In recent years There has been an influx of physically and socially disabled young adults with spinal cord injuries caused by bullet wounds. Most are young men who come from the underworld of the cities, from the rapidly growing culture of violence or la vida mata . After rehabilitation many chose to stay, becoming project leaders and skilled craftspeople. Meanwhile other centres based on the Projimo model are springing up for children in other parts of the country. Juan was interviewed by David Werner , founder of the Projimo project.
Culprits are also victims.
Even people with the most violent backgrounds turn out to be very human individuals trapped by circumstances. At their worst they seem heartless. Yet they may be surprisingly loving and tender with the loneliest people. His gentle touch had a marvellous effect on the child who up to then had been fearful, whiny and crying any time anyone came near him, With Juan s attention he became self-assured with other people and enjoyed the exercises which Juan had so imaginatively turned into games. The root problem, Werner believes, lies not with deplorable young people like Juan but in the society that deplores them.