What a time to be a youth

YOUTH are marginalised. There is no doubt in my mind about that. But nowadays more and more young people are stepping up to lessen the gaps that exist and solidify the importance of their contributions to society.

Last Saturday, I attended a youth forum organised by three young men that aimed to garner views and suggestions from young people to be considered, as politicians chart their way forward at the upcoming elections (whenever those are held).

The forum also underscored that youth is a very broad demographic but there are various intersections of youth, each with its own issues and solutions.

What I appreciated was that each young person present- that made a contribution- seemed very serious about advancing the cause for youth. They advocated for a myriad of things- whether more avenues for representation or more effort to be given to issues affecting youth- so that the marginalisation young people face would be lessened.

Some argued that if youth wanted things, they ought to stop being so lethargic and go after those things. Others highlighted that there are young people who are actively pursuing development for themselves and for those around them, but there are many rigid and institutionalised blockades in their way (like the rigid political hierarchical structures that exist).

The basic intention behind the forum, as I alluded to earlier, was to garner these views and present them to all of the political parties as they are crafting their manifestos.

For me, solutions are one thing, but enacting these is another. And while listening to the ideas presented, I couldn’t help but wonder: How do youth champion their causes and make the parties take them into consideration, and how, if even considered, do youth pressure politicians to follow through with what has been considered?

Now if you read these columns every week, there’s a very high chance that I am seeking to bring attention to something youth related. Recently, I questioned whether I should try to expand my reach- but what Saturday’s forum affirmed for me is that I need to keep speaking until the things I want to see improved, are improved.

Similarly with youth (and not just while pressuring politicians, but generally), if you believe in something you have to pursue it. If a group demands to have more representation in government, that group has to hold the government accountable by ‘calling them out’ or keep knocking on doors until they open.

At the same forum, the head of local tech company Intellect Storm, Rowen Willabus raised a very, very valid point that has caused me to rethink how I look at many things. The events around the 1960s have, for the most part, shaped the socio-political climate of Guyana. Guyanese has learned that if you want something (like Independence), it will not be simply given to you-you have to fight for it and show why you are worthy of it.

The current political leaders are either from that era or a direct product of that era. In the context of young people lobbying these leaders- as those present at the forum have indicated their desire to so- it cannot be done without strongly showing these persons.

And I would say that in their ways- whether through social activism or physically protesting- young people have been trying to do just this. Personally, I believe however that if my people really want to effect positive change, we really must have our priorities aligned.

We represent some 65 per cent of the electorate; we have the strength in our numbers. Intersections among the youth demographic are characteristic, but they should not be the cause of division. I cannot overstate that we all belong to the demographic of youth, and by the mere virtue of our age- we are marginalised. This marginalisation is only further exacerbated by what the intersections of youth (like the indigenous youth or the LGBTQ+ youth) endure.

And in being a youth these days, I think it’s quite important to not only show the older folk what we have but make a conscious effort to learn from them. They have made the country what it is today, and while we might not always agree with what they do- they have a wealth of institutional knowledge that we ought to begin learning as well.

It is a great time to be a youth, in my opinion. There is work to be done and there are avenues that we can pursue to do so (whether forcibly or not). They keep saying that we are the future, but we are uniquely poised to learn from the older generation and show them that the future is now.

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