Youth development is at times an overlooked yet overwhelming endeavour that many shy away from, even in our family settings. As parents, we seek to outsource our children’s development to schools as extracurricular activities, but do we understand the importance of being a present youth developer? To better appreciate the role of youth development in society, it is key that we understand the role of youth in society. It is suggested that the role of youth is:
To Connect
The youth sit in between 2 generations at a time. They are a generation that succeeds their parents as well as a generation that leads younger sibling and eventually their own offspring. This means that they will ensure that the traditions, practices, cultures, values, aspirations and hopes of generations before them are passed on to the next generations.
Youth guarantee the future of society. Without youth, society is without prospects for a future.
To Renew
Like all things on earth, concepts and cultures start, grow, mature, and reach a decline. Youth play a role in continuing and ideally improving certain cultures, concepts, and practices. Youth brings energy and revitalises social systems. Being part of the youth development stage is important for parents as youth must be ready for the inevitable time when they have to step into their parents’ shoes and lead the next generation.
To Re-imagine Or Reset
The role of youth is to modernise its community. It is to advance what society can accomplish. Youth must be ready to receive what has been handed over to them by the preceding generation. Youth must be able to interpret certain conditions passed down to them and reset those conditions for relevance within the new context. With each generation, there is an expectation that society will progress and reach new heights. This task relies on the imagination of the youth to accomplish it.
The Implied Role of Youth Development In Society
It is evident that when youth fail, society fails. Therefore, no society should allow its youth to fail. To ensure that the youth does not fail, the youth must be given the possible chance to succeed. This we have done through deliberate preparation. Youth development fulfils the role of ensuring that youth is placed in the best possible position to succeed.
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