17-year-old Amin dropped out of crime: "My family is the driving force"

- My family felt so bad about what I did.

And I myself thought that either I will die or I will end up in prison for life - and I did not want that, says Amin.

It all started in high school.

Amin was good at school and was bullied for it.

The adult world betrayed and finally Amin took to his fists.

- I thought I had to start beating people and I discovered that it worked against the bullies.

It was an everyday life fraught with violence and weapons, conversations with the police and with the social services.

But Amin did not listen.

Until one day when he saw how his father was doing badly after another interrogation at the police station for a crime Amin had committed.

- He had forgotten where he parked the car and I was worried about him.

Later I sat in my room thinking about what life was like and all the stupid things I had done.

Then I decided that I wanted to quit and contacted the social services.

Plug and friends

Both the police and the youth emergency service have supported Amin over the past year.

Fortunately, he still had some of his old "non-criminal" friends.

Right now he is attending high school and is not out on the town anymore.

- I do not dare to move in Uppsala so much.

Most recently a few weeks ago, a bunch recognized me and jumped on me.

Amin wants to train himself to help other young people who are at risk of falling into crime.

- I just want to make my parents proud and happy, he says.