Young people can make a difference
Most of young people believe in the values of the MDGs and agree that something should be done to face these challenges, because they are naturally concerned by the future. But not all of them take action; this depends of their level of “empowerment”.
To feel “empowered” is to be aware of the power, which is within us, to change situations and to improve things.
In every human community, one can identify three levels of awareness regarding community and personal ability to make change:
- Some people face problems in their life but they do not believe that any change is possible.
- Some people are aware of problems and participate in the community but in a limited or minimal extent without much impact.
- Some people perceive that community problems have solutions over which they have control; they show confidence in their own abilities and take decisive actions that produce results.
Development happens when a large number of people reach the level three. We have to help each other to reach that level.
We cannot just wait for governments solve the problems for us because most of the time the governments are not developing an positive action if people do not exert a pressure on them to do that.
We can do it!
Young people can respond to Kofi Annan’s call on Millenium Development Goals. And they are doing this indeed. All around the world, are already young people take action already:
“Young people are creating community change! They are tutoring in the schools, working in health clinics, and serving meals in soup kitchens. They are cleaning up the environment, rehabilitating houses for the homeless, and formulating strategies for neighborhood revitalization. They are solving problems, planning programs, and involving people in decisions at the community level.” (Barry Checkoway).
All around the world young people have undertaken thousands of projects to protect the environment and respond to the needs of their community. However these projects should be better known and recognised in order to show to other young people and to the larger community that change is possible.
The Scout Movement has decided to help young people to make their voice heard and their projects recognised.
In his last message to young people, the founder of the Scout Movement said: “Leave this world a little better than you found it”. Today, this quotation is echoed in the definition of “Sustainable Development”, used since 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development, as “a development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
World Scouting believes that sustainable development and peace can only be achieved through empowering young people, because they represent the future. We are looking for new ways to form partnerships among youth organisations, the public sector (including governments and local authorities) and the private sector (including companies and media) can also impulse a change. |
