Dear Editor,
I wish to shed some light on creating safe spaces for our young people and what the term itself should refer to as the use of the term is becoming quite common in the youth community but there may be a poor reception by the youths themselves. As such, I believe that our young people are social and intuitive human-beings that are drawn to trust and dissociate easily with any sense of distrust. Hence, while there are many places that are deemed safe spaces for our youths, and young people to share their concerns, many of these places and spaces are not solidified trustworthy. We need not to only have people and places that are qualified and verified as safe spaces but an environment where these youths, particularly those susceptible to crime and violence, abuse and much social adversities to be open about their experiences and convey their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement, condemnations, repercussions and betrayal.
Further, in the school system where counselors may be assigned and established to better serve the educational well-being of students, it is paramount that persons and the established systems surrounding the affairs of children and youths in trouble be evaluated for transparency and confidentiality. I choose to highlight this matter on the basis that I fear we are losing the trust of young people to many other social dilemmas and distractions due to the level of distrust that exists in our communities. Moreover, when we think that our young people are not cognizant of our attitudes and behaviours, they actually do but are silent onlookers. At the same time, we must take responsibility as citizens, parents and teachers to foster an environment where there is an openness to listen to our children and students. The loss of trust and confidence from our young people with adults of today have clearly had a negative emotional impact where there is a sense of neglect. Therefore, if we are going to ensure that we have the attention of the youths of today, we must make certain that simple things as trust are sustained in our institution and work.
Further, as young people themselves can attest, that they on many instances have joined a group or network due to a sense of belonging and ‘trust’ where they feel seen and heard. Thus, we should ask, are safe spaces really safe? Do they fit into the definition and framework of safety, reliance and credence? Do we have the right people in our educational institutions and youth bodies with the right skills and capabilities to address the issues that are perplexing our youth population? If not, then we have to make the right decision and take action today to deal with these pertinent issues. Look around us, crime and violence among our youths are on the rise and many young lives with bright futures are buried by culture, the law and society. Equally important is that in a culture where it is difficult to hear the voices of young people, let us cultivate the right conditions to always have their ear and issues at the forefront of our agendas.
In times past and presently, there are usually many workshops, conferences and forums to enhance the matters of youths but little efforts are actually being placed in sustaining their well-being. Thus, trust is the thin line that feeds into every initiative and programme that seeks to develop and enhance the lives of youths. Nonetheless, it should be underscored that if we are going to win the trust of our young people, we need to engage with them more frequently. Through active engagements, I am convinced that we can create a space for youths to develop trust and be able communicate their psychological and social perplexities as that connection with them is restored and strengthened.
Sincerely,
Imran Bacchus
