to be an A-level pupil on the time the picture used to be taken, and is now a private client at Jacquemus, New Bond Street.

“When looking back at my past fear of death I realise that it wasn’t necessarily the death I was afraid of, but the idea of leaving behind your loved ones and what you currently have in your life, as well as the uncertainty and unknown of what actually happens when we die. But why be scared of the future when you can be in the present moment and excited for what good holds for the future.”

Deujean is the founding father of Harrow Road Soup Kitchen, and lives in Queen’s Park at the Mozart Estate. The kitchen gives mentoring, outreach and occasions in the neighborhood. Deujean organises a Back to School power, giving garments to kids within the space so they have got the issues they want.

Stazzy is an artist, born Philip Stasopoullos in Cyprus and raised in Archway, Islington.

“At the time of the photo I said my biggest fear was failure and that hasn’t changed. However, almost a decade later, my idea of success has.

“I was young, and naive. Since the photo, I believe I’ve learned a lot from life experiences and I’m a much wiser and better person.

“Having lost my father, I feel a greater responsibility for my family, and success to me now is ensuring the most comfortable life possible for them and myself. Failure isn’t just a fear any more, it’s not even an option.”

Ahmed Masoud is a Palestinian and British creator, theatre maker, and educational founded in London. He has created quite a lot of dance presentations and 3 performs: Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea, Walaa and The Shroud Maker. He has additionally authored two novels: Vanished: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda and Come What May.

Jay is 19, and works as a type. “Coming from the south side of London I have seen a lot of people who have put in a lot of groundwork and now they are somewhat nonexistent.”

London-based artist Kenan Kián crafts emotionally charged hyperpop/digital song. Camden used to be their previous stomping floor. Their paintings displays a adventure from adversity to empowerment, resonating with those that really feel underestimated.

“The fear of not having my music pushed me to create what I couldn’t live without. My new EP “VILLAIN ERA”, with topics of belief, is a undying homage of that.”

Zephryn Taitte is a London founded actor, of British Guyanese heritage. He has acted in theatre productions reminiscent of Talawa’s ‘The Crucible’ and London Bubble’s Sirens of Titan. He is most commonly identified for his function within the unbiased internet and TV collection Brothers With No Game, for which he gained an trade nod and turned into Screen Nation’s ‘favourite actor’ award winner.

Gabriel Speechly, born and raised in north west London, works in leisure.

Now Kaci is 25 years previous and says: “we’ve become too old so we have created our own [football] sessions with the help of Arsenal In the Community, run and mentored by Jack Ironside.” Kaci provides: “Jack at Arsenal has given me everything.”

Micah grew up in Battersea and Brixton, south London. He arrange The Community Giveback scheme with Isaac, a neighborhood occasions corporate, setting up occasions reminiscent of fireworks, an Easter egg hunt and Back to School drives.

We met throughout the Wembley2Soweto initiative. Josh grew up at the Elthorne Estate in Archway. “Because of several government cuts numerous youth clubs were shut down across London – that left loads of young people hanging around the streets which led to antisocial behaviour and gang involvement. Some of us took it amongst ourselves to inspire them and to provide local youth club involvement to shift the life of current and future criminality i.e. young kids involved in crime.”