I am very passionate about the wellbeing of the youth. There are about 1.6 billion youth in the world. In the midst of all the bad news that the media has dwelt on, it is encouraging to know that a massive source of energy, creativity and new ideas has been building up beneath the surface of our communities waiting to be unearthed, barely tapped so far but nearly bursting to emerge.
These 1.6 billion young people are between the ages of 5-20 years. In our adult run – world, the youth are not often asked of their opinions and ideas on how to address society’s challenges. Yet, a collective effort to reverse this trend is one of the most powerful steps we can take towards a better world.
Reasons why we should be concentrating on the youth.
- The youth want to make a difference: Young people have an acute sense of justice when it comes to society’s issues. They look at the world with fresh eyes and they see its problems as moral wrongs that should be corrected. They always believe that change is inevitable so they are eager to get involved and contribute both to grassroots efforts and joining the search for long term solutions.
- The youth are creative: With fresh perspectives, young people are able to think creatively to bring unique solutions that solve the world’s unconstrained and deep rooted societal problems. The youth are able to come up with ideas that originally might not cross the minds of adults. These solutions may not always be practical but they can uncover hidden assumptions and opportunities that illuminate new pathways forward.
- Young people have important perspectives: Most of today’s greatest social issues have particular impact on them. As students and care receivers, young people experience issues like gender inequalities and violence differently to how adults experience theirs. This has to be considered when looking at solutions to social problems because it reveals new dimensions to issues and suggests opportunities for innovation.
- Intentional change making to develop effective and optimistic future leaders: when young people are deliberately involved and asked to contribute their ideas and energy to addressing societal issues, they begin to see themselves as leaders who can contribute to the lives of others. The ones who would otherwise feel academically or socially inadequate to their peers realize that their unique strengths are needed to build a better world. The empowering effects of change making spill over into adulthood as youth retain their motivation to help others and pursue their goals with confidence. They are a limitless source of motivation, energy and engaging them now will inspire a generation of life long change makers.
Let us encourage the youth to start their own social programs and give them the support they need to be successful.
Let us invite them to the decision – making table where their voices will be heard. They deserve the chance to explore and address the problems they see around them. Their contribution is an opportunity the world needs badly to succeed. These and more are the practices I have personally imbibed in my own children from childhood and I can already see the leadership positions they are occupying in their schools and contributing to decision making.
TORNYE AMEDUME