Stephanie Slen

Zakariya Bakour

Benny Deng grew up in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Lining up at a food bank alone was a part of everyday life. Needles on the ground were a normal sight — left behind by drug users whose residue often contained fentanyl, meth, and other opioids. High rates of homelessness surrounded him. Living conditions there were normal to him. Most kids his age were playing video games to escape. Benny was playing Minecraft to build. Not just virtual blocks but ideas. Systems. Worlds. He didn’t know it...