At 12 years old, I found myself homeless. Crazy but true. I ran away from the children's home and never went back. The local authority stopped looking for me as did the police. The only solace I had at the time was linking up with other young boys to form a gang. It was survival and security. Never for criminal intentions. Gang culture comes from segregation, abandonment, and neglect. I felt safer on the streets. The system did not protect me. Some young people have nothing, so what's their alternative. There's no youth clubs, no sanctuary. Our youth are more vulnerable than ever before. We need urgent action in all these sectors, or we'll see more children choosing a life of uncertainty over stability.