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Index........................................................................................ 3
Pax Romana’s Speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the launch of the International Year of Youths .... 5
Foreword by Mr. Peter Matjašič ........................................... 12
Message by Ms Gitte Briffa ................................................... 17 Message by Ms Velislava Ivanova ......................................... 18 Message by Mr. Mathieu Content ........................................ 23
The Authors........................................................................... 24
Youth and Culture ................................................................. 28 Youth Rights .......................................................................... 33 Youth and Education ............................................................. 38 Youth and Employment ........................................................ 44
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Youth and the MDG’s ............................................................ 50 Youth and Participation ........................................................ 55 Youth and Climate Change.................................................... 60 Youth and Globalization ........................................................ 65 Youth and Interreligious Dialogue ........................................ 70 Youth and Health (HIV/Aids) ................................................. 75 Youth and Drug abuse........................................................... 81 Youth and Juvenile Delinquency ........................................... 86 Youth and ICT ........................................................................ 93 Youth and Leisure time activities .......................................... 98 Youth and Sports................................................................. 102 Youth and Women .............................................................. 107 Youth and Volunteering ...................................................... 112 Youth and Finance Management ........................................ 119 Youth and Multiculturalism ................................................ 125
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Pax Romana`s Speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Launch of the International Year of Youth
Pax Romana was the only NGO invited to address the United Nations General Assembly during the Launch Event of the International Year of Youth. The following is the text delivered by Maya Saoud following the official opening of the IYY by Un Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.
12 August 2010
D
istinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, fellow youth, This is truly an important beginning to an especially remarkable year. In 1985, the
United Nations proclaimed the first International Year of Youth. The world we live in today is not at it was twenty-five years ago. We find that it is ever-more necessary to encourage amongst young people the principles of peace and justice, the respect for Human Rights and fundamental 5
freedoms, the realization of our responsibilities, the necessity for active participation, and the true meaning of solidarity. I firmly believe that this Year will be more than just a year to recognize the role youth play in helping our ailing world; it will be a year where youth everywhere will be inspired to take an active part in shaping the future for the benefit of our global society. My name is Maya Soud, and I am proud to be here today on behalf on my now 90-year old youth NGO, Pax Romana. We are a global organization of students that works toward tearing down barriers and bridging divides. In addition to working alongside other young people, we work in collaboration with other youth NGOs and Regional Youth Platforms, such as the participating organizations of the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations, or otherwise known as ICMYO, to build a culture of peace and solidarity. Our organizations have worked hard so that the world`s governments may realize how much energy, potential, and passion young people have when it comes to social progress. We are grateful to the United Nations for commemorating the work of so many young citizens of the world.
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Ladies and gentlemen, the theme of this critical year is ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding’ I must admit, I CANNOT think of something that young people do better than understanding those who are different. Everywhere you look, youth from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds come together in harmony and friendship. They shatter the taboos that older generations have instilled in so many of our minds and form bonds that are truly unbreakable. In the spirit
of
kinship,
love
and
of
course,
MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING, young people are paving the way for a future that is an improvement upon the mistakes of our collective past. History has too often been recorded as a chronology of misunderstandings and conflicts. Today we will change that history. We have an opportunity today to start anew with OUR story. In telling our story, we make a conscious effort to no longer perpetuate divides between people, but to focus the opportunities of growth and empowerment. In order to do this we must all realize and truly believe that the young are the foundation upon which we can build a better future…. Together.
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That is why I am here to speak to you today…… because this future can only be achieved with your help. It humbles me to address all of you gathered here. But I will not allow mu humility to diminish the urgency of my appeal. More often than not, young people are marginalized in our countries. They are pushed to the fringes of society and prevented from making a difference in times of need. Instead of being encouraged to be active agents of change, they are seen as being part of the problem, not the solution. They are silenced or simple neglected. Their skills and capacity for peace building are tragically wasted. But I have to remind you, that participation is a right that MUST be respected. Participation in the political process is the essence of fairness….. of equality. If young people are not treated like viable players in the field of politics then a grave injustice is being committed. In 1995, the UN General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). In recent years Pax Romana, along with other ICMYO organizations, has been invited to the various expert group meetings on goals and targets of the WPAY organized by the UN Programme on Youth. Many of our suggestions were taken 8
into account. Based on this experience at the international level, we can say with a certain degree of authority that one concrete way to ensure a successful International Year is to include youth in the regional, national and local processes. The 15 priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the means of implementation is a natural opportunity for dialogue between governments and youth organizations. In 2008, Pax Ramona had the honour of being one of the first recipients of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Youth Solidarity Fund with our project entitled “Listening and Speaking with Respect: Students, Faith and Dialogue”. Through this project we were able to provide much needed training to students and many valuable lessons were learned. In order to ensure that “mutual understanding” takes place, a space and mechanism for fruitful “dialogue” must be created. It became evident to us that young people are eager to make right what has gone wrong with previous generations. We are willing, ready and able. What is missing however, is the necessary investment in young people and the political will to make this happen.
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The UN General Assembly resolution which proclaims the International Year of Youth, calls for a World Youth Conference under the auspices of the United Nations as the highlight of the International Year of Youth. We would like to make an open invitation to those responsible for implementing this to fully include a variety of international, regional and national youth organizations in the planning process. We know from experience that by working hand in hand we can achieve the best possible outcome and conclusion of our International Year. Dear friends, as we celebrate the launch of this International Year of Youth …. together …. I ask you to remember my words. We are asking you for your help, for your understanding, and for your willingness to make available all that is necessary to ensure that young people are empowered. We are asking you to please understand the valuable natural resource that is the youth. Unlike other resources…we do not spark wars and conflicts…….we do not create contempt between the “have”s and “have not”s……we do not increase economic inequality, suffering, and devastation. We are the resource that does the very opposite. Utilize the youth for the sake of our collective 10
future. Allow us to create a global environment where dialogue and mutual understanding are preferred over the destructiveness and terror of conflict. Like I said before‌.only together can a future of peace, justice and of course mutual understanding be achieved.
Christopher Dekki Maya Saoud Pax Romana Main Representatives to the United Nations
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W
hat better end to a United Nations Year of Youth (IYY) that was initiated – among others – by the ex-Tunisian dictator Zine al-Abidine
Ben Ali than a successfully completed Arab spring and a democratic, free Tunisia. The IYY main slogan as expressed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the IYY website says it all "Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels." The young people across the Arab region have taken those words literary and decided to stand up for their rights. This is exactly what youth needs to do: stand up for their rights as youth, as volunteers, as citizens! The European Youth Forum (YFJ) as an independent, democratic, youth-led platform, representing 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth Organisations from across Europe works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
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The YFJ does this by promoting youth policy through government and institutional policy; by influencing the policy of international institutions on youth-related issues; in increasing the participation of young people and youth organisations in society as well as in the decision-making process; by promote the exchange of ideas and experiences, mutual understanding, and equal rights and opportunities among young people in Europe. As a core issue of youth policy, youth participation in society and in the shaping of youth policies at European level remains an underlying approach within YFJ's work. The participation of young people in their communities, societies and in politics is of key importance if we want to improve young people’s living conditions, opportunities in life and strengthen democracy and active citizenship in Europe.
I am happy and proud that the Maltese National Youth Council KNZ-Malta has been acting as the voice of young people in Malta, promoting youth policy at national level and increasing the participation of young people in decisions that
13
affect them directly and has actively taken part also in the International Year of Youth.
Good luck and keep up the good work!
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T
hroughout the world youth forms a vast group in each society. All their actions and their behaviour is daily influenced and controlled by the policymakers
of their country with their politics. But what about the opinion of youngsters in these policies? How can they voice their concerns to their authorities? Multiple
UN
organizations,
civil
society
and
youth
organizations felt the need for more youth friendly policies. That is to say policies made with and for youth. A whole program was elaborated named: the United Nations Program on Youth. This means that every year several youngsters from all over the world get the opportunity to represent their country on the international level in several high level meetings like: the UNGA, the CsocD, CSD, etc. After these meetings, where UN youth delegates debate and amend on resolutions, they will advocate for the outcome on national level and make sure that the policy process does not stop at the United Nations. So, my mandate as an UN Youth Delegate of 2010, is not fulfilled yet. Now I am still lobbying for more results on the commitment of Belgium to the Millennium Development
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Goals that were elaborated to enhance eight issues for sustainable development. Trough the Flemish and the French speaking Youth Council of Belgium we advised the authorized ministers to hear the demand of Belgian youngsters for a more sustainable society and world. Besides advocating for youth friendly policy it is also my task to prepare the newly elected Youth Delegate for the UNGA of 2011 so that each year we will have a more performant representation of the Belgian Youth. For me, being the Flemish UN Youth Representative in 2010 for the Third Committee of the UNGA was a very enriching experience. I created an interesting network of people from all over the world, I learned how to lobby, how to organize lectures and workshops, I learned a lot about the divergent socio- economic, political, religious situations that globally occur and we all had the opportunity of meeting the Secretary General of the United Nations: Ban Ki-Moon. So in short, it was a very instructive and interesting experience for me and I wish that more people from other countries would be involved in the program so that they can all enjoy this opportunity.
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With my mandate I am very proud of representing the Belgian Youth and guarantee that the policy made on international, national and local level is more youth friendly. I hope that in the future the Belgian Youth Delegates will work closely together with the Maltese Youth Delegates. Because we have to make our voice count! It is an often mentioned truth that the young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. Youth, though, will not only be at the forefront in the future. They lead today. That is why this year it is the International Year of Youth, “where our year, our voice� is our adage!
Gitte Briffa Flemish Youth Delegate to the United Nations
17
Y
oung people in all countries are key agents for social change, economic development and innovation. Our imagination, ideals, considerable energies and vision
are essential for the continuing development of each and every society. The international year of youth is a year of great significance as it marks the recognition of youth as a reliable partner for sustainable future and unifies all young people over one goal – a better world tomorrow. As the Bulgarian UN Youth Delegate I have joined the efforts to help the youth in Bulgaria and around the globe play its respectable role in the world as a committed and reliable partner for stable cooperation in the rapidly changing international environment. I unfold the degree of my societal commitment by supporting the government in responding to the ambitions and demands of youth for a better sustainable future with set standards, guaranteeing equal opportunities and respecting individual identities and traditions. It is youth delegates’ responsibility to work for influencing local policymaking into compliance with the United Nations standards and advice. As a Youth Ambassador, I have joined these endeavours to stimulate systematic dialog among all stakeholders and promote a more active position of young 18
people as responsible citizens. I work to implement my knowledge in the field of international relations and economics to raise awareness about the issues that concern the young most and voice their views on global issues of political, economic and humanitarian character, and help them be a considerate knowledge-based partner on the global stage. Devoted to applying my knowledge to help others benefit from my experience, I have taken responsibility in a wide range of activities to promote youth participation and involvement in the whole process beginning with decisionmaking to implementation of taken solutions. My tasks so far have included high-level meetings on the national and international level, where I have worked to stimulate interministerial dialog and active involvement of different stakeholders. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the UN and 55 years of Bulgarian participation at the UN, I have organized a series of meetings with ministers and ambassadors. I also participated in the release of the new book of the President of the UN Association in Bulgaria, Ambassador Garvalov, as well as the preparation of a publication on the history of the Bulgarian Youth Delegate to 19
the UN Programme, including more information on the careful preparation and follow-up process to the UN GA meetings. As the Bulgarian UN Youth Delegate I have organized 3 high level events in New York to put forward issues that concern the young people in Bulgaria and around the world – along with my active participation during the sessions of the UN General Assembly 3rd Committee, including a group meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The first was a panel discussion with experts from UNESCO, UN Programme on Youth, the UN Alliance of Civilizations on “International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.” The second was an exhibition co-organized with the Bulgarian Permanent Representation to win attention for key issues that concern young people and stimulate dialog. The third event that I have prepared and organized was a briefing with the WFUNA. My hard work have been rewarded not only with the highest appraisal from the Bulgarian Delegation, but also with recognition from my fellow youth delegates as well as the President of the General Assembly who has personally told me that my enthusiasm and true desire to share my experience to help others are remarkable. 20
The ways in which the challenges and potential of young people are addressed will influence current social and economic
conditions
and
the
well-being
of
future
generations. Present decisions determine the future of each and every country, as well as the international community as a whole. The capacity for progress of our society is based on the capacity of the youth in the building and designing the future. But also recognizing us as committed and reliable partners today is a high-rate investment for a sustainable future. Only around 20-30 countries from 192 United Nations member states have responded to the numerous invitations of the General Assembly since 1995 to include youth delegates in the work on the World Programme of Action on Youth and other relevant policies. Bulgaria has been among the leaders and innovators in high level youth involvement in decision
making,
as
it
has
been
including
youth
representatives in its national delegations with granted prerogatives comparable to diplomatic status to United Nations committees dealing with youth. This is a confident signal that my country, as others whose delegations include youth delegates, really appreciates the role of young people. 21
Strengthening the involvement of young people in international forums where they can share experiences and learn from one another’s achievements and difficulties and promoting a cross-fertilization of ideas, cultural values and aspirations, enriches the individuals and contributes for the maturing of the global community, and the achievement of international strategies such as the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover,
young
people
can
give
another
unique
perspective and therefore could come out with innovative ideas for finding and implementing solutions for the most pressing problems. Taking into account the contribution of youth in designing, implementing and evaluating national policies and plans will foster the improvement of the society and the states as a whole.
Velislava Ivanova Bulgarian Youth Delegate to the United Nations
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I
think the participation of young people in every decision making processes is very important and usefull for the entire society in every level of power, from the local to
the global level. Young people are not only the future deciders, they also are actors of the society now and it is important that they could participate now to all decision making process because they will have to manage these decision in the future. The national programs of youth delegates to the united nations bodies is a very good thing. Young people are more aware that the problems that the world is facing now are global problems and have to be solved at a global level. Young people have this capacity to work for global interests and not only for national interests.
Mathieu Content Former Belgian youth delegate to the 65th United Nations General Assembly
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25
26
27
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I
n my opinion, culture can be viewed as a coin with two sides. We can either look at the differences or at the common side.
Events such as International Year of
Youth, provide the necessary environment to analyze and learn
to
understand
and
appreciate
and
avoid
misunderstandings. We must not be influenced by what is portrayed by the media but by personal experience. Cultures all over the world differ greatly in terms of culture, history and traditions. However, such differences are superseded by certain similarities when it comes to our younger generation - who are full of passion, vigor and creativity. Culture exchange is a good opportunity for younger generations to leave outdated ideas, stereotypes and bias. Youths can be both consumers or producers of culture. Culture defines what become the shared norms that provide young people with a deep sense of belonging and often with a strong preference for behaving in certain ways. It is "psycho-socio-cultural" in that its primary elements involve the reciprocal interaction of individual, social, and cultural forces.
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When youths become the producers of culture, adults do not often acknowledge the significance of these forms of cultural production, but they are essential to develop adolescents’ and young people’s identities, creativity and further participation. A phenomenon called popular culture is being created nowadays with the help of globalization and technology. Parents and educators often view popular culture in a negative light. Some scholars view youth popular culture and new media, such as blogs, as fertile ground for identity construction, critical analysis and creative transformation because they provide the multiple, interconnected teaching and learning moments for youth experience and share with one another. It is how they learn about the world and themselves in the world. The globalization of culture – the effect upon culture of the “increasing connection of the world and its people” – is perhaps nowhere more visible than in the changing nature of the relationship between the world’s youth and their sense of identity (Solomon & Scuderi 2002). It has become commonplace to think of the world’s youth as that part of
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the community who are most receptive, or, alternatively, susceptible to, foreign cultural practices. If childhood means acceptance, and adulthood means conservatism, youth means rebelliousness. Youths are seen as the part of society that is most likely to engage in a process of cultural borrowing that is disruptive of the reproduction of traditional cultural practices, from modes of dress to language, aesthetics and ideologies. From Japanese punk to Australian hip hop, youth subcultures are seen as being implicitly rebellious, born as much from a desire to reject the generation that went before them, as from an identification with what they have become. From childhood to youth, you will start receiving the present culture but as seen through out the last years, youths can also be the catalyst for change. This can be clearly seen when we look at the youth of the 1950s that celebrated beatniks, teddy boys, and the styles associated with American rhythm and blues music. Ten years later, when these became appropriated by the mainstream, 1960s youth turned to the mods, on the one hand, and hippie and countercultural styles of drugs, sex, and rock and roll, on the other.
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After the commercialization and appropriation of the counterculture in the 1970s, youth turned to new movements like punk and as the 1980s onward have seen the rise in global popularity of hip hop culture, youth have increasingly turned to more urban and underprivileged “gangsta� styles of violent rap subculture. However, the thoroughly mediated aspects of today’s youth culture, with technology like the Internet able to provide youth the world over with instant access to a wide diversity of cultural styles and artefacts, we are moving into a more global youth culture than into sub-cultures in different societies. To conclude, the role of youths in society is beneficial for the development and advancement of a society and this role can be expressed in the culture that is a reflection of a society.
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33
Y
outh rights are very different from any other because this rights can determine the aspect of their following life. Child Labour, Curfew, Legal drinking
age are few of the aspects discussed so that youths can have a better life. Around the world Youth right Organisations are not scarce to name a few we can find the International Youth Rights situated in China, The European Youth Forum that represents 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth Organisations from across Europe and also The National Youth Rights Association situated in the United States of America. From 1925 discussions were being held about the Traffic of young Women and Girls and from that day on topics about Child and Youth were being discussed every now and then. Seeing this youths were very low in its population when coming to speaking for their rights but recently it has gained momentum and youth are now seen and heard at various levels of the United Nations. As time went by the need of some committee in held of youth rights was needed so now a day’s youth advisor boards are held by the United Nations it’s self.
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“We call upon the United Nations to recognise the right of youths and to ensure that youth are consulted in all activities initiated by the United Nations and its agencies, as well as in the drafting of any policies to be adopted by the United Nations or its agencies that will affect youth and students. We place particular emphases on the right of young people to be involved at all levels of the planning for the United Nations 10th anniversary of international youth year in 1995. We cal on the united nations to consult with young people’s organizations to develop further the never adopted United Nations youth Carter” Extract from the Youth and student statement to the United Nations world conference on human rights June 14-25, 1993 Vienna, Austria. The question is what are Youth rights? From the right to participate in the Society to health and education Youth rights are very vast and because of this around 8 goals are set so youth rights can be more successful. These goals are often referred as MDG or the Millennium Development Goals. As we all know youth is the transfer from childhood to adulthood so the needs are 35
different than a child or an adult and can be a little hard to understand exactly what is needed but with the Millennium Development Goals youth can say that a lot of their needs can be heard and fulfilled. To name a few of the Criteria’s motioned in the MDG there is the fighting against HIV/AIDS and Malaria by this youth can easily be informed how this diseases are transferred and how to avoid this diseases. Being unable to be heard some youth also committee’s suicide. The frustration of this youth can only be expressed by a suicide and the statics show that among the world Eastern Europe is experiencing the most death tolls caused by suicide. This year 2011 marked the European year of volunteering, it was also the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Volunteering held in 2001 and the Council of Europe Report “Promoting Volunteering in Europe, that while working together the main goal was to create a unique momentum to improve and increase volunteering in Europe. The European Youth Forum also known as YFJ aims to use 2011 to develop a truly rights based approach to volunteering in Europe. The YFJ invites all institutions and
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partners working on volunteering areas to participate in the debate on a right based approach on volunteering and join the development of a European Charter on the Rights of Volunteers. From 6 till 10 September in Brussels there is going to be held the YFJ Volunteering Convention.
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38
Youths for education
T
he second target of the Millennium Development Goals, set by the United Nations in 2000, is to “ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys
and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling�. The role and contribution of youths in as far as this attainment goal is concerned, is more on the delivery side rather than the receiving end. Primarily, this goal is directly targeted for primary-age children, i.e. way below the teens and youth-age, so youths do not really feature on the receiving end. One might consider youths as particularly valid and important on the delivery side of this target, in that they are needed to enter the educational workforce. Suffice it to say that to meet this goal, countries need to ensure that there are enough teachers to meet the demand. In subSaharan Africa alone, the teaching force needs to simply double itself. Therefore, it is imperative that youths come forth to enrol themselves in the teaching workforce, on a global level. 39
Education for Youths However, it might be superfluous to consider youths in education only from the delivery side. Youths are not involved in education only because they can become teachers and educators. It is not only the youths who are requested to serve worldwide education, but it should be education itself which serves youths, worldwide. The second target of the Millennium Development Goals, targets children, who nevertheless will be youths in about 5 or 10 years time. Then again, knowledge of different scenarios across the globe, help us get a clearer picture of where we stand and what needs to be done for the sake of our children and, of course, youths. In setting the scene for the educational Millennium Development Goal, the United Nations Report presents data collected from 42 countries which shows that children in rural areas are twice as much likely to be out of school. The effects on the level of education of these children are only logical and easy to perceive. Some differences, especially in rural areas, also exist in between genders. According to the 40
UNESCO Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education Report, only a third of countries have achieved gender equality in secondary education. Worse still, some countries even registered an increase in girls’ dropout rates in the last decade. This means that deficiencies in the targeted levels of education are still not a thing of the past. In addition, the MDG Report reports that, “the biggest obstacle to education is poverty”, and with poverty, one dares add – without being overly assuming – social and cultural barriers. As we need to make education available to all and accessible by all, we need not only diagnose but actually know the sources of lack or deficiency in the transmission of education for our youths.
Being educated, from childhood into late youthage Taking a closer look at the more developed countries, in a world that is constantly changing, one cannot but note an increase in the number of youths who either prolong their 41
first phase of education with post-secondary and tertiary education right after secondary school, or youths who enter the workforce but somehow remain also active in the world of education, be it for post graduate or in-service courses. This means, that a quite a larger proportion of youths are still ‘students’ until 20 or 24 years of age. This is because youths in these rapidly globalizing societies also face the everincreasing pressure of competition for a limited number of jobs. The direct social implications for this is that a substantial number of youths, who up to some years ago were already being absorbed in the labour market, with an earning, possibly taxable, nowadays they are still students, most probably dependant on
their immediate families
and/or (where it is the case) on state subsidies or grants for education. From a different perspective, half education throughout the years of youth-age constitutes another drawback. It tends to get young people, who are well past their school age, unemployed, as they would be still not absorbed in the workforce, while concurrently being out of their educational institution half way through a course. This can be particularly observed in African countries, where education has started 42
to gain some degree of importance but still has not reached its maximum level of efficiency. In a principle which applies across the borders and across generations, youth-age is not a mere transitory period in which an individual cannot identify himself as a boy, while at the same time, not old enough to be a man. It is a very important stage in life during which all that has been learnt, even if not necessarily institutionally-taught, finds space, time and scope to be applied. It is the time in which, through formal and informal education, the first and most important lessons of life are learnt. Adults can only claim they have experience as they get their important learning experiences during youth-age. Therefore it is morally significant for authorities to ensure that a man’s education does not stop with the compulsory age, where this exists, but is carried with joy, enthusiasm and a positive disposition, into youthage.
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44
I
t was only during the past decade that the subject of youth and employment opportunities for them have gained ground. Today, at the advent of a new decade,
we must think about what was achieved up till now, and more importantly, what must be done in order to offer youths around the globe better chances of a decent employment. The second chapter of the UN commissioned World Youth Report1, published back in 2003 totally specifies on the subject
of
youths,
and
their
difficulties
regarding
employment and work opportunities. This document offers quite interesting perspectives on the global situation, which at that time, was not too pleasant at all. In fact, quoting the report:
“According to the ILO, 160 million people in the world today are unemployed, and many more subsist on the margins of the economy or have jobs that do not provide them with adequate means to ensure their survival. Nearly 40 per cent
1
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch02.pdf 45
of those without work are young people, and levels of unemployment tend to be two to three times higher for this group than for the adult population. For those young people who are employed, many find themselves in low-paying temporary jobs with few protection.” This shabby picture depicted the harsh reality of youths at the first few years of the new millennium. It clearly showed that there was a lot to be done in order to be even close to creating an environment in which youths can have concrete help in order to find respectable work opportunities. The report clearly indicated that many youths who actually work, have precarious jobs, and very few are working on a fixed or contractual basis. This is not only the case of developing countries, but it’s also present in the European Union, where part-time jobs are the only opportunities for youths emerging in the local labour supply. This is not the only problem outlined by the report. The document also warns of what is dubbed “qualification inflation”, which is very much present in many European countries (Malta included), and which is leaving several skilled youths unemployed, or forced to work in ‘inferior
46
sectors’. This results in an ever-increasing migration of youths seeking better work prospects. This is not only the case of developing societies, but has recently been also noticed to occur in developed, and also industrialised countries. Above, the reality of precarious jobs was mentioned. This comes about as a result of the decreasing difference between what is precarious and what is not. our societies are getting increasingly confused about the issue, and in the process, unprotected jobs are being allowed, with the main victims being youths eager to form part of the labour supply. Instead of striving to regulate these practices, governments are further encouraging them to grow through the lack of decisive actions, which are necessary in order to ensure that our youths are working in acceptable conditions. However, the largest problem is youth unemployment. In 2010, Britain experienced a record high of 1 million school leavers and graduates completely jobless2. The rate of youth unemployment soared to a staggering 20.5%. In the
2
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/8328869/Youthunemployment-hits-record.html 47
European Union, an average of 21.4% of youths were jobless3. These statistics indicate either that there’s something extremely wrong in the methods used to control youth unemployment, or that nothing is being done at all to counter the problem. In a document entitled “The state of World Population 1998,” issued by the UN Population Fund, it was declared that; “More than one billion jobs need to be created between now and 2010 to accommodate young workers entering the labour force and reduce unemployment. Over the next twodecades some less developed regions will see a temporary “bulge” in the working age population relative to older and younger dependants. This “demographic bonus” offers countries an opportunity to build human capital and spur long-term development – if they invest in education, jobs and health services…”
This hints out at the tremendous effort which must be made in order to improve working conditions for youths around the world. The matter must be taken more seriously in order to 3
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/r1/ms10dart.asp?a=6470 48
arrive to firm conclusions, which would hopefully lead to the establishment
of
international
regulations
or
policy
guidelines on the matter. The majority of the problems listed above cannot be solved without government intervention, which is crucial to a change in the youth employment scenario. Governments around the world must strive to improve work conditions, and regulate illegal jobs which are taking advantage of young workers. Unemployment must be tackled by budgetary actions, as well as policies which cater especially for the creation of job opportunities for youths. A global alliance should be set up in order to address this issue and start offering working experiences across several countries. Most of all, however, there’s a need for a change in mentality, which should believe in the potential of our youths, and strive to employ their great minds and talents in the process of building a better world.
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50
T
he Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) are eight international development goals adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 to be achieved by 2015.
These goals are mainly focused on eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, achieving universal primary education for all, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. If these goals are actually achieved, poverty will be halved, millions of lives will be saved and even more people will benefit from the global economy. Young people between the age of 15 and 24 years represent 18% of the world’s population, approximately 1.2 billion people. 87% of these youths live in developing countries and nearly 45% of all youths globally live on less than 2 dollars a day. Clearly, youth are the most vulnerable and the least likely to benefit from the Millennium Development Goals. Whether it is HIV, education, gender equality, maternal health or any other issue, young people are more likely to be affected by these problems than their older counterparts. 51
Therefore the inclusion of all youths around the world in the promotion and implementation of these goals is crucial in ensuring that the benefit resulting is sustainable and successful. There are several objectives that must be in young people’s perspective when promoting the Millennium Development Goals. The first one is awareness. It is very important to raise young people’s awareness about the severe problems we are facing today of poverty, inequality and unequal distribution. Only by this means are youths are motivated to help others. Several case study trips were carried out in Cape Town, India, Delhi and South Africa to raise awareness. The second objective is participation, that is, encouraging youths to get involved and actually DO something about the problem. The collective effort given by all will help to achieve the MDG’s. The third objective is multiplication, inspiring young people to become successful multipliers in their society by using the knowledge and experience acquired in the course of their project. The next objective which is of crucial importance is to create a cultural dialogue. The objective is to increase cultural dialogue between different people such as Asian,
52
European and African countries. There is a striking difference between how youth are seen in Europe and in Asia or Africa. In Europe youths are recognized not only by sociologists but also policy makers, they are put at the centre of everything and people believe that they can actually do something on their own. On the other hand in South Africa one can hardly find an organization run by young people. There is a lack of trust in young persons and it also has to do with the traditional patriarchal way of thinking. “Youths in Nigeria have played no significant role in poverty alleviation because most young people are already under poverty and the burden of poverty can be very heavy. Poverty alleviation programs are carried out by government in a very politicized way making the gain impossible to reach the beneficiaries.� - Chijike Ndukwu (Nigeria) 32 years-old To fully develop the potential of young people around the world and ultimately reach these goals by 2015, all countries, some more than others, have to overcome prejudices and mistrust in youths. This along with the right framework and resources can bring out successful results from these persons 53
who are full of creativity, energy and are able to make huge steps
towards
the
achievement
of
the
Millennium
Development Goals.
54
55
T
he earthquake in Haiti last year led to widespread devastation.
This
however
mobilised
several
governmental and non-governmental organisations
to provide the much needed humanitarian aid. In Fulham, South London , a seven year old boy decided to contribute and aimed at raising ÂŁ500 by sponsored cycling around the local park. Charlie Simpson's initiative led to over ÂŁ200,000 of funds being raised from all over the world to this just cause. The youths of today are the future players of tomorrow and therefore their active participation in our society is essential investment in every community. Life is a cycle and all responsible positions currently filled by our adults and elderly will be occupied by us in due course. Therefore it is their duty to teach and guide us in the right direction, in order to prepare us for the future leading role in our society. It is essential that youths are encouraged to engage themselves in community organizations that work to bring about social change. Thus we as youths around the world participate in social activism that is organized, informed, led and assessed by adults. Often Youth councils are asked to voice their opinion in open discussion on proposed
56
government reforms. However when the youth's opinion is not tapped, we resort to various movements to have our voice heard being leading actors in environmental issues, social justice organisations , anti-racism or anti-homophobia or pro gay campaigns. Our participation in activities including decision making, sports, schools, media, research and political organisations is something
that
should
be
encouraged.
The
youth
participation in any given country is often a mixture of student/youth voice in combination with a youth/adult partnership. The measure of youth participation in any region is measured by youth development goals, academic results and/or returns on social capital. In 1975, the National Commission on Resources for Youth in the United States defined youth participation as: "Youth participation is the involving of youth in responsible, challenging action that meets
genuine needs, with
opportunities for planning and/or decision-making affecting others in an activity whose impact or consequence is extended to others— i.e., outside or beyond the youth participants themselves. Other desirable features of youth
57
participation are provision for critical reflection on the participatory activity and the opportunity for group effort toward a common goal". The same notion was reiterated by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and UNICEF in 2006. Most
organizations
are
adult-led
but
youth
driven
movements. However youth-led community organisations are becoming increasingly common. These refer to organisations that are conceived of, designed, enacted, challenged and driven entirely by young people. The International Youth Rights movement is the first entirely student
run,
non-profit,
non-political,
international
organization that was founded in 2009 by Seung Woo Son, a South Korean youth living in China. Working closely with UNICEF Korea, the organization strives to make the youth’s opinions, experiences and their suggested solutions to the world issues be heard across the world and to actualize their solutions in real life, for all to realize what youth can do to make an impact in the world. In 2000 at the United Nations Summit, all world leaders have officially
adopted
the
Millennium
Declaration
which
highlighted eight specific targets, termed as the Millennium
58
Development goals. This commitment was to encourage a global action plan to achieve these eight antipoverty goals by their 2015 target date. In a nutshell, these include eradicating extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, promoting gender equality, fighting disease epidemics such as
AIDS
and
developing
a
global
partnership
for
development. See appendix. The role of the developing countries in aiding third world countries is essential for the sustainability of these goals. We as youths have to take active part in implementation of these goals if we want to have a safe and fair world in the future. There are many Charlie Simpsons in the world. All we need is to be allowed to use our energy to push forward good causes with or without the supervision of the adults.
59
60
N
owadays climate change is a top agenda in every country and it is being given a great importance. Everyone is trying to slow this change or rather
stop it and in order to do this several drastic measures must be implied by many governments from around the world. Educated citizens are doing their best to stop this climate change and a lot of NGOs were formed in order to educate people and also take action on this environmental phenomenon. Governments rather than giving environment importance they should take actions and give incentives to people and more importantly to the businesses to adopt environmentally friendly machines and materials. Governments should give economy the second place in the country’s interest in order to protect the environment and more importantly our own lives because earth will survive and resist any change but humans and the wildlife cannot resist all changes so it is our responsibility to protect the environment. Governments must be the ones who initiate these policies so that the people will adopt those policies themselves with the education offered to them.
61
Youths have to be the most section from the population to work hard because the world’s future is their hands. A major youth group was formed to take action on climate is the YCC (Youth Climate Change). This group has 15000 participants from all over the world including the island of Malta. They have written a report in 2008-2009 which includes several shocking observations of what are the effects of climate change today. It also includes analysis of what are the causes of such negative consequences and finally they discussed what actions should be taken. These are some of the observations done by the YCC:
Lack of education among people
Temperature is rising above average in all countries
Birds are resisting the ‘cold’ winters
Oceans’ flora are increasing
Effects of acid rain are being felt negatively
Harmful insects are increasing in population
North Pole is melting and the areas with permafrost are decreasing 62
Modification of the quantity of salt in the water could alter the equilibrium of the oceans´ streams
Lack of fresh water supply
Level of greenhouse gases has increased. Especially the CO2 and CH4 levels
Disease and epidemic rates increase
The participants from all the 52 countries involved themselves greatly and while being conscious about these climate changes they discussed and proposed actions which can be taken to improve our environment. The proposed actions are really practical and governments should adopt them or if already existent they should be enforced because unless drastic measures are taken there will be no progress in this environmental crisis. These are the YCC proposals for the governments or NGO’s to imply:
Environmental and climate issues should be included in the education programs in every country
Governments should start a large-scale public support to change behavioural habits 63
Cheaper and sustainable public transportation
Financial aid for research and public incentives for sustainable construction technologies and energy production
Products to be classified with labels to document the overall CO2 emissions of the products lifecycle
Parks are to be erected and deforestation has to be stopped to protect endangered wildlife flora and fauna
Taxes on CO2 emissions to make the product price reflect the environmental impact
The levy on vehicles to be altered to have cheaper eco-friendly cars
This report somehow opened the eyes of some governments since changes in the countries’ laws were made to satisfy the environmental needs. It is good to see some improvements imposed by youths, it shows the environmental conscience youths have.
64
65
W
e are living in a new era. An era which knows its roots in by gone times but which is unique in its own way of being able to inform and
mobilize millions in seconds. It is the era of globalisation and in this era are youths making their voice heard. Globalization may be defined as a financial, economic, social, political and cultural process of links and interconnection, which process has quickened due to the ease of communication. In the middle of it all are youth – a sector of the population traditionally more open to change and innovation. It is innate in human nature that the opportunities presented by globalization - namely the drive for freedom and a better life, for new discoveries, and for a broader horizon - are taken up wholeheartedly by the majority of youth. This world of ours may very well represent Peter Russell’s (1983) prediction of ‘The Global Brain’. In his own words, ‘It took millions of years for atoms to combine to form a molecule. There are about ten billion atoms in one molecule; it took more millions of years for ten billion molecules to come together to form one living cell; millions of years later,
66
ten billion living cells came together to form one human brain. Soon – with ten billion human brains living on the planet – we shall have created a Global Brain and thus be ready for the next stage of Evolution’.1 Welcome to this next stage. As Carla Koffel notes, ‘the ten billion cells of the global brain now have the potential to be inter-connected’.2 Globalisation has presented an opportunity for youth. They can now become active beyond their local community. The ideas, dreams and wishes of today’s youths belong to the world. It would be much pronounced if this short article were to completely disregard the events which coloured the start of this year. The known infamous Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia saw social networking sites reaching an all new level. It was internet sites such as Facebook and Twitter which managed to mobilize millions and lead to the overthrow of two long-ruling presidents in Tunisia and Egypt respectively. Access to information brought hope to many creating a domino effect across the Arab World as their populations sought more freedom. Not only so; globalisation allowed the
1
Russel P (1983) The Global Brain: speculations on the evolutionary leap to planetary consciousness, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA. 2 Koffel C Globalisation of Youth Activism and Human Rights 67
gathering of support as youths from all over the world became aware of the Arab cause. As Koffel rightly asserts, ‘Such networks have overcome a sense of isolation for activists who may otherwise feel marginalised’.3 There is strength in a known number. Nevertheless, Globalisation does have its cons. The most profound of these is that it has managed to entrench the gap between rich and poor. The information flow made possible through globalisation does not reach all. It is those who are most in need who have no access whatsoever to these new means of communication and awareness. And problems with access do not end here as the language barrier also hinders this flow of information. This hence creates groups of youth in developing countries who have now become even more marginalised. Whereas globalisation has led to more cultural awareness it has to a profound extent also led for a new type of culture, one borrowing aspects from different means and mediums creating a mix of something which is not indigenous to one particular country. Some might interpret this as a loss of 3
Ibid. 68
cultural identity; others might look at it more positively as leading to more cultural understanding . All in all, the effects of globalisation, both positive and negative, can never be denied. Youth of the 21st century have at their fingertips a whole new life experience. Through their ideas, travels and views, youth will continue fuelling globalization. For those able to reach it, globalisation is creating young citizens of the world.
69
70
I
welcome this opportunity to discuss with you some aspects of our mission for peace between all religions in the world. We must gather together in profound respect
for each other. We must remember that it is because of our common human dignity that we share the same human rights, irrespective of our religious creed, social or ethnic group. Religious freedom is, of course, one such fundamental human right. In this regard, one must note that the right to religious freedom extends beyond the question of worship and also includes the right to gain fair access to the employment market and other spheres of civic life, particularly in the case of minorities. Religion is expressed in thought, action and social form. The path is a way of life, a praxis designed to restore wholeness and ultimate meaning to human existence by involvement with the source of life, the sacred. In today’s world, we need to emphasize the importance of the religious dimension in intercultural dialogue. One must always keep in mind that no particular religion ever really just has a single dimension but is a complex whole. Knowledge of these dimensions helps us in our dialogue between (especially in the dialogue between Christians and Muslims). We can begin with the belief that 71
the One God is the infinite source of justice and mercy since through Him both religions exist in perfect unity. I hope that we will be able to find peace between all religions and that the followers of God continue to keep their gaze fixed on His perfect goodness. It seems that nothing escapes the media’s attention but rarely (if ever) do we see anything on crucial matters. Little do we notice the suffering that people endure for their religious faith. Among the most contentious areas of religious freedom is the right of an individual to change or abandon his or her own religion and the right to evangelize others. Due to many historical facts, the relationship between Muslims and Christians is often marked by misunderstanding.
Our
generation must recognize the worshippers of God as people who are faithful to prayer, eager to uphold and live by the Almighty’s decrees, merciful and compassionate, bearers of witness to all that is good and ever mindful of the common origin and dignity of all human persons who remain at the apex of God’s creative design for the world. We are living in an era that is tolerant towards many things but does not tolerate any type of religion. This is happening because of Modernity. No one can stop Modernity! Therefore, we need 72
to dialogue with society to see what the world needs. Friends, I am writing simply with one intention, the precious gift of unity and peace between all religions. We are living in a which dictates the importance of religion in every culture. We must tackle both Islamophobia as well Christophobia. I believe that the contribution of religions to the quest for peace lies primarily in the wholehearted, untied search for the Absolute. Political leaders must therefore be mindful of any division or tension, any tendency to introversion or suspicion among believers or between the different communities which can easily lead to a contradiction of the Oneness of God. As political leaders and citizens of a globalized world, we must not give in to the temptation of passivity. The dignity of every human person must always be at the centre of all the decisions that we take and we have the duty to protect every believer irrespective of his religious belief. The individual is never fully expressed through his or her own culture, but transcends it in the search for something beyond. It is from this perspective that we are able to see the possibility of unity which is not dependent upon uniformity. While the differences we explore in interreligious 73
dialogue may at times appear to be barriers, they need not eliminate the sense of awe and respect for the universal and for the absolute truth which compels religious peoples to converse with one another in the first place. Our differences provide a wonderful opportunity for people of different religions to live together in profound respect, esteem, appreciation and the encouragement of one another in the ways of God. As a young person myself, I am able to recognise that youths have a tough mission in front of them: A mission of peace.
74
75
Today’s newborn and today’s child is tomorrow’s population, tomorrow’s society, the world’s future. 2 out of 3 people in Africa are HIV positive , over one million people in sub-Saharan Africa having died of the concomitant disease which emerges years after HIV infection, the plague of the modern world : AIDS, which affects the health sector with disastrous consequences always demanding more health care workers which are being exposed to this epidemic through their own job. 1.2 million children in Kenya have been orphaned by AIDS, while one in three infected children are receiving treatment. Universal access to HIV treatment , prevention and care should be primary to every country if we are ever to see mankind rid of this epidemic. Around 820,000 people live with HIV in western and central Europe. It is true, antiretroviral treatment ,amongst others, has improved prognosis and prospects for victims of the disease, however we still have long to go. With regards to animal welfare, which is not really the issue here, animals and all that is nature, must be respected, and that is a value that must be embraced universally as a code of 76
behaviour, but one cannot help but feel that much effort and money is put into safeguarding animal’s welfare, when there are so many people, who being in need and being human, have every right to those resources before any other creature. Health care is man’s right, without any base for discrimination ,regardless of gender, race, religion, financial situation, or creed. Youths must become more aware of the suffering around us and how to take advantage of opportunities which will take them to places where their everyday norm is a commodity, to be involved in helping the next man. It would be of great credit to us all if some form of national service was introduced which obliges the citizen to function, for a minimum amount of hours, within the community, in his country or elsewhere , for the benefit of the poor and the sick. This might seem like a long shot; actually when one reflects , it is simply one’s duty. If we are to provide guaranteed social and financial security for today’s workforce , we have to possess a healthy youth generation in 15,20 years from now, today’s children must 77
then, firstly, survive, and secondly , do so in good health. Limiting
and
treating
pneumonia,
measles,
malaria,
malnutrition and diarrhoea could help save thousands of such young lives. Maternal health is crucial to society, and no, this is not an overstatement. Mothers care for their offspring, it is a natural instinct. Therefore, children’s health and welfare depends largely on their mothers, during pregnancy , where they must become much more aware of the influences their lifestyles and nutrition has on the health of their baby, as well as during the child’s growth. Haemorrhage , infection and eclampsia are very much tangible threats to the pregnant female in today’s world. Skilled care, healthy information, and family planning all help to diminish these events during pregnancy as well as ensuring health postpartum, by making use of follow-up courses by competent practitioners in the field. Post-natal depression is also an issue which must be addressed accordingly. Teenage pregnancies are becoming more common amongst the modern community, whereas young people are being burdened with a child of their own before they even live out
78
their own childhood. One in five girls aged 15-19 years in Chad , 1 in 50 in Malaysia and 1 in 100 in Italy, give birth each year. With promiscuity on the increase across many countries, sexual education is, more than ever, an imminent and vital issue. Sex discrimination, is, quite surprisingly, still, an issue with boys being preferred to girls , which can result in serious problems in later years , especially with regards to mental health, self-confidence, and charisma. It has been argued in the past that due to boys being more active in general, they tend to attract attention in social institutions as are schools. This needs to be corrected, if true, if necessary, by organizing courses for teachers that relate to attending to each student equally. Youths restricted in their physical, mental, sensory, or intellectual abilities account to 180 million globally , ages ranging from 10-24, 150 million of which live in developing countries. Other Youths must be made aware of this situation within which their contemporaries and their generation on a global scale, is finding itself in. From there, the inner trigger to, and, not necessarily, receive payment for, working
79
towards improving these people’s situation and lives must be explored.
80
81
P
rogress and development are endemic to our history. Throughout the years various challenges and goals were faced by humanity and most of them
were courageously faced and successfully accomplished. Unfortunately certain problems like those related to abuse of legal and illegal substances are still persisting. Drug abuse is a problem that both industrialized and developing countries are presently facing (World Youth Report, 2003) and according to The U.N Office on Drugs and Crime (2010) and Erickson (1998), the age at which young people are nowadays consuming drugs is decreasing when compared to previous years. This trend affects the world globally and also hinders other sustainable development goals from being achieved. Unfortunately certain people believe the myth that abusing legal substance in not as dangerous as abusing illegal substances. Even products manufactured and distributed by the tobacco and alcohol industries have caused and are causing significant problems. Tobacco consumption is always on the rise, in fact according to The Tobacco Atlas (n.d), “by 2030, the planet will support 2 billion more people than in 2000�, unless dramatic changes are done.
With such a 82
widespread it is not surprising that tobacco related diseases are the leading cause of death (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Drinking alcoholic beverages has become a hazardous and common feature of social gatherings. Consumption of alcohol carries a risk of adverse health and social consequences related to its toxic and dependence-producing properties (World Health Organisation, 2011). There are long-term health risks associated with drinking over time, such as damage to the heart, liver and brain. However, it should be noted that the vast majority of health risks could occur even over the course of a single occasion. When people are under the effect of alcohol, especially when still young of age, there is much higher risk of an alcohol-related injury caused as a result of accidents such as a car crash, slipping or falling, getting into a fight, etc (The Bacchus Network, n.d) The correlation between drug abuse and youths needs to be continually analyzed according to each country’s situation in order to develop effective awareness and prevention programmes (Lyttleton, 2006). In certain countries, being involved in illegal drugs trade is a good source of income.
83
This, unfortunately due to lack of awareness about the negative consequences of drug abuse coerce people who are weak to become the victims of their own involvement in drug trafficking,
(Deutsche
Gesellschaft
fur
Technische
Zusammenarbeit, n.d). There are also youths, who fall victims to drug addiction because they perceive substances as cool and as such the pathway to modernity: ”Drugs look … not like a dead end but a doorway to the promised land” (Singer, M., 2006, p. 469). Sustainable development has always been on the agenda of the United Nations. In 2000, the United Nations held a World Summit, were the Millennium Development Goals were developed and signed. The aim of the summit was that the international community commits itself in order to provide nations with sustainable development. Amongst the 8 goals, some targets were specifically aimed at tackling the problem of intravenous infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. The U.N Office on Drugs and Crime (2006), reported that such types of infectious diseases are directly linked to drug abuse and specifically due to sharing of injection equipment. The incidences of both illnesses are
84
increasing and are also considered the cause of other social and health problems in the population (Singer, 2006). Toxic substance abuse is a problem that affects not only and directly the person involved but also society at large due to its health and social implications. Holding a person from developing addiction, of whichever nature it may be, would be of a great assistance to the global society in its efforts to invest in the future of its people, especially the young ones who are currently and potentially the source and hope for a flourishing international community.
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86
A
great majority of young people commit some kind of petty offence at some point during their adolescence, in fact; as the United Nations
Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) asserts; “youthful behaviour or conduct that does not conform to overall social norms and values, is often part of the maturation and growth process and tends to disappear spontaneously in most individuals with the transition to adulthood”. Although in most of the cases this statement is true, there are individual cases where these petty offences persist in the long run. In these cases; individuals start to engage in the activities of criminal groups, in some cases also leading to delinquent careers. Although different countries have their own precise definitions of the age range covered by ‘juvenile’ (e.g. seventeen, eighteen, and up to twenty one years), there seem to be consistent literature on the various approaches that explain delinquent behaviour by young people. Some theories hold that delinquency is essentially caused by individual- level factors, such as personal choice and decision making or by psychological and biological factors. According
87
to psychologists, youths in their late adolescents experience a life struggle between ego identity and role diffusion. Psychologists state that as part of their development; youths develop a firm sense of who they are and what they stand for whilst also experiencing personal uncertainty. Psychologists argue that late adolescence is also assimilated with a period dominated by the yearning for independence from parental domination. Given the explosive mixture of biological change which the youths face in their late adolescence and the desire for autonomy, psychologists argue that many teenagers find legal, nonviolent ways to express feelings of anger and frustration and to establish self-esteem. Nonetheless, others turn to criminal activity for these purposes and as a reaction to peer pressure. In the process of developing their own identities, youths come into conflict with parents, and other authority figures who attempt to restrict their freedom. For this, youths often find themselves caught between the demands for adulthood and their own lack of independence which in some cases finally lead to delinquent behaviour.
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According to the social theories of delinquency; youth’s misbehaviour is caused by children’s place in the social structure and their relationships with social institutions and processes. The ‘strain theory’ developed by the sociologist Robert Merton (1938, 1968) states that; people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving these goals. The goals may be material possessions and money and the approved means to achieve these goals may include an education and a job. However, when denied legitimate access to these goals, some people seek access through deviant means. This does not mean that individual factors, such as biological make up and psychological function, do not play a role in delinquency. Nor does it imply that individuals do not make choices, often conscious choices, to engage in delinquent behaviours.
However,
social
theories
recognize
that
individuals, and the choices they make, cannot be adequately understood without considering the context within which they live and act.
89
The intensity and severity of juvenile offences are generally determined by the social, economic and cultural conditions prevailing in a country. There is evidence of a universal increase in juvenile crime taking place concurrently with economic decline. Moreover, writers like Cyril Burt have studied the
relation between poverty
and juvenile
delinquency. Defining poverty as an income level insufficient for the maintenance of the maintenance of bodily health, Burt has found out that over half of the total volume of delinquency in the city of London came from the poor or very poor families. Most of the available evidence indicates that delinquency rates are higher in the lower social classes than in the higher classes. Moreover, authors like P.M. Smith argue that school is a factor effecting juvenile delinquency. Smith argues that the school is of growing importance in relation to juvenile delinquency
for
several
factors.
The
theorists
of
functionalism state that school is the only agency outside of home, which is in close contact with most children over the longest period of time, is responsible of teaching the children how to get along with their fellows as part of their process of socialisation and is an important mean of social control in 90
that it indoctrinates the children in relation to the mores of our culture as it explains the nature of the duties as well as the privileges of citizenship in a democracy. In a nutshell, the school is believed to be a powerful means of social controls. Children living in poverty, in disadvantaged families and communities, outside a secure family structure, and with limited educational opportunities are said to be at a high risk of juvenile delinquency. Prevention is the best and least costly strategy where children and youths are concerned. By providing children with adequate nurturing, nutrition, and educational opportunities we can reduce social and economic disparities and promote social inclusion.
The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are targets which reflect exactly these needs. The MDGs aims at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger which severely limit children’s development and life chances; it also aims at achieving universal primary education for boys and girls and to develop global partnerships, including those that can help develop decent and productive employment for youth. By investing and targeting policies to meet these challenges, governments can reduce poverty and advance development.
91
Because investments in helping young people to acquire an education, skills, and a desire to participate in community and society are likely to yield a far greater return than later attempts to build these capacities.
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93
E
very morning I would be up by 8 o’ clock, eager to sprint out the door, running around in the fields with my dear energetic friends, worshipping the sun and
chasing after each other. Today, by 7 o’clock I find my still eighteen year old brother already up nose squished to the computer screen eager for the next Facebook update. What is it really that turned us social beings into technology freaks? After realizing that technology was becoming one of the huge sectors in our lifestyle I decided to take the bull by the horns and start studying ICT Systems Support at MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology). Since computer technology became such an essential in our life I thought it very easy to be possible to work in this sector and several recent studies and researches prove this. Youth is the most affecting force in any society. Us youths should be supplied with the best education, training and an adequate working environment. We should also be aware of the fact that ICT can be the best device for the power entrusted to youth. Young competent youths aging between 25 to 35 years make up around a total of 15 percent of the world’s population and nearly one fourth of the world’s agreeable work force. In our current advancing world, young professionals are some of 94
the best sources that lead to economic productivity. During the present knowledge economy, a large amount of young professionals coming from both the developed and developing countries have become epitomes of cutting-edge enterprises in ICT and other emerging technologies. All in all we can say that if ICT is the most efficient way for the success of the MDGs then Youth should be the mean to use ICT. During the Millennium Summit which was held in September 2000, world leaders passed the Millennium Declaration, which officially determined the Millennium Development Goals, also known as the MDGs, which have also become the international standard of reference for measuring and tracking improvements in the human condition in countries that are not yet developed. The Welfare of these countries is also entangled with the security of the commercialized countries, making technological progress a truly worth it global venture. The MDGs hold the advantage ofa political consent agreed upon by the superiors of all the UN member states, the advantage of offering an inclusive and multidimensional development framework as well as putting up a number of clear goals to be achieved in all countries by
95
2015, such as to eradicate poverty and hunger and to promote gender equality. One can also go to the point and say that ICT has enhanced global socializations and interactions big time..In fact nowadays information technology takes up nearly every sector from our daily lives, making it impossible for us to retrieve to a society without computers and most other gadgets. ICT helped us to make global and cultural interaction much easier. We live today in a co-dependent global society where interaction and communication can be held in a swift and efficient way. News can now be broadcast within minutes and keeping contact with friends and relatives abroad can be done without spending a lot of money. The popularity of Facebook, Twitter and Skype among others was a huge breakthrough in ICT. Language barrier is now an issue of the past with the possible use of language translators while socializing and trading in real time via the Internet. However sometimes we tend to just look at the glittering thins that Information Technology managed to provide us with. The disadvantages that left an impact on our society
96
are numerous. One cannot ignore the issue of digital divide. Poverty and geographical locations are also two issues that deprive certain groups of people from taking advantage of the available technology. An example of this is the limited access to any sort of technology in third world countries which stops them from being able to develop both economically and socially. ICT has developed our lives in a tremendous better way. But how far can one go with this statement? Apart from helping us to work faster and easier on the other hand it still makes me worry about our human race. But really, is this true or are our plans backfiring and instead we are becoming huge lumps of potato couches and soulless slaves of computer technology?
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B
eing a DJ is probably the most exciting and exhilarating job to be as a teen after all you’re creating the scene the people search for in clubs.
Youths really want one main thing at their age, and I can agree to it as I am one of them! And that’s to have a good time! There are many ways to have a blast in any country. And it is also the thing that binds every human being together, as one nation with one language and peace, and it’s Music! It’s much like a Universal language anyone can understand. Internationally music is blended in many aspects of society including culture and it influences heavily leisure and entertainment as the different genres of music range according to the activities. Many youth groups have huge festivals and gatherings to give youths a nice time and at the same time show them good morals and values. For example Scouts teach survival and life lessons while the scouts meet new people and have a good time. Even volunteer associations hold great events which are in the name of charity but still give you a great time and value for money.
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There are many civic benefits of leisure and recreation activities. Sports and youth activities offer leadership development for adults and children. Strong communities are built as parks become a hub of community life. Benefits extend to all ages, childhood, youth, young adults, families, and seniors. Both care for environment and wellness through green spaces are enhanced by beauty. This same beauty helps combat stress through the opportunity for mild exercise and mediation upon natural beauty. Wilderness experiences are available in some locations. Also Leisure is a very good way to manage stress in a developing teen. Stress from school, peer groups and other social groups in teens. Bad stress management is very closely related to behaviour of teens susceptible to drugs and alcohol. As the old proverb states: “Prevention is better than cure�, hence there should be more activities for youths especially troubled youths living in a bad environment at home. How youth identities are formed is strongly influenced by a number of circumstances, such as economic factors, education, the home, social contacts and the media. New
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research suggests that the formation of youth identity and social capital is greatly affected by how children and youth spend their leisure time. Spare time is also more important for children today than ever before. Youth activities worldwide which are considered as volunteer work help form new strong willed citizens which would shape our future in a moral and good way. So really when used well leisure time is a key to responsible citizenship. It’s a very fulfilling thing to help others without gaining anything but joy from goodwill. These activities like social gatherings, parties, and other groups formed for leisure and hobbies and some even for volunteering are all a strong basis on which teens build their self-esteem. All these activities practiced in countries all around the world are all part of an intricate system which allows society to progress, as how leisure is spent as a teen affects highly the teen’s future and development in a citizen of a society. Thus youth and leisure activities worldwide should continuing sustainably growing so as to have a strong basis in the future generation which is enabled by the teaching of real
skills
which
benefit
humanity
as
a
whole.
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T
he youth of today can be considered as a vital cohort in our society - an indispensable group of people which form the bedrock of the population. Likewise,
the proliferation in sport participation, by young people, can reinforce positive and healthy youth growth and sociocultural advancements and equilibrium in the nation’s youth. There could be various reasons why young people would want to participate or be involved in sports; and it highly depends on the age, social background, school setting, parental involvement, as well as peer influence of each individual youth. Sports can present to young people the possibility and the opportunity to acquire new skills, thus becoming more selfsecure and confident in their inner potential.
By simply
participating in a particular sport, any youth can find enjoyment and fulfilment and develop personal goals and life skills.
Apart from that, young people can make new
acquaintances, form new friendships and learn to experience life in such a manner that will augment their individual aspirations.
But only through vigorous involvement can
young people profit from such benefits. Nonetheless, sports for young people should be undoubtedly secure and fun and 103
should not hinder the spirit of fair play in all competitive levels. The notion of fair play is an essential ingredient in all sport activities, as it should be applied in all stages of sport commitments; be it a pastime or a competitive one. Sports are all about determination and respect, as well as friendship and team spirit. Without these four components it is very difficult for any youth to grow. Moreover, when playing sports, young people have to learn to play by the book, they have to accept others and also have to learn from mistakes. For this to be accomplished, young people must come to term with the reality that principles of behaviour are significant as principles of performance. Once young people have realised and understood this reality, a far more positive approach towards sports will be presented; thus encouraging young people to enjoy the excitement in taking part in a competition, which will eventually improve already inherent skills. Furthermore, young people will try harder in acquiring new skills and will have the backbone to go on and finish what they started, without admitting defeat. Through youth’s involvement in sports, our population will benefit from fit and healthy future adults. According to the
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Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), “sport has been recognised as a viable and practical tool to assist in the achievement of the MDGs”. Basically, it means that the practice of sports will increase ‘self-esteem, self-confidence and social skills’. In addition, sport participation can lead to an ‘enhanced sense of control over one’s body’. These are obvious reasons why young people enjoy sports; and if these people enjoy their earlier experiences of sport, they are more likely to keep practicing that sport on a long term period. Forming part of a team can play a very important role in the young people’s physical, mental and social development. I think that one has to have a pleasant introduction to sport from a very early stage of growth so that it will continue to pursue itself even throughout their adult life. However, it is highly important to provide a secure environment which can instill motivation and constant participation from young people. Even though there could be many reasons why young people would want to take part in sports, there are also various reasons why they leave or decide not to consider it. It could be due to fear of failing, lack of fun or because it is too physically challenging.
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Yet, from a personal point of view, encouraging a widespread youth participation in a practical social activity such as sport will undeniably form better adult citizens.
Most young
people vent their frustration in sports rather than giving into alcohol and drugs. Therefore, through sport participation, young people will develop a genuine self-assurance and familiarity in coping with life challenges that will inevitably crop up. Lastly, whatever each youth’s goal in sport is, the passage towards fulfilment, self-confidence and triumph cannot be achieved instantly; it is rather an enduring pursuit for outer well-being and inner satisfaction intended towards living a remarkable life.
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G
ender is perhaps the principal group we use for the categorization of human beings. Vital elements of our own identity, and the identities we assume
other people to have, are derived from concepts of gender what does it indicate being a boy or a girl? Many objects, not just humans, are embodied as being chiefly masculine or feminine and we grow up with an understanding of what constitutes 'appropriate' characteristics for both genders. Men thought about as tough, hard and sweaty while women as fragile, soft and fragrant. United Nations put the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women as the third point in its Millennium Development Goals. As stated in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), every individual has the right for education. The article continued to suggest that education at elementary level should be for free and compulsory. Higher education shall be available to those who want it with no discrimination1. Yet, studies show that it is very difficult to maintain the number of girls from higher education to
1
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26, Paragraph 1 - http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml 108
professional life. According to a study by UNESCO2 in 60% of countries there is no gender equality in primary and secondary education. When it comes to tertiary education only 29% of the world’s researchers are women. Although there are more women than men who make it to the Masters level, when we consider studies beyond that, 56% of the PhD graduates on a global level are men. There also seems to be a flat line drawn when it comes to specialisations in certain subjects such as the sciences. According to the same above study, 91% of the countries men are more prone to specialise in such subjects as science and engineering. Although the main hindrances are still fundamental problems such as poverty and basic literacy, there is more to it than that. Other than family forces or personal choices, the mass media plays a pivotal role in such education and career decisions as much as pictures that such subjects are somewhat masculine. The upholding of stereotypes in images and representation solidifies women’s traditional roles and imbalanced gender relations in various ways. Most noticeably, women are seen as mourners at tragedies or as victims of aggression.
This
2
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/gst_2010/presentatio ns/Presentation-UNESCO-BP2EGMST.pdf 109
does not only picture women as helpless individuals, it also fails to stress men’s role as perpetrators in cases of violence against women. Further, the distribution of these messages affects women’s self-confidence, mobility and later access and participation in public places for fear of harsh criticism. In the working environment, although figures are still very low when gender equality in both equal opportunities and equal wages are closely looked at, trade and the competition it brings with it seem to be very promising in helping those figures to get higher3. Inasmuch as to the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliaments, the highest percentage, although promising, is still 56.30% held by Rwanda4. Yet, things are being done. The Rwanda case for instance was supported by the UNDP as well as the Kuwait parliamentary elections. The latter saw its first women contesting in the parliamentary elections in 2006. Although none of the candidates won any seats, there was a very
3
http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/gap-1.pdf Accessed on 30 May 2011. Accessed on 30 May 2011. 4 http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/WorldStats/WDI-socialdevelopment-parliaments.html 110
promising respond from the female voters that participated more than usual in their country’s parliamentary elections5. There are a lot of factors that determine how the female society relates to gender and identity issues. People are slowly changing ideas, building new identities based not on the certainties of the past, but organised around the new modern way of living, where the meanings of gender, sexuality and identity are ever more open. The question of gender should continue being at the forefront of discussions relating to freedom of expression. Particularly in light of the progress
of
digital
information
and
communication
technologies in media that have the capacity to exceed national boundaries and enable a rapid increase of discourses at unparalleled length and speed, gender aspects crucially need be to be faced and addressed. Otherwise, the shift towards building Information Societies for economic, social and political development will be one that is essentially impoverished for want of ideologies in equality and nondiscrimination.
5
http://www.mdgmonitor.org/story.cfm?goal=3 111
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A
t a time when many are worried that the whole world is experiencing a general decline in the duties and obligations of belonging to a community and
political engagement, volunteering appears particularly strong among today’s young people. While volunteering is just one form of community involvement, research has shown that it is often connected to other forms of engagement among youths. Volunteering plays a valuable role in shaping how youths learn to interact with their community and develop the skills, values, and sense of empowerment necessary to become active citizens. Volunteering creates many opportunities to assist in the activities to socialize and receive help while connecting
and
contributing
to
community
services.
Depending on the age and availability of youth, youths have an excellent opportunity to learn responsibility, life skills, and proper work ethic while at the same time exposing them to an alternative way to spend their spare time. Youth’s learn numerous life and job skills, leadership and social skills, how to research, communication skills, selfesteem, conflict resolution, educational opportunities, 113
parenting
skills,
mentoring,
volunteering
in
their
communities, the arts, freedom of expression and passion through voice, friendship, youth and adult relationships, customer
service,
basic
bookkeeping,
inventory,
responsibility, and employment. In the end they begin taking the initiative by acting rather than reacting to events happening in their community. 1. Millions of Young People Volunteer 15.5 million youths between the ages of 12 and 18 contributed more than 1.3 billion hours of service during 2004. 2. Young People Volunteer More than Adults. Young people volunteered at twice the rate of adults with 55 percent of young people volunteering, compared with only 29 percent of adults. 3. Volunteering Helps Young People Succeed Youth who volunteer are less likely to engage in risky behaviour, are more likely to feel connected to their communities, and tend to do better in school.
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4. Altruism Is the Driving Motivator Youth who volunteer do so out of altruism, strongly agreeing with statements such as "I would like to help make the world a better place," and "It's important to do things for others." Only 5% of students became involved with volunteering through a school requirement. 5. Adult Role Models Are Crucial A youth who has a parent who volunteers is nearly three times more likely to volunteer on a regular basis. 6. They Need Flexible Volunteer Opportunities Thirty-nine percent of teenagers volunteer on a regular basis; 35% do so occasionally; and 27% are episodic volunteers.
Youths can volunteer mainly in four primary environments where youths form their social networks: family, religious and humanitarian organizations, school and inter-cultural exchange. These social institutions play an essential role in connecting
youths
to
volunteer
opportunities
and
encouraging them to become engaged in service. Fostering 115
environments that encourage volunteer activities form a positive feedback and are critical to creating a commitment to service and community involvement that will remain with them for their lifetime. In year 2000, the 192 members of the United Nations set farreaching goals to free humanity from poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease, to ensure gender equality, respect for the environment and the creation of a global partnership for development. These are the United Nations Millennium Development Goals The United Nations system, as a whole, supports youth development with a diverse range of programmes and activities. The United Nations youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). According to Youth Delegates from WPAY young people play a key role in the promotion and understanding of the Millennium Development Goals. Many of the goals directly relate to young people, and the involvement of young people is vital to the achievement of these goals.
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The inclusion and participation of youth organisations to volunteering is acknowledged by the United Nations. In the international year of youth as well as the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (2011), the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme released a discussion paper which addresses the inter-relationship among social integration, decent work, poverty alleviation, and volunteerism, especially with regards to young people. It focuses on the experiences of 13 organisations from around the world engaging youth volunteers to address issues of poverty, identity, access to work, HIV and AIDS and achieving the MDGs. It provides examples of how volunteerism can strengthen both the social and economic integration of young people. Awareness among youths is very important, and youths can contribute to a better and faster achievement of the MDGs through campaigns and the use of new media and social networks. Intercultural projects give youths the opportunity
through
firsthand
experience
to
better
understand the problems developing countries are dealing with.
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Youths are the future generation, they are able to come up with new ideas and they have the potential to face the challenges the world is confronting today.
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T
oday’s modern economies are mainly capitalist or missed and are referred to as consumer societies. Economic growth is basically driven by consumption,
investment and exports. Consumption accounts both for Government and consumer consumption, with the latter being the main component. Investment is another direct driver and is again apportioned between the Government and the private sector with the former acting more as a regulator while leaving the job in the hands of the latter. Exports have helped countries like Japan and Germany to boost and rebuild their economies and assert economic stability in the late sixties, while today with the opening up of its doors we have China. Consumption can only take place if people have money while the Government finds the source from where to borrow. Therefore, the required ingredients are employment (creation of jobs through investment) and savings for eventual borrowing.
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The second component, investment, can only be financed through savings or borrowing (which again relies on savings). This shows that every component is linked to the other with the supply of money playing a vital role. The system is based on trust and one component must balance the other. Otherwise, it is very easy for a county to collapse. A clear example is Greece, the unsustainable borrowing led to massive debts being almost the double the threshold stipulated by the European Union. The Greek government was unable to raise money while the lack of trust in the economy led to investors thinking twice which meant loss of revenue for the Government. But how much important is finance management in one’s own life, particularly the Youths? Being one of the officers in the Budget Affairs Division within the Ministry of Finances, our job is to prioritize between the different needs of the General Government. It is important that we manage as best we could the country’s finances in line with the Maastricht criteria, not to avoid penalties imposed by the European Commission, but for future
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sustainability – something which in the current climate is getting more difficult. The inclination to gain and the ability to hold money is equally important as to how dispose of it, because it shows how much a person is capable of prioritizing when it comes to purchases, by not managing to go beyond his/her means. The problem comes when there are more promoters on ways and methods to make it easier for people particularly the youths, how to spend their money, rather than how one should learn on prioritizing and most importantly know the spending limits. These promoters are mainly the banks and credit institutions who have lost their social responsibility. Their only aim is to make what is called in economic terms ‘super normal profits’. Whilst this problem is cropping up in every part of the world, it is most visible in developed countries, particularly the United States. Following the credit crunch in 2008 most Americans realized how bad it is to rely on credit cards, because one has no control on the spending limit apart when receiving the bill at the end of the month.
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Following the outbreak of the current financial crises, the household saving rate as a percentage of disposable income has on average decreased. This shows that the people’s purchasing power has decreased and therefore they are less wealthy. If the developed nations weren’t able to manage their finances in a sustainable way, how could these nations be as a model for the developing one? These countries need the right model not a crippled one. The same applies to people. If the parents are not able to distinguish between the needs and luxuries, how could one expect that their children are given the right advice? If the Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 are to be achieved and be successful, particularly the ‘Reduction by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day’ and the ‘Reduction by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger’, decisive actions coupled with the right model must be taken. For a prosperous future, today’s youths must understand what value money has. Their parents should be their first pillars and not the ones who destroy them by giving them 123
whatever they want. The gift received must correspond to the output. They must learn not to go beyond their means. Only in this way can today’s young generations be tomorrow’s prosperous ones.
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“I believe in capabilities of youth and in their ability to make a real change once they have support and healthy engagement.” Nada Nibris, a youth
W
hen examining such a topic, there is an important link to notice: the importance of education together with different cultures
one can find in schools and universities. Education is a vital element for 21st century youths.1 Both equality of the sexes and basic education for all, which are two of the Millennium Development Goals, are needed. This achievement will allow children to make a difference when they reach their youth. Moreover, more youths should have the opportunity and be encouraged to continue their education until university, even at its highest level of PhD. Higher education needs to be better supported with various initiatives. For example, scholarships can help the students and their families while 1 UN defines youths as “persons between the ages of 15 and 24.” UNESCO, “Acting with and for Youth”, Social and Human Sciences, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-humansciences/themes/social-transformations/youth/ 126
achieving this goal.2 Helping students is in the interest of individual countries who aim to develop further. Today, young people of different cultures and religions meet during their studies. This is possible due to advanced research and progress in IT and transportation which is bringing
people
from
different
countries
closer.
Transportation from one country to another is easier, cheaper, faster and safer compared to past decades, thus making it easier for youths to travel and study abroad. In the last years, students have had more opportunities to participate in exchange programs and other youth activities that bring people coming from different places around the world together. As article 3 of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity mentions, “cultural diversity widens the range of options open to everyone; it is one of the roots of development, understood not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more 2 Third Central European Workshop organized by Czech National Commission for UNESCO and the Czech Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with UNESCO Vienna Office, (1999), “Promotion of the role of Young People in the Development of Science and the Popularisation of Scientific Knowledge”, http://www.unesco.org/science/wcs/meetings/eur_prague_99.ht m 127
satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence.”3 A safe environment needs to be guaranteed to every student and youth of different race, culture, religion or sexual orientation, to ensure dialogue while allowing all cultures to promote and express themselves. In fact, it is important that in these environments, there is continuous interaction among people of different background who are willing to live together. Protection and help for all youths is important because youths are part of the society and also future leaders. They are social actors who can promote change by lobbying governments in important issues.4 Their role as active citizens has to be helped and encouraged because “youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but the
3 UNESCO’s governing body – the General Conference, (2001), “UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity”, http://www.unesco.org/confgen/press_rel/021101_clt_diversity.sh tml http://www.unesco.org/confgen/press_rel/021101_clt_diversity.sh tml 4 Recommendations on policy and process 2003-2005 of the Second Meeting of the High Level Panel of the Secretary-General’s Youth Employment Network, “Towards a Global Alliance for Youth Employment – the next five steps”, 30th June - 1st July 2003, www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/yen2hlp.pdf 128
partners of today.”5 The experience gained from their studies will help blossom harmony between people of different cultures, race, religion and sexual orientation. For those still convinced that youths are not willing and not able to make change in this world, past events throughout history must be remembered when young people stormed the streets to fight for liberties and other rights. Millions of youths are active in the Western world on various issues, while those in other parts of the world, who are not afraid of protesting against tyranny, have started to take a stand and become noticed. In light of the Arab spring, Hassan Nafaa, a political-science professor at Cairo University, stated that “these young people have done more in a few weeks than their parents did in 30 years … they are the Internet Generation ... or the Facebook Generation ... or just call them the Miracle Generation.”6 This indicates why the young generation should be encouraged and offered opportunities to represent and meet
5 Ibid. 6 Time Magazine, (2011), “Rage, Rap and Revolution: Inside the Arab Youth Quake”, 17th February, 2011, http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2049808,00.html 129
others from different cultures for intercultural dialogue.7 Equality on all fronts needs to be provided, as well as access to an education that is respectful of other cultures. Education can and must be the arm for a better harmonisation between cultures. As it is the period when cultural dialogue is possible among young people, they must be helped to broaden their horizons as we have seen that they can make a difference.
“We can choose to blame the generation before us, but let’s not fail the generations ahead of us.” Ram Hadji, a youth
7 UNESCO’s governing body – the General Conference, (2001), UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, http://www.unesco.org/confgen/press_rel/021101_clt_diversity.sh tml http://www.unesco.org/confgen/press_rel/021101_clt_diversity.sh tml 130
"Dear young people of every language and culture, a high and exhilarating task awaits you: that of becoming men and women capable of solidarity, peace and love of life, with respect for everyone. Become craftsmen of a new humanity, where brothers and sisters — members all of the same family — are able at last to live in peace."
-
Pope John Paul II
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