RESUMO
Mr. Bowrin's plea is: Give our youth a break! He defined youth in terms of energy and continuity. As young adults, they have special needs; as agents of rejuvenation, they are society's future. He cited four areas where youth is being disadvantaged:- i Unmet psycho-social needs. For example, the need for financial independence, the need to own a home and start a family. Since these needs are not being met in the normal course of events, many young people are turning to socially unacceptable ways in an attempt to cope with their frustration. The recent appearance of youth gangs on the local scene is a case in point. ii Dependency syndrome. Youths continue to be dependent on their parents far beyond the traditional age limit. Apart from fostering an attitude of dependency, which in itself is undesirable, this situation is a potential cause of domestic friction; not to mention the fact that it runs counter to Government's stated policy of developing self-reliance. iii Unpreparedness for a changing environment. Traditional education has not prepared our youth for self-employment. In a shrinking job market, they find themselves caught between unavailability of jobs on the one hand, and their own inability to create jobs for themselves, on the other hand. Suggested solutions:- i Retraining for self-employment; ii Collaboration between business, professionals, the university, and youth and community groups with a view to providing the youth with the financial and technical assistance necessary to establish and maintain their own businesses. iii Voluntary Community Service; iv Cultivation of hobbies as a way of structuring time
