Girón, Santander is marked on maps as a red zone, a place where violence takes root early. Children are exposed to dangers that rob them of innocence at a young age—sexual abuse, domestic violence, and the pervasive influence of gangs that recruit the young. But within this setting, there is also resilience. The school we visited takes in students with troubled pasts and sometimes criminal histories. By providing structure, education, and a sense of belonging, it gives these children the tools to choose a different path. In a community where despair has often been the rule, this school dares to cultivate hope.​​​