Challenges Facing the Youth in Todays Society

Most of the problems facing todays youth are not restricted to any one ethnic or religious group, but affect young people generally. Most discussions on youth have focussed on issues such as drug abuse, crime, violence, sexuality and poverty. In addition to these, todays youth are afflicted by new challenges. These include:

1. 2. 3. 4.

An Identity Crisis: Who am I? Lack of self confidence and low self esteem: I am worthless A sense of hopelessness: Where am I going? Confusion and ambiguity concerning moral issues: What is right and wrong? 5. The negative impact of the electronic media: Entertainment ? 6. Competitiveness in education: the uneven playing field: Excellence by whom? Not Me.

Muslim Youth The Quran and life of the Prophet give numerous examples of outstanding youth. Islam praised the efforts of the youth in reviving religion through calling to the worship of God and fighting against disbelief as a form of backwardness and corruption. Indeed the image of Abraham peace be upon him in the Quran is one of extreme inspiration, enlightenment and uniqueness. It is the image of a young man rebelling against his peoples decadent traditions, a young man defying the dominant values of his society even in the form of a tyrant king who claims divinity. His son Ismail inherited these qualities of sincerity in worshipping Allah and sacrifice of everything for His sake, as clear in the story of the sacrifice when his father consulted him upon seeing in his dream that he is to sacrifice him, and he answered with determination and certainty to obey Allahs command Oh my father, do as you are commanded, you will find me, if Allah so wills of the steadfast. Again, facing the despotism of Pharoah, those who dared to declare their faith were a group of youth who defied Pharoah and joined Moses And none believed in Moses except some children of hid people because of fear of Pharoah and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them.

The mission of Muhammad peace be upon him was also one for the youth as the eldest of those who first believed in the prophet was Abu Bakr as Siddiq who was only thirty five years old, and most had not reached the age of twenty, while some were as young as ten such as Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Because of the prophets interest in the youth, it was not surprising that the leader of the Muslim army following his death was Usama Ibn Zayd who was only sixteen years old, and India was later conquered by Mohamed Ibn AlQasim who was the same age. Indeed the Prophet peace be upon him said, speaking of the social classification of his followers, that he was supported by the young and poor, and rejected by the old and rich, for the latter are always powers of conservatism while the young and poor are usually forces of change and revival.

The Ideal Youth One may define the ideal youth as a balanced individual exhibiting a highly spiritual life informed by absolute moral values and whose behaviour demonstrates qualities such as righteousness, honesty, humility and conscientiousness in everything he/she does. In this regard the Qur'an has reminded us more than once that "A man receives but only that for which he strives; that his endeavors will be judged, and only then will he receive his recompense in full." (Quran, 53:39-41) Traditional Society Historically, the older generation has managed to transmit their beliefs, values, traditions, customs, worldviews and institutions to the younger members of their societies. This was achieved largely because of the impact of agencies of socialization, such as the family, religion and the schools. Today the impact of these institutions has been challenged and undermined by new forces, particularly the internet and the television.

Dominant Culture Is Trinidad and Tobago a Religious Society in the truest sense? Is Gods help sought at all times or do we conveniently call on God on special occasions as a mere formality? In my view, we are witnessing an erosion of traditional systems and institutions . As such the family and religion now have a minimal impact on the average youngster. The values emphasized today include individualism, Godlessness, materialism, secularism and rationalism. It is the youth who are encountering the most serious challenge to his/her faith under the impact of godless culture of modernity.

Best minds in our society are not socialized by religious institutions. The emphasis is on competitiveness, academic success, career goals, income and social mobility Little or no attention is given to preparing tomorrows leadership. There is no emphasis is placed on critical thinking , problem solving. We are preparing followers, imitators conformists, and not leaders, innovators or problem solvers. The youth is being asked to give up certain family and social values that were an integral part of their identity, and adopt in its place a sense of selfalienation, and become a self-estranged imitator of everything "modern". We need to pay close attention to the effects of secularism: confining the role of religion to the private domain of the individual and creating a dichotomy between "religious" and "worldly," between "private" and "public." It denies religion and its mediating institutions any public function and influence in shaping matters of public policy.

Technology: internet and TV We are witnessing a phenomenal advancement in technology over the last three decades, and our citizens are experiencing remarkable social and cultural change. This drastic change has generated psychological and social dislocations among many people. Moreover, technology has influenced the way we think about life in general and interpersonal human relations in particular. Certainly, religion should influence all aspects of our life. It regulates our relationship to God and fellow human beings. When religion is made insignificant and is reduced to one among many other forms of cultural expressions, then meaningful existence and interpersonal relationships that are cultivated by its presence are threatened. In its place personal greed and intensified forms of individuation breed self-centered and "first me" individualism. If these tendencies are not kept in check by concern for the well being of others, as taught by religion, it could lead to a self-serving, egocentered individual. Television in particular has gone beyond its mandate to assist the family and the school in providing visual aid and education to the young. It has taken upon itself to appeal to the destructive and disintegrative instincts, to provoke greed, unlimited self-gratification, and absence of moral restraint in its young audience. There is a need for Muslims must to join other religiously minded groups in the agitation for more responsible TV programming and more media coverage of the human condition without the celebration of outrage and obscenities. Religious groups must create alternate avenues for recreation and social interaction. There should be avenues where spiritual and social activities combine to make the average child a whole human being whose life is

directed to God. Adults should ensure that he or she benefits and makes full use of the cultural resources of his or her society. This is a delicate task, and much research and brainstorming need to take place before we arrive at solutions.

Education System There is need for re-structuring of the education system, so as to minimize competition and rivalry and thereby reduce feelings of marginalisation and exclusion among low achievers. Also, there is need for reform of the curriculum so as to include universally desirable values that are necessary for producing well rounded, balanced and useful citizens. Our present educational system has trivialized religious devotion and relativized moral commitment. Therefore, the youth of today does not have the moral guidance to be able to pursue the right course when faced with a moral dilemma. Family The parents, consequently, have to assume an active role in the moral development of their children. They need to become fully involved at every stage in the child's mental growth until he/she attains maturity. This involvement includes learning to communicate with the younger generation through their books and reading materials. Also, there is need for constructive entertainment and personal involvement in the selection of the types of entertainment (whether at home or outside). This is very critical and almost inevitable since there is enormous pressure on the children from outside their home to participate in undesirable activities.

According to the Wall Street Journal (April 6, 1990), on the average American parents spend less than fifteen minutes a week in serious discussion with their children. American fathers spend an average of seventeen seconds per day of intimate contact with their children. In Trinidad and Tobago, the figures may not be significantly better. Let us ponder about the undesirable effects of this trend of parental non-involvement and the absence of suitable alternatives.

In closing, let us recognize that we have a serious challenge on our hands: to ensure that todays children (tomorrows adults) would experience a better world than we are living in today. We should all work towards this objective

and not wait for a crisis to occur and then react, let us be prepared.

India's Youth (int'l edition) They're capitalist-minded--and they're changing the nation forever Every day at 8 a.m., her straight black hair tied neatly in a braid, 16-year-old Neelam Aggarwal rides almost 5 kilometers to school in a horse-drawn buggy. She would like to be a doctor someday. But for girls like Neelam, who lives in the dusty, impoverished village of Farah in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, such a vocation seems remote. For starters, her school--like most village schools in India--doesn't even offer science classes for girls. Still, Neelam, one of eight daughters of a sweets maker, has no intention of becoming a housewife. ''I want to make something of myself,'' she says. So each day after school, Neelam operates what amounts to the village's only public telephone--a cellular phone owned by Indian cellular operator Koshika Telecom. By charging her fellow villagers to make calls, Neelam can make as much as $8.75 on a really good day. She's saving the money for computer classes, which she hopes will lead to a good job. Ten years ago, few girls in India would have dared to be like Neelam. But today, she is the very embodiment of India's youth--ambitious, technologyoriented, and confident. Her generation is the product of the incredible sociological change wrought by eight years of economic liberalization in India, a period of painful transition from one-party, socialist rule to an economy where free markets play a much bigger role. Indian society also has been transformed by the Internet and cable television--forces young people are best equipped to exploit. India's youth are already having an enormous impact: on the economy, on companies hoping to sell them products, on the media, and on the culture. Unlike previous generations, today's youth are not obsessed with the ins and outs of politics. Thus the current election, which pits the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against the Congress Party, has failed to ignite the passions of the young. ''Today, even if Parliament blew up, no one from this generation would notice,'' says Rama Bijapurkar, a marketing consultant. ''It has little relevance for them.'' Liberalization's children also differ from their conservative, insular parents in that they proudly mix Indian values with Western packaging. They enjoy wearing saris and still admire Mahatma Gandhi. But they also like wearing blue jeans, drinking fizzy sodas, and watching MTV (VIA.B). This generational shift in attitudes is all the more important because this group is growing so rapidly. Some 47% of India's current 1 billion population is under the age of 20, and teenagers among them number about 160

million. Already, they wield $2.8 billion worth of discretionary income, and their families spend an additional $3.7 billion on them every year. By 2015, Indians under 20 will make up 55% of the population--and wield proportionately higher spending power. As this group, with its more materialist, more globally informed opinions, comes into its own, sociologists predict India will gradually abandon the austere ways and restricted markets that have kept it an economic backwater. These youth will demand a more cosmopolitan society that is a full-fledged member of the global economy. They will start their own businesses and contribute to a more vibrant economy. They also are likely to demand more accountability from their politicians. ''This is the generation that is reclaiming India's future,'' says Gurcharan Das, a former chief executive of Procter & Gamble Co. India and author of a forthcoming book on India in the next century. ''This is India's 'found' generation.'' FIRST TASTE. Obviously, many millions in this group remain locked in a struggle with poverty. But out of the teenage population, some 22 million belong to the urban middle class and are in a position to influence the economy dramatically as they grow older. Another 100 million or so live in rural India. Even here, many young people are having their first taste of rising prosperity and expectations. One result is that computer literacy and education are eradicating caste barriers. While caste and social position still dominates Indian politics, sociologists predict the rigid lines of the system will continue to ease. Already, urban youth are more concerned with their professional ambition than their caste. ''We are only aware of caste while filling out government forms,'' says Trisha Singh, 23, a Pune law student. ''It's more 'What do you do?' that determines your status.'' In addition, massive computer literacy could do plenty for India's economy. National per capita income is currently $450 per year. But a 10% increase in computer literacy in a single year would push per capita income up to $650, according to Dewang Mehta of Nasscom, India's software industry association. COCKY ATTITUDE. Another driving force of change is TV. Just one year after the 1991 election of former Premier Narasimha Rao ushered in a program of economic liberalization, cable and satellite television became available in 50 million Indian homes. Rupert Murdoch's Star TV, with its news footage from around the globe and soap operas like Santa Barbara gave many Indians their first real look at other worlds. Viacom's MTV and Murdoch's music channel, Channel V, changed the aspirations and values of Indians forever. With its cocky attitude, MTV embodied a take-it-or-leave-it style that appealed to the young. ''The old Brahmanical code of 'lofty thinking and simple living' went out of style, to be replaced by the MTV culture of youth anywhere in the world,'' says Vibha Rishi, marketing director of PepsiCo Inc. India. The cultural impact has been revolutionary. The previous generation, born in

the decade following India's independence from British rule on Aug. 15, 1947, grew up shy, obedient, and socialist in the 1960s and '70s. Bombay-born author Salman Rushdie dubbed them Midnight's Children in his famous book. They came of age during hard times: three wars, several famines, rigid protectionism. Consumer choice meant one state-run TV channel, three brands of bath soap, and car models that changed little through the decades. One political party, Congress, was voted into office again and again. How times have changed. To appreciate the generation gap, consider Samarth Moray, 11. The only child of a lawyer father and schoolteacher mother in Bombay, he loves computers and building with Lego sets. His hero is Captain Planet on Ted Turner's Cartoon Network. Like many youngsters, he disdains politicians. ''They act like first-grade kids in Parliament,'' Samarth says. ''I feel ashamed.'' What the new generation does like is money. According to a survey conducted by Coca-Cola (KO), the primary ambition of young Indians from the smallest villages to the largest cities is to ''become rich.'' Young people hope to achieve this goal through enterprise and education. That's a big change. For years, the most highly regarded careers were in civil service, engineering, and medicine. Now, high-paying jobs in high tech and the media are where it's at. Liberalization has created a ''new social contract in which making money is respectable,'' says author Das. Young Indians endorse it heartily. ''India's salvation lies in free enterprise,'' says Vinay Aranha, 22, who illustrates the trend. He works two jobs--selling cars and doing marketing for his family's small business in Pune, near Bombay. Already, high-tech startups are taking off in India. Industry experts put the number at almost two per week over the past two years. Pradeep Kar, 40, founder of two high-tech operations, e-commerce company Planetasia.com and portal Itspace.com in Bangalore, says he has been receiving e-mail from engineering students chafing to be entrepreneurs and seeking his advice. ''That spirit of enterprise will change the face of the Indian economy,'' says Kar. Kiran Nadkarni, managing director of the $55 million Draper India Fund, says the entrepreneurs he observes are getting younger--from an average age of about 40 previously to about 25 now. Liberalization has created new career models and heroes for India's young. Microsoft Chairman William H. Gates III is especially popular, and so are successful home-grown entrepreneurs like N.R. Narayana Murthy of Infosys Technologies Ltd. (INFY), India's premier software company. Other culture heroes: Indian national cricket team captain Sachin Tendulkar, 25, who is known for his clean image, and MTV video jockey Cyrus Broacha, 28, popular among urban Indian youth for his confidence and self-deprecating humor. ''Cyrus Broacha's our man,'' says Vinod Makhija, a high school student in Pune. ''He's humble, and he's wacko.''

Icons like Broacha embody this generation's ability to adapt Western influences. ''We are a hybrid,'' says Broacha, who sometimes wears a Gandhi topi, a traditional cap, as well as blue jeans. Embracing globalization has given Indians a new confidence. In fact, Indians feel being Indian is now a badge of honor in world music, fashion, literary, and intellectual circles. ''Even Madonna thinks India is cool,'' says Singh, the Pune law student. ''No one asks us any more if elephants walk the streets. Liberalization has changed all that and given India more exposure internationally.'' MARRY FOR LOVE. Indian youth haven't fully embraced Western ways. Tradition still dictates much of daily life. But progressive influences are everywhere. Take the tradition of arranged marriages, where parents chose children's spouses, often without their consent. Now young people want to marry for love--but also want parents' approval. The younger generation is nationalistic. In a recent survey by ad agency McCann-Erickson Asia-Pacific, Asian youth around the region voted Paris, London, and New York as the ''coolest'' cities. But young Indians voted for Bombay, along with New York. ''India has the best mix of people and cultures you can find,'' says Gaurav Kumar, 16, of Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley. ''We should take the best of both worlds.'' Kumar wants to be an aviation engineer. Along with half his graduating class, he intends to take the tough exam for the Indian Institute of Technology, a system of prestigious, high-tech universities. The most sought-after field: computer science. ''It's almost a religion with young people,'' says Hema Ravichander, head of human resources for Infosys, which gets 280,000 job applicants every year. Private computer training institutes are working to fill the demand. Just in the past three years, the New Delhi-based National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) and Bombay-based Aptech have expanded their franchises to 2,500 training centers in 300 cities and towns in India. ''These kids have a deep desire to uplift themselves and their families,'' says Rajendra Pawar, who co-founded NIIT in 1981. Companies are reaching out to the computer-literate young. Koshika, the cellular phone service provider in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India's poorest states, is using young people to develop an e-mail service. The company approached people who operate cellular phones as public services for their villages. It then sold them computers at a hefty discount and taught their children to use the Internet. For a fee, they offer e-mail services. Since most village families have members working in Persian Gulf states, they are starting to use e-mail to communicate, since it is cheaper than a telephone and faster than sending a letter. For the boys of the village, such opportunities are a great incentive for staying home rather than moving to the cities. Bunty Garg, from the town of Punnhana in Uttar Pradesh, was regarded as a ne'er-do-well by his father, who owns the local fabric store. That was until Bunty set up a public cell

phone. Bunty, 22, now has seven public phone booths, his own car, and the biggest home in town. The danger for India is, of course, that the potent mixture of aspirations created by TV, computers, and marketers in the hearts of India's young could overheat, and the social cauldron could boil over. Some researchers also worry about rising aspirations colliding with the realities of Indian poverty. ''The young generation may want more,'' says Indrani Vidyarthi of ORGMARG, India's premier market research agency. ''But how to get more when there ain't more?'' Indeed, almost 60% of rural Indian households have no electricity. ''How will they run computers?'' asks Rakesh Mohan, director of the National Council for Applied Economic Research in New Delhi. But Mohan may be underestimating the pragmatism and ambition of India's liberalization generation. Young Indians are not pessimistic. ''Our lives are in the fast lane,'' says Bangalore schoolboy Gaurav. ''We can cope; we have to.'' With luck, they'll not only cope--they'll thrive.