Empowerment of the youth, through information - by Kgothatso Mampa (17 years)Nelson Mandela once said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” I am startled at the illiteracy of modern day youth and children, regarding Child Rights Legislation and global initiatives that aim to protect these very same youth and children. It is certain that we live in a world that is characterised by powerful influences and beliefs that distort the true essence of being a child. As a developing young man from South Africa, I look critically at the wrongs that plague my generation. In order to successfully deal with problems related to childhood and adolescence, the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC) ought to holistically look into the social, economic and political indicators that hamper the empowerment of young people. I also think it appropriate to adopt an approach to Rescue, Rehabilitate and Repatriate the youth of the world! It is important to understand that our generation of youth is a social one. The Mxit generation; even though ‘experts’ might argue that social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are far from being social. We are prone to ‘living the moment’ and are not conscious, if at all concerned about what lies behind us and what lies before us. In South Africa, we are afforded privileges that we sometimes take for granted, such as the access to information through different mediums. SA youth has a sense of entitlement, is after fame and very materialistic. However, we are expressive and therefore this provides an assortment of platforms by which information can be transferred to. Our parents did not have the opportunities that we have; they were focused on their future and lost out on their youth. Our biggest problems are: underage drinking, sex, exposure to violence and increasing illnesses. These universal issues seem to be commonplace and need urgent attention. For children and young people to be better informed about the CRC, I am of the opinion it must be incorporated into youthful activities, making it easy for us to relate to. If the CRC becomes a relevant and interesting issue, it will cater for our generation’s needs which are extremely different to those of our predecessors. Presently, youth in South Africa have no struggles as did our forefathers; instead our struggle is in refining our youth and saving them from the scourge of invincibility. The convention should be incorporated into the first language syllabus at learning institutions because students will be urged to absorb the ideas rapidly. It needs to be accessible in schools as part of a seriously taken subject. Not only will young people be able to analyse the Child Rights Legislation in depth, but they will also comprehend the most important part of having rights: Responsibility! Both should never give the impression of being separate entities. It is critical to understand the firm co-existence of rights and responsibilities, a cliché which is too often discounted. The world could do with more people responsibly practicing their rights. The CRC could permeate the entertainment industry! South Africa has a rich heritage of influential entertainers. These people have become household names and are geniuses in their craft. I recommend they be approached and invited to endorse the Convention - commit themselves to better informing us, especially about Section 28 of our constitution, which includes the Sexual Offences Act. With recent surveys revealing that Nigeria is the leading source of child-sex tourists on the African continent and South Africa the leading destination for child-sex tourists, the urgency is stressed! Young people must be empowered to realize their rights! In my opinion, the time to act in the interest of South African Youth is now, prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup when we can expect an influx of tourists. It is evident that youth are dynamically different, but the need to protect us transcends race, creed, religion, nationality and location. Youth have to be empowered to realise the power of their rights. Equally important is the correlation between responsible practices of rights. We should take advantage of all the opportunities. Seize them to better inform and better empower! It’s never too late to start!
|
