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In order to help them more, once in a while, organize an interactive session (programme) where they will have a chance to talk meaningfully with their fellow youth and with leaders in the society (possibly the Youth Development Officer (YDO), or Youth Ministers in the state or the local government area).
Since it is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, leaders or parents should lay emphasis on the need for the youth to be creative (positively busy). The youth don’t have to rely on the government to provide everything for them, if they look very well inside they will see the hidden treasure that God has deposited. All they need is to discover who they are and to walk towards that line. Youth should not simply say, “I have my certificate.” Most times, certificates alone don’t work. Most youth cannot get jobs after graduating from higher institutions of learning, but if they can discover any talents within and work towards perfecting them, it will certainly help when every other road seems too rough and nuts seem hard to crack.
Be careful of what you say as a leader, parent etc. Never tell youth that they are nothing and will never make it; it’s bad, it kills and can reduce them to being corrupted by the bad folks out there. Encourage them all the time by being positively active in whatever you are doing as a leader, teacher, pastor, or parents. Help them discover their dreams.
There are three things that can make youth or mar them. One is the type of book they read, the other is type of person they meet (parents, friends, teachers, leaders, etc) and the third is the type of place to which they go. As they relate to you, help them discover their destiny in the right way and teach by example. Compel them to read good books and make available good ones to them. Also, advise them on the kind of place to which they should go; this should include places that will affect their life positively and also help them change their environment for the positive.
Now this goes to the community leaders (presidents, governors, local government chairpersons and ministers for youth affairs): ensure that there is adequate support for the youth. Understand that they are still youth and not elders. If you don’t treat them well they may go astray and unfortunately it is usually hard to bring them back to the right way. Create room for them and make them feel appreciated and not rejected. That will give them a sense of belonging. Create job opportunities and skill acquisition for them.
After such training, community leaders should empower the youth to make ends meat. S doing will reduce the rate of crime and corruption among the youth. I am saying this because most of us learnt most of the things we know from the wrong source. Why? Because the elderly ones and the leaders around us failed to let us know what we needed to know at the right time. If not for God’s special grace I, for instance, should have been a dead guy by now.
Who is in the right position to stop crime? It is you and I who have seen the truth and know what is needed. We have to spread the truth and tell every one that crime and corruption are as deadly as a virus. All that know that truth is good and that desire good things should help to spread the news that crime and corruption are bad.
A youth who finds himself in an environment where crime is the order of the day should try as much as he or she can to act against this and create an atmosphere of peace. Start by talking to other youths on the need for a sound mind and to create a positive impact; organize a forum in your community that will help make other youths understand that there is a need for firm foundations when it comes to positive action.
Leaders, as I said earlier, have to lead by example. Whatever they showcase to the people they are leading (especially youth) is exactly what they will follow. To all my friends and fellow youth, this note I shout: “Let us be law-abiding citizens of our country and state/community. Let’s do what is right, snob the wrong things. Lets shun cultism and illegal acts. Let’s banish bad attitudes and focus on the right ones. Let’s help make our environment and the world at-large a better place to live in. This will help us and the generations to come. Say no to corruption because those who are anti-crime are watching you. Wake up! It is not a night mare! It should be the world of our dreams. This world is what we make it; let’s do the right thing.”
One flower can wake the dream
One tree can start a forest
One bird can herald spring
One smile begins a friendship
One word can frame the goal
One vote can change a nation
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness
One laugh will conquer gloom
One step must start each journey
One hope will raise our spirits
One voice can speak with wisdom
One heart can know what’s true
One life can make the difference
(Author unknown)
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