Leela Ramdeen

On Saturday, August 12 the world marked the UN International Youth Day on the theme: Tackling Poverty Together.

The UN asked all stakeholders to use this opportunity to tackle poverty together by ensuring that young people receive the attention they deserve in global, national and local efforts to eradicate poverty.

A major focus of the Day was “practical action to further encourage the empowerment and participation of youth in the processes and decisions that affect their lives. The media have especially important role to play in support of the observance of the Day to promote public awareness of youth issues.”

UN estimates indicate that almost one in five young people (18 % of the 1.158 billion 15 to 24 year olds worldwide i.e. 209 million young people) survive on less than US$1 per day, while as many as 45 % - around 515 million young people - live on less than US$2 per day.

“These numbers take on significance when you consider the many dimensions of poverty: hunger and malnutrition; lack of access to education and other basic services; an increase in disease and illness, homelessness or inadequate housing; unsafe environments, and a lack of participation in decision-making and socio-cultural life.”

In 1998 the UN stated that “Young people everywhere are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. They should live under conditions that encourage their imagination, ideals, energy and vision to flourish to the benefit of their societies.”

What strategies have we devised in T&T to integrate our young people into the social and economic fabric of our society? How do we ensure that they have an opportunity to make an input in social development and other national policies that impact on them? How do we help them to gain a sense of being valued and connected with others and with society? Are you a good role model for our youth?

We need a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs - with sole responsibility for issues affecting children and young people. We can learn from countries such as the UK where in 2003 a Minister for Children was appointed.

She reports to the Education Secretary and has responsibility for children's services, childcare provision for under-fives, special educational needs, children and families courts supports service, family policy and measures to safeguard at risk children.

In New Zealand the Minister of Youth Affairs acts as an important advocate and spokesperson for New Zealand's young people and is looked to as a leader on youth development issues.

Inter alia, she scrutinises policies and programmes from other portfolios to make sure that, where necessary, they consider youth issues and perspectives.

With an ageing population, it is essential that we invest in our young people so they can rise out of the poverty trap and realize their potential.

Their success today will have a major social and economic impact in the future. Unfortunately, many are apeing the adults around them and are driven by consumerism, materialism and instant gratification.

We must address the challenges that our young people face as they seek to make the transition into adulthood e.g. poverty; drug and alcohol abuse; HIV/AIDS; gang and gun culture; homelessness; incest; physical, emotional and sexual abuse; bullying; teen pregnancy; prostitution; lack of family life, cultural, recreational and sports facilities, access to good education, training and productive employment.

Have you ever visited a “squat” and observed how many of our children live in squalour and poverty? Who is supervising, monitoring and evaluating the quality of provision in residential homes? What happens to our youths when they leave at 16 and 18 years old?

We have no comprehensive transition programmes in place to ensure that those who eventually have to face the world on their own have the knowledge, skills and ability to do so.

What are we doing for the many youths in T&T who live on the streets in poverty or who are the victims of poverty in their homes? We need an holistic approach if we are to tackle issues relating to our young people effectively and to improve their quality of life.

Lord, move the hearts of those in authority to establish a Children's Authority and the attendant infrastructure required to help our young people.

Why are many youths not interested in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by our Government? I have my own views on this issue. Inter alia, we need to go back to basics and strengthen family life and the education that is on offer to our youths.

We will have better social, educational and emotional outcomes when fathers are involved. Involved fatherhood is critical in challenging gender stereotypes and influencing the attitudes that young people can have to being parents themselves.

We also need to change the culture in which they are growing up and rediscover morals and values that that will facilitate our progress as a people. The “get rich quick” culture that exists may lead young people, such as the three who held up a business place in Curepe last week, to feel that they don't need to work.

Many are growing up with no sense of responsibility and with a mindset that leads them to terrorise citizens and take/steal what they want. Swift justice may deter some young people from embarking on a life of crime. Our criminal justice system leaves much to be desired.

In spite of our woeful lack of care for and social neglect of many of our children, God has blessed us with thousands of culturally/religiously diverse, innovative and talented young people who are motivated, articulate and intelligent.

There are many inspiring and courageous young people in our midst who possess excellent leadership qualities and who are technologically-aware. In our rapidly changing global society, we must foster these gifts and harness their energy and enthusiasm for the good of our country/world.

A National Youth Council can play a major role in society. We must move from tokenism to active advocacy for involving young people more fully in decisions concerning them. In order to develop the potential of our young people, we need to listen to them and create, in collaboration with them, policies, programmes and services that work for them.

I call on our youths to act as agents of development; to transform your communities by taking advantage of full, effective and constructive participation in society.

You have important things to say and to contribute to the growth and development of our country.  You are a national resource. You are our present and our future.

Faith communities and local communities must embrace our young people. I commend the various NGOs and CBOs that do sterling work with and for our youths. Let's send a message of hope to our youths today by pledging to respect and promote their rights; to foster conditions and mechanisms to promote their improved well-being and livelihood.

Let's show that we value them by developing/implementing a national youth development policy that will seek to bring about positive changes for them.