Who are the young?

Our Young People - What young people are we talking about?
(Social context, educational context, economic context, religious context, ethnic context).

Group Members: 

Al-Jameel Hani Polus Yonu, Ataku Hedwing Musanga (Secretary), 

Uri Joseph Baru and Joseph Kachelewa (President)

After a careful reflection and evaluation of our own experiences with the youths, we found it inevitable considering our youths from the social context. Social context becomes the centre of all the activities of the youths as it brings them together. A youth who is out of social context in today’s world is out of touch with the massive communication. Unless one is physically and intellectually impaired will such a one contradict the existence of social network among our modern time youths.

However, experience has also taught us that the youths participate in most social realities but they are less enthusiasm to be fully involved in the social life.  The majority distances themselves from the social activities because they are afraid of loosing their freedom, thus loosing their individuality and autonomy. This assertion entails that they participate in activities where they know that their freedom will not be limited.

It is actually the social context that has lead many youths to persevere academically. The desire to be identified with a certain class of the elite in their own societies has led them to persevere the hardships that they encounter in education setup. Here, we are mostly referring to those coming from very poor families.

It is social context that has lead many youths to visit places where they can discover the world as it presents itself to them. Luck of social context in considering the youths will actually hider the very meaning of being a youth.

The great numbers of the young people believe in God and are convinced that God exist. However, it seems hard for them to enter into the spiritual realm of meeting a personal God. We could say that they are religious but without becoming Christians. Very few go to/in Church because they are convinced that the Church limits their freedom. Experience has reviewed that the youths would not like to be involved in any activity that has laid down structures. This is because they would like to discover the realities themselves. Therefore, even coming into Church means the moment to meet with others.

Youth animators, Ondo (Nigeria)

Due to low esteem, they choose places according to their standard of life. The youths are constantly searching to be known and find solidarity with others. We cannot talk about solidarity among the youths with social context. For them, solidarity means social network. The positive aspect of social contest is that they youths are able to share life and ideas with anyone within there social environment without discrimination.

This aspect leads to vital solidarity which initially comes from mere curiosity of knowing themselves and others. This social network which we could wisely call solidarity offers the possibility for creating relationships among themselves. Therefore, there is something in exchange in whatever area of activity they found themselves.

Secretary: Ataku Hedwing Musanga

President: Joseph Kachelewa 

Photo: ANS ©2007