How to reach the youth

September 10, 2008

Dear Sir,

As I see it, our young people are no longer learning on the streets and the ways of the streets, today they are learning ways in which to survive and to stay alive. From September 13, 1996 the murders of Tupac Shakur and the March 9 murder of Christopher Wallace aka notorious BIG and such movies as "Boyz in the Hood", "Menace to Society" and "Set It Off" all played a part in the mindset of our young people. Pop music and artists became the dominant force and public voice of this generation through their lyrics, style and attitudes, which gave them a new identity, and with this came youth oriented lifestyles and four elements, rap music, dance, graffiti and bling. This includes body language, verbal language, style, fashion MTV and BET.

Today's youth are turning to rap, Reggae, dance hall music, music videos, designer clothing, movies and TV programmes for identity and value. Because of this, they want to become rich at an early age, and this desire to be rich is accompanied by a sense of entitlement and this financial success has affected young people's views on sex, love and relationships between children and parents, relatives and friends. The basic family and community structures is disrupted, there is no more love for families, relatives or the extended family and no one is safe from the violence, disrespect and chaos.

Our women are no less vulnerable, because drugs and money has divided young men and women with hatred, disrespect, distrust and contempt. That is why our women are referred to as "bitches" and "hos". Society nor parents are doing enough to bring about meaningful social change, but without intervention young people will rely on themselves.

Many young people are envious of immigrants who come here, set up businesses but don't hire Bermudians in some cases and this makes them feel powerless, angry and frustrated at being ignored, mistreated and locked out, especially when they have had a disrupted school life that has failed them – failed to prepare them for entry into the workforce, so they have lost the connectedness to work to be a regular and regulating force in their lives, for most have grown up lacking the idea of work as experiences to adult life, which also increases the likelihood of them relying on illegitimate sources of income, such as selling drugs which, by the way, has become a viable job option.

The dependence on drugs and the increase in violence are in some way related to the frustration and anger that results when people are without employment, suffer from poor health care, inadequate housing and a failed education – all because our leaders do not devote money and resources to address them.

We also need to understand the drug trade in terms of political and economic forces in our community and we must organise to rid our communities of individual drug dealers and we must also understand that drugs are connected with politics and the economy, for the drug pusher on the walls does not have the means to import drugs into the Island nor to launder large amounts of drug money.

Young people are often living in environments where they are exposed to negative as opposed to positive role models. They are in association with criminals or those with criminal records and there comes a time when there is no way out and the feeling among most is that adults and our leaders do not care, so why should they? Respect for authority is gone, respect for the teacher, Police and in some cases parents, because these are the people that are either not for them, or are with them or agree to their way of life and they are rebelling against a system that does not include them.

Most young people have not had their basic needs met, especially when they notice others receiving better love and care. They have had their feelings persistently ignored or denied, meaning neither parents nor adults have responded to their cry for help and have not noticed the worry on their faces.

They are being put down, ridiculed or humiliated for being themselves, and they believe that life is destined to offer them more discouragement and abuse and are powerless to defend themselves. They tend to be very unmotivated to assert their needs or to develop the potential for either success or happiness. They have no social or life skills, and this makes them unable to behave in ways that are self protective, self confident and self empowering.

When it comes to youth issues, little has been done beyond identifying the problem and discussing it. We cannot address youth issues until new ways of relieving the current form of oppression can be implemented and this can only be done when seniors and young people come together. Some solutions are: We must increase their self worth, begin to trust them and show interest in them. We must compliment, encourage and support them, for this will stimulate them to work towards goals and personal ambitions and for them to have a sense of responsibility for themselves and other people.

They need to have a sense of security, for this will free them from doubt and uncertainty and will allow them to enjoy themselves and allow them to enter more confidently into relationships with others. We must let them know how valuable they are even when they fail or make bad choices and we must give them space to live a responsible life on their own. This will enable them to meet challenges, solve problems and improve their own knowledge and abilities. They need self discipline, and need to enjoy useful and productive activities which can make a difference between a life of satisfaction or a unproductive one. We need to change their behaviour in order for them to understand the meaning of authority and show them how to act and then encourage them to move in that direction.

Young people also need to know how to relate to people with compassion and love, how to use their abilities and talents to make a positive impact on our communities and they need to learn positive work skills, team work and how to be leaders.

Mr. Editor, we need to implement a programme that will encourage community participation and activities that offer young people and the community desirable and enjoyable alternatives. A programme that provides leadership, understanding, care, control and assistance to them, and activities that will address issues and problems pertaining to them and their social ills. A programme that will encourage young people to reach goals and be more productive in their communities and to elevate and clarify those goals, abilities and values as they explore alternatives in career decisions.

We need to assist them in personal areas such as exploring problems, concerns and potential for growth and development. They need a programme that encourages sportsmanship, leadership, health and to just have fun. A programme that will adjust young people to their environments and aid them in realising their potential in obtaining goals, abilities and attitudes, these activities balanced by personal experiences will help them think and feel better about themselves. A programme that will also encourage them to promote the programme, develop positive activities and form committees to help them deal with general and specific problems and become directly involved in decisions of the programme.

A programme that will create a closer relationship with themselves and community and increase corporation with other community groups, businesses and organisations by encouraging them to allow their professional and qualified staff to be a part of the programme so that they understand the functions of human relatives and office management. Mr. Editor, we say that it takes a village to raise a child then lets begin to do so. Lets take back our streets our children away from the criminal elements, make our streets safer and let us come together to protect them, our seniors and our community. I came across the following quote:

"A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them, but a simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences."

GERALD FUBLER

Sandys