Chapter 6 – The Street as School
The street didn't ask permission to welcome Salimo. It was harsh from day one. The cold asphalt became a mattress, and the open sky a blanket. Night arrived with a biting cold that seemed to penetrate the bones. The day brought a merciless sun and, with it, the hunger that burned within.
He soon realized that the street had its own rules. Those who didn't learn quickly wouldn't survive. He learned where to lie down without being kicked out, how to ask for a piece of bread without humiliation, who to trust with for shade or share a torn blanket. The street, unwittingly, became his new teacher.
Among boys like him, he found an unexpected solidarity. They shared scraps of food, protected each other when their elders tried to intimidate them. But there were also dangers: gangs, indifferent police, gazes that treated them as invisible. It was necessary to always be alert.
With each passing day, Salimo realized that survival was more than just enduring cold and hunger. It was learning to keep the spark of hope alive, even when everything around him tried to snuff it out. The streets taught us quickly, but they exacted a heavy toll: they took away our innocence, our dreams, and our peace.
You Can: Life can be tough, but every lesson learned can also be a source of strength for the future.
