Breaking Borders


Breaking Borders, one gang neighbourhood at a time



By Stephen Weir. 97 year-old Salena has had no formal medical training. For the past 70-years she has been the go-to woman when a street gangbanger has been shot. She lives in the Egipto neighbourhood - one of four street gang communities inside Bogota's cultural epicentre of La Candelaria.
When someone gets shot in Egipto and refuses to get medical help outside of the hood, Salena steps in. " I cut them open with whatever is at hand " she told me through a translator. " I dig out the bullet and put them back together. I made a cream that keeps infection out of the wound for a week!"
These days Salena doesn't haven't to work her magic. The gangstas of Egipto have laid down their weapons, stopped mugging tourists and shooting up the other gangs. Now they are allowing small tour groups in to see their vibrant secret community, meet the locals and learn about their plans for the future.
I took this picture yesterday of Salena as well as a picture of a mural (picture below) that honours her work in the community (picture at top).
Location: Bogotá, Bogota, Colombia

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