Republican News · Thursday 28 November 2002

A Saturday listening to young people

BY BARRY McELDUFF (West Tyrone Assembly member)

I spent Saturday 16 November at the first Annual Conference of the Western Youth Forum. As a public representative and a member of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), I receive many conference invitations but I was drawn to this one, because the opportunity to hear the concerns and views of young people should not be passed over.

Seventy young people from different parts of the Western Board Area, including members of the Omagh Youth Council, Strabane Youth Council as well as Carrickmore Youth Centre participated in the conference, which was held in Derry.

Citizenship

'Citizenship' was the theme of this inaugural conference. In their respective workshops, young people were challenged to cut through the jargon and buzz-phrases such as 'diversity and inclusion,' 'equality and social justice' and define for themselves what these fine-sounding concepts really mean in practice, what they mean to real people, young people in 2002.

It might have been more courageous if the organisers had framed this discussion in the context of The Good Friday Agreement and a society in the North that is emerging from conflict.

Young People's Charter

A highlight of the day for me was the public launch of 'The Agreed Charter of Youth Rights of the WELB Youth Forum'. I would advise anyone interested in youth issues to secure a copy, the considered product of local young people themselves.

Interestingly, this Charter sits very comfortably alongside Article 12 of 'The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child', which spells out the rights of young people under the age of 18 to express an opinion on all matters concerning young people.

Rights contained in The Good Friday Agreement are also having an impact, obliging public bodies to engage with young people and to make the rights of children and young people widely known and accessible to all.

A very valuable part of the conference from my perspective was the opportunity to make contacts with those who work with young people every day, including senior youth officers within the WELB. I found each to be well informed and very understanding of the needs of young people in today's society.

Affirmation is crucial

As the day progressed, it became clearer to me that the self-esteem of young people is directly linked to affirmation and recognition of their talents and contribution. Young people want responsibility and it was said to me that a healthy society is one where confident young people receive more encouragement and praise from adults than the affirmation they receive from their peers for drinking 'a can'.

It seems to me also that one of the big challenges facing the Youth Service is to remain focused on the needs of young people aged 15 and over.

Are we listening?

All in all, society needs to listen to young people, who are full of imagination and ideas.

• In rural areas are we listening closely enough when they tell us that access and transport to interesting events and entertainment is a real issue for them?
• Are we listening to young people's definition of art, which might include 'garage music'?
• Are we listening to their futuristic ideas for waste management and the environment?
• Can we hear what our young people are saying about the need for a more caring society and about having respect for what others are saying?
• Are we hearing their views on a new, increasingly diverse Ireland?
• Are we hearing their worries about the danger of Sellafield?

Over the weekend, young people gained skills and confidence by engaging in debate. There is a duty on all of us to enable young people to make realistic and responsible decisions about their own lives. Let the debate continue. Are we listening?