An emotional memorial service has been held for a Glasgow teenager one year on from his death.
Amen Teklay passed away aged 15 after being found seriously injured on Clarendon Street in Maryhill on March 5, 2025.
Twelve months on, his friends, family, and community came together to pay tribute to the teenager who was described as “bright” and “funny”.
A private service was organised by Kingsway Community Connections (KCC), where Amen had attended the youth group.
Speaking at the event, Jamie O’Neill, community development worker at KCC, said: “I was a support worker when Amen accessed our services and attended our youth group.
“We’ve lost Amen, but the amount of people who have shown up here today just shows how much love there was for him, and we do miss him.
“A few times in the last year, I’ve spoken about Amen and about how important it is that we all pull together and support each other.
“Everyone, whether you’re a young person or an adult or a parent or a worker, each and every one of us has a responsibility and duty if we truly care about Amen and we want things to be safe.
“We need to start looking at the small steps we can take to make sure we’re moving in the right direction.
“As always, this isn’t the end of Amen’s story. He is with us every single day.”
READ NEXT:
What does the future look like for youth work in Glasgow?
‘Beneficial to everybody’: Youth workers help city schools ‘do much of what they do’
How youth work helps to support the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit
Jamie went on to explain that a number of young people helped plan and bring the vigil together.
This included having a mural of Amen commissioned and displayed, as well as building a bench dedicated to his memory.
Both of these were unveiled at the service.
Members of Amen’s family also attended and thanked the local community for their support over the past year.
READ NEXT:
Glasgow teen on how a local youth group has been crucial in his life
Youth worker on how 'small wins' could 'help save a young person's life'
Not funding youth work risks 'abandoning' youngsters, group warns
One relative said: “Thank you for braving the cold weather to commemorate your friend, your brother, and our son.
“Amen’s father wants to thank every member of the community that stood with him all year round and supported him in his ups and downs.
“Losing a son is not easy. He actually believes all the support has alleviated some of the grief. He says he couldn’t have managed to shoulder all of this hardship without the support of the community and close friends.
“I will end with my own wish for all Scottish children, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, to grow to become responsible adults and become an asset to their parents.”
In November last year, we reported that Amen’s friends, family, and community had gathered together on what would have been his 16th birthday.
Share