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A lot has been said about the need to include the youth in many problem solving issues such as policy development, action towards realization of such policies and indeed this implementations. The question that is supposed to be asked by all the stakeholders is this, “Are we succeeding?”. It is a good thing to make sure that all are involved in all these processes and especially for the young people who constitute the highest percentage of the world’s population and whom have a greater stake in a better world for their future.
One thing, though, worries many young people who are at the fore front on the fight towards the youth involvement on these issues. This is of course the willingness, availability, and self motivation from the youth themselves to participate on these issues.
In my University where I study, one thing has been very evident, and that is that the youth at the university have been very willing and very available when it comes to getting involved in many activities that are geared towards the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. This has been seen, for example in their willingness towards planting tree events, seminars and other activities that are organized by the various clubs and associations in the University.
There is one problem that, I, as one of the many organizers of these events, can see. This is that there is total neglect when it comes to the support for these groups within Universities. It should not be lost in our minds that apart from being the centers of higher learning, Universities should be the centers for nurturing future policy makers, leaders, peace makers, diplomats, and so forth. But with all the energy of these future leaders left to books only, then it becomes difficult to gauge how well one can apply what is learnt in class to proper action that can solve problems, if one does not have the required resources and motivation. What the youth need is not cash placed in their hands but rather allocation of relevant resources, be it information, tool kits and other resources that can be channeled through various agencies.
Institutions such as the United Nations should be at the fore front in this matter so that the youth can have that feeling that they are well represented at these international institutions. If non-governmental organizations can be funded well and successfully, then why can we not look for ways in which we can help these up and coming youth leaders from University institutions? It would be a great idea if when one of the many youth clubs want to go and plant some indigenous tree, medicinal trees, during their spare time, they are at a position to get assistance at that time. This will motivate most of them to help do the job that would otherwise require months and years to do, and at a minimal cost.
Change of strategy, when it comes to how to make youth involved in these Millennium Development Goals, is to realize that as much as others will go the extra mile to use the resources available for other uses in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, there are others who will have nothing towards this action. Therefore they will just wish that one day, he or she will have the resources to accomplish what is their deepest wish, “To give back to the community”. If that is done, then we shall see how many youth are really interested to bring real change to the world and make the world a better place for all.
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Writer Profile
Erick Ochieng Otieno
I was a student from Egerton University. I pursued a course leading to a BSc in Applied Aquatic Sciences. I believe that through writing, one can relieve a lot from the heart. Inspiration came from hearing and reading. Whoever said that you have to be an old one to communicate issues of policies, did not consider that even a newborn communicates through its own way, "crying". I would like to communicate to the world all my thoughts; However minor they are, I believe they will go a great length to straighten or strengthen a policy or two somewhere and I shall have contributed to the well being of the world. How noble that is, it is for my worthy readers to let me know. So what do you think? Tell me anytime. Bye and have a nice reading.
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Comments
True Patricia Sudi | Jun 14th, 2007
Yeah its very true,though shifting goalpost will not assist but i encourage the need for yputh support from multi national organisations and a system of fair distribuiton of available chances rather than al;lowing politicians to influence the job market selection thus talented and needy youths who are qualified are shuit out.
Sandy Mae Gaspay | Jun 15th, 2007
I guess another concern here is whether the goals are wrongly placed because of poor analysis of government officials or if they were intentionally neglected in order to give way to more self-serving interests.
I am sure that most government officials have become university students themselves, and most probably they have seen the needs that you have just mentioned. It saddens me that the youth has to struggle in order to make positive changes in the society, changes that will benefit everyone (even the corrupt lawmakers).
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