Daniel Sumile at just age 15 was a self-proclaimed “bad boy”, previous brushes with the law saw him questioned and cautioned by the police. Daniel who had been expelled from school for stabbing another pupil with a pair of scissors was arrested and narrowly escaped a prison sentence. Luckily for him the victim was wearing three layers of clothing and the injury was not too severe; as an alternative to a custodial sentence; Daniel was referred to RAP Mentors by the social services in 2007. The 15 year old was locked into a downward spiral when his close friend who he grew up with was stabbed and killed in June 2007 as she tried to break up a fight.

But now, several months on, Daniel beamed as he told how he has mended his ways after being mentored by David Williams aka Watchman, of RAP Mentors.

Daniel also attends RAP Academy (Music Communication and Life Skills) project (an arm of RAP Mentors). Daniel said: “There’s hardly anything out there to do but this is something for me to do away from the streets, in my past I didn’t give a bubble. If I wanted to do something to someone, I would just do it, but since meeting Watchman I’ve opened up my eyes. I know young people who have died on the streets it’s made me realise it could be me next or me doing it to someone else.”

Daniel said: “I love rapping and I’m hoping to do my own music video”. He accompanied Watchman his RAP Mentor on a music video shoot in Bristol and is now working on his own CD.

With attention hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder both of which cause behavioural problems, conflict was never far away at Daniel’s home in South Croydon.

“The first time I met Watchman we just talked about the music video, The seconded time I was telling him about an argument I had with my mum; He said Dan you can’t talk to your mum like that; He’s helping me, even though it doesn’t feel like it. It sounds mad but since Watchman came into my life my attitude has changed.”

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Daniel writes and performs under the name of “Younga Watchman”. Wanting to spread a positive message he performed an acappella rap at Croydon Town Center on August 18^th 2007; “I wanted to spread the message and to tell everyone to STOP! what they’re doing – robberies, the gangs and being on a hype (aggressive) to everyone. Other people might do that, but not me”.

Daniel is now at a pupil referral unit taking 8 GCSEs this year (2008) and is hoping to become an electrician; He is also training to become a peer RAP Mentor to other youngsters – a role he has already adopted among his friends. He said: “David made me realise that in life you get to a stage where you have to choose the good or the bad side of the law. “There are quite a few people taking the good side these days because so many people are dying,”

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO GET STARTED, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO GET STARTED TO BE GREAT!!!