Dear Editor,

GLOBALLY, August 12 is celebrated by non-profit organisations, international charitable entities and governments as “International Youth Day”. As I put my finger to this phone screen, I wonder what suitable topic would work for this day.
Since its conception in 1999, the United Nations has released a different theme for the day. This year’s theme is “Safe Spaces for Youth”.

Personally, I feel that observances like this can provide organisations and individuals the ability to facilitate conversations that can hopefully turn into action. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that is often practiced. With every observance, people will wear the assigned colour for the day, upload a status, talk about the importance of the day and then… Well, that’s it!

Similarly, observances like breast cancer awareness walk will have many persons wearing pink and talk about getting checked up. Are we doing this year-round, or are we only advocating to “fit into the crowd”?

I love this year’s International Youth Day theme. It is true that young people need a safe space. In fact, this “safe space” can enable them to learn more about others and themselves.

How can we make spaces safe? Firstly, you need to have someone who would be known as the facilitator there. Before having this person there, you need to know if this person has had previous criminal activity, or if they indulge in “suspicious activity”. Suspicious activity is purposely written vaguely, since we can’t necessarily determine from looking at a person if they are a paedophile or not. This is why it is important to properly vet persons for positions like this.

In addition to this, computers and WiFi access should be available since this would allow young people to communicate and connect with others.

Anywhere can be a space for young people, but can it be safe? On July 10, 2018, the Department of Public Information released an article where the Minister of Youth pledged her support in establishing youth spaces countrywide.

It would be funny if this minister is actually reading this article. Don’t worry; I’m not going to throw shade. By the way, “shade” is a term that we youth use to describe as using sarcasm.

Although I applaud this initiative, we need to be realistic. As I said before, anywhere can be a youth space, but what provisions are we making for young people to have a space where they can learn and be themselves? Will this youth space be accessible to youth of different races? Will these youth spaces be accessible to disabled youth? All of these things need to be considered before launching something, as your intention can backfire on you.
When it comes to the safety of young people, we need to engage older persons also. Bridging the generation gap can be difficult, depending on the persons.
The population of youth is expanding. Advocates for Youth released their annual statistics that indicated, “Young people and children comprise of 40 per cent of the world’s population”.

In Guyana, many young people are at a disadvantage. As we all know by now, it’s difficult for young people to get jobs, as they’re either over or under-qualified. Poverty is also a ripple effect of young people struggling with their future, hence why the crime rate in Guyana is heavily controlled by young people, or as people like to call them, “de ghetto yutes”.

Training workshops are held, but these are hardly ever publicly mentioned, since many of them are organised by organisations with a certain aim for their desired audience.
This letter is dedicated to the hopeless Guyanese youth. I know you may feel that your life isn’t what you wanted it to be. These feelings should drown you into becoming everything you could hate. We have to be stronger than the thoughts in our heads, and what we hear from disapproving persons.

Saying this comforts me; I hope it can provide some kind of solace for you, too. To know that you are not alone; that you, just like me, feel that your voice is unheard. Sometimes I feel like my voice is echoed in the abyss, and it can’t be heard by anyone. That’s why I write: I write for you, for me, and for all of us. To let our government and organisations be more action and less talk. Most importantly, I want to leave you guys with this small piece of advice: You can advocate for young people and still be young.

Remember, we are the present and the future; we need to stop saying “young people are the future”. Obviously they are, but they are here right now.

How can we build their capacity to actively participate in building and maintaining a positive life for themselves and others? You don’t have to speak the Queen’s English and wear suits when representing young people.

If you are passionate about volunteering for helping young people, you can message ASPIRE Youth Network GUYANA’s Facebook page, or email us at: aspireyngy@gmail.com. Also, if you wanna give us a paid column section or some helpful resources, we would feel humbly grateful with your lovely gesture.

One of de youths dem,
Juliana Lopes
Repping ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana