Barzan Abdulrahman, who once faced a future of crime and incarceration, now works as a youth leader at the very fritidsgård (youth center) in Lövgärdet that helped turn his life around. According to a report by SVT Väst, Abdulrahman grew up in Hammarkullen and was drawn into petty crime at a young age. He credits adults at the youth center with recognizing his restlessness and giving him responsibilities that kept him engaged and away from trouble.
"If no one had done that, I would be in prison today," Abdulrahman told SVT Väst. On a recent Thursday evening, approximately fifty young people gathered at the Lövgärdet youth center for a pizza-making competition, with Abdulrahman serving as one of the judges. The center provides alternatives for youth, particularly when schools are closed, offering activities like cooking, games, and socializing.
If no one had done that, I would be in prison today
Abdulrahman's transformation from at-risk youth to youth leader demonstrates the impact such community centers can have on young lives in Swedish neighborhoods.