I have always been inspired by the youth volunteers who come to work with the young people in need at the Preda Center. They are from the Philippines and many other nations. They have an ability to relate and work together for the common good of the children and youth. The World Youth Day, this year, held in Rio, South America, was founded to recognize the goodness in young people and give them an opportunity to express it. The value to serve others is inherent in the youth and can be nurtured if only adults will allow it to emerge, set a good example and give encouragement.
The incredible courage, bravery and dedication of young people are what the world needs to inspire and lead us into the future. Malala Yousafzai is a striking model of the capability of the youth to give a good example where adults fail. Her speech to the United Nations ignited the hope and activism of the youth around the world. Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban assassin because she was such a powerful, determined advocate of the universal rights to education. She shows just how influential young people can be if only we listen to them and allow them to play their role and to take the lead at times.
The adult leaders: parents, teachers politicians, and the general public should realize that there are great youth leaders and youth groups that are giving their time and energy to saving the planet, helping the hungry, the oppressed, jailed children and campaigning for one important cause or another .They need the encouragement and support of the adult world because they deserve it; it is the right and good way to educate and develop good positive and caring character and personality in the growing-up youth. The youth are the leaders of the future and they will, eventually, take over the duty and obligation of the aging generation that comes to pass before their very own eyes.
What they need to grow strong and mature, besides health, food, and education, is nourishment of spiritual values. These are positive attitudes, relationships that cannot be bought at supermarkets, such as trust, respect, affirmation, inspiration, encouragement, good example, security, emotional support, affection and friendship.
A nation is judged by the way it cares and nurtures its children. How very true! Parents, teachers, and authorities, in general, ought to put aside the age-old practice of asserting negative authority over young people. The youth are filled with a desire to be acknowledged, respected and encouraged in their activities and not to be scolded, judged and chided for youthful enthusiasm, immaturity and mistakes. We all make mistakes so tolerance, understanding, patience and forbearance are what adults should have toward them. Over the years, the youth will learn to overcome human frailties as they grow to maturity.
Given that encouragement and respect, they will become advocates of the good and beautiful just as Malala has done. Her parents are also to be admired for giving her the opportunity and support in her pursuit of education and the right to go to school amid threats and intimidation.
It must be seen that these youthful heroes are striving to do good for all and what greater good is there than to sacrifice for the well-being of others. The young people of the world have these surging desires and hopes and must be allowed to exercise them with trust and in collaboration with the adults.
Openings must also be made to give them as many opportunities as possible to express themselves in arts, music and theatre. For young people, to have a sense of self-worth and value as human persons, self-expression is essential. They can achieve that through the opportunities provided to them by the adults around them.
The volunteers at Preda Center, Olongapo, like good samaritans, live out their belief and faith in a wider circle of goodness and love. These are the youth leaders of today. The promissing honest-to-goodness the promising nation-builders of tomorrow.
