“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt-
Every generation has its own struggles. However, it can sometimes be tough for one generation to relate to another. Moreover, understanding the anxieties and concerns of youth in these times is a minefield like no other. With the concept of addressing the youth as youth, “Sathsith” is a creative outcome of the motivational idea of inspiring the youth to rise strong, despite the challenges they face today, which is executed by the members of the editorial team of RACFOSUOC. As the list of challenges goes on, we decided to particularly focus on seven different challenges for the youth at present.
Outside the box thinking is an idea of freely discarding the traditional problem-solving methods to find the true nature of problems and falsifying old assumptions while being innovative. Rtr. Nipuni Kadupitiya addressed this challenge which is prominent among the youth while the whole world is in search of innovative solutions in various areas with the problematic situation at present. She mainly focuses on the methods and ways of outside-the-box thinking which the majority is unaware of.
“Thinking outside of the box allows you to get rewards outside of your reach.” -Matshona Dhilwayo, Philosopher, entrepreneur and author –
Focusing on the mental health crisis that the youth is currently facing, Rtr. Hirusha Munasinghe penned down discussing the specific issues of mental stress which is a major topic that falls under this section. Being a young guy, he opens up about his own perspective, highlighting the fact how important it is for the youth to know how to signpost others to support in order to get out of matters in which they are trapped as worsening of the issue can affect their whole future.
Abusing drugs among youngsters has become a common problem these days. Compared to the past, youth at present have easier access to illegal stuff. Rtr. Harith Kulatunga addresses this serious issue, driving our attention towards the ways in which these youngsters get trapped in these activities and the consequences they face individually, and how it has become a dire threat to their families and to the whole society. Bringing up his own perspective on this issue, he further elaborates on the methods to eradicate this menace in order to strengthen the youth for a better future.
The advancement of technology undoubtedly has had a significant impact on the youth. Social media falls under this topic as an amazing tool. However, there are also concerns about how it impacts self-perception and privacy. Rtr. Sumudu Tennakoon penned down on this matter specifying the fact that, even though it is a way of sharing creative and funny ideologies, the world of social media is both complex and confusing. She discusses the relationships formed online where they need to be navigated with caution and the risk of exposure to cyberbullying, and privacy issues.
Body image anxiety is also a major issue among the youth during puberty where many become very reluctant to open up their difficulties with others. Rtr. Sachini Ranasinghe addresses this topic along with the link it has with social media appearance. Appearance-related concerns can provoke increasing emotional and social problems where she highlights the fact that young people who are unhappy with their physical appearance significantly have the pure risk of falling into depression. Ending on a positive note, she states that the person who we are within is what matters above everything.
Rtr. Dahami Gunathilake penned down on the global problem of youth unemployment. Considering the statistics on youth unemployment in Sri Lanka, she drives our focus towards the consequences coming our way as a nation with the worsening of this issue since it is visible that the numbers are increasing daily. She marks the end of her flow of words leaving us to take the decision to choose our ways wisely which will decide our future.
Education plays a major role in a young person’s life with the presence of competition in the field of jobs. Academic standards are higher than ever, as many people each year are expected to enter further education. Rtr. Chalani Wijamunige opens up her perspective on the importance of youth education focusing on the areas which are newly added and modified in the educational field, particularly amidst the current pandemic. She specifies the fact that youth have to develop their own skills to win the opportunities despite learning online and the pressure that they had to undergo in recent times. Marking the end on an inspiring note, she puts up her thoughts into a poem about this challenging situation.
RACFOSUOC successfully marked the end of the journey “Sathsith”, bringing out the insights on these seven different challenges, discussing the consequences coming our way, and how to address them with a positive mindset without backing away. Marking the closure of our blog series, we would like to deliver the message to all the adults of our generation that they are obliged to protect the youth and need to support them with whatever the challenges they face in the best way possible as they are the driving force of the nation who should be protected at any cost.
By Rtr. Chalani Wijamunige
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