Bereaved Wolverhampton mother calls on parents to learn the reality of knife crime
Pooja Kanda lost her son Ronan in 2022
A Wolverhampton mother whose son was murdered at the hand of a knife is calling for parents to understand the reality of knife crime.
Since Pooja Kanda lost her son Ronan, she has used his story to turn other children away from a life of crime.
What happened to Ronan Kanda?
Ronan Kanda was murdered at the age of 16, yards away from his home in Wolverhampton.
The two teenagers that murdered him had bought a set of swords and a machete illegally online,
Ronan had dreams of becoming a lawyer, and had just finished his GCSEs when he was killed in June 2022.
Pooja told us she learnt more about her son than ever, after he died: "People approached me out of nowhere to tell me how sweet he was," she said.
What is the 'My Tomorrow' campaign?
Pooja Kanda spoke on Wednesday (9th Apr) at Molineux Stadium to school children as part of the 'My Tomorrow' campaign.
The campaign aims to start conversations about the reality of being a young person in the West Midlands, in order to prevent crime.
Pooja told us she wants parents to start listening too: "I had a lovely child who never carried a knife. I did not think it would happen to me.
"I am telling you parent-to-parent that it can happen. You need to play a part in protecting your child by joining us in our fight," she said.
How are West Midlands Police tackling youth violence?
Simon Foster, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, helped create the 'My Tomorrow' campaign.
He wants children in the region to understand they have a choice when it comes to youth crime:
"They have the power to make a difference and improve things for the common good. They can make a positive difference and that is the message I try to give young people when I speak to them," he said.