Saving kids from the Mafia in Italy

In Italian cities, youth gangs known as “baby gangs” are committing increasingly brutal assaults. Poverty, unemployment, and social alienation are the harsh realities that many young Italians face. For most, involvement in organized crime seems to be the only way out.

But can they leave their criminal past behind? The anti-Mafia association, Libera, is working to give young people a way out of the downward spiral. Follow the journey of kids who have gotten into trouble with the law and attend a summer camp organized by Libera in Sicily. A Genovese woman, Fatima, is their mentor as they learn to paddle canoes, surf, and sail. One of the high points of their stay is a visit to a former Mafia family in Trapani who are now working with the authorities. Witness their courage in attempting to halt the spiral of violence in the face of threats and vendettas.