Challenges affecting youth development

Since time immemorial youth development has been a shared responsibility across society. The reason for this is no one person can become all that they should through learning from the source. To become functional, a young person must learn from an array of sources and various situations. This is what it takes to be a versatile, multi-dimensional, and effective adult.

The Modern Societal Challenge

The circumstances today intensify the importance of youth development. Today, youth development is also society’s responsibility and is not left to individual families. We have taken the liberty of identifying these possible reasons.

1. The working parents’ phenomenon

Most families today hardly have the luxury role of full-time nurture and guidance of the young along the treacherous journey into adulthood. The economic conditions, career ambitions and modern practices have made it a norm that both parents work. Whilst it is beneficial in many ways, in many households it has undermined the quality of parenting the young are able to get.

• Young families/ parents

In many communities, parents have been getting younger. This has resulted in many cases where youthful parents are growing up together with their own kids. The consequence is that these young parents as they learn themselves. Even with the best of intentions and effort, this will not be sufficient without supplementing with other resources and input.

• Migrant worker phenomenon

The pursuit of economic opportunities has resulted in families living apart. This has required that kids grow up away from at least one of the parents due to work reasons. The contribution to parenting has taken up toil from the absence of one of the parents. This has happened often at a huge cost to quality development.

• Separated parents.

Modern society has increased levels of single parenting. This places additional pressure on the single pressure to fight harder for economic survival in the unfortunate choice between non-financial parenting responsibilities and chasing income, aspects of the parental role in youth development fall between the cracks.

• Child-headed households

Disease, accidents, and crime have robbed many young people of their parents. This has left young people with no options but to head to their homes without any form of present parental guidance.

•  Homelessness

Our society is breeding homeless kids who are growing up on the streets. Outside of home, even for those who are families on the street, the conditions leave very little opportunity for parenting and guiding the young into regular adulthood.

• Parental neglect

Our society has become a busy society. Parents are juggling their own growth, material aspirations, career goals, etc. The opportunity cost to all these parenting and dedicated attention to developing the young.

• Limited network

An important part of youth development these days is the social network. The larger the contact base the better the prospects of any young person. Families that have a healthy network make contributions to the development of their young. Exposure to networks can be a critical game-changer in how a young life navigates its way through life. 

Regardless of the above, we are a community that ensures you have all the resources to be capable and confident individuals in society.

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