The tragic death of Elianne Andam, a 15-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in Croydon, has had a profound impact on the friends of Zaian Aimable-Lina. Zaian was also just 15 years old when he was brutally stabbed in Ashburton Park in 2019. Shakira and Lasini, both now 17, have spoken out about how Elianne’s death sparked painful memories of Zaian’s murder. Shakira revealed that Elianne’s death has had a “big effect” on girls in the area and their perception of knife crime.
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with Elianne’s murder and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. In the wake of Zaian’s death, a community project was launched to open a youth centre in the park where he was killed. The 360 Centre, run by the Oasis Trust, will help young people in Croydon engage in community activities rather than being out on the streets. Lasini believes that the centre will have positive social impacts and allow teenagers to live their lives to the fullest without fear of it being cut short.
Reverend Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis Trust, highlighted the importance of early interventions into young people’s lives, arguing that knife crime is a “symptom of an issue”. The youth centre will offer support and mentorship services to young people in the area. It is hoped that the centre will instill a sense of pride within the community and help prevent young people from carrying knives.
The deaths of Zaian and Elianne are stark reminders of the knife crime epidemic that is plaguing the UK, especially in London. Both teenagers were innocent victims of senseless violence that left families devastated. The youth centre project is one way in which the local community is coming together to try to prevent further tragedies from occurring. While the centre alone may not solve the problem of knife crime, it is a positive step towards creating a safer community where young people are protected from harm
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