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SHALOM MAGAZINE, 1997 Issue No. 2
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HORSES |
C-SECTION |
NURSING |
TRAINING YOUTH |
YOUTH EDUCATION |
AIDS UPDATE |
FIGHTING AIDS |
EDUCATION FOR ALL |
PANAMA |
DAIRY |
CITRUS ON FILM |
NEWS |
CLUBS |
REPORTS |
CHINA
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Training Youth
Why Is It Important? by Shmuel Bengal*
Reprinted from "Hacer Familia" 1,5:1996, Costa Rica
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Before answering the question "Why is training youth important?" we need to
understand what are the philosophy, objectives and goals guiding youth
programs or movements. Among the possible objectives are:
- The fulfillment of the highest ideals of citizenship, serving society
through the joint efforts of the youth movement's members.
- Guiding its members towards a life of work and serving the country
through the different aspects of voluntary service and community support.
- The youth movement is above any partisan differences, and its members
are fully committed to serving the higher interests of citizenship.
- Youth energy will be channeled towards training and healthy and
productive recreation through educational, cultural, social and sports
activities.
- The members of the youth program will deepen their love for their
country by learning about it: the land, its culture, folklore, and by
direct contact with people of different regions of the country.
- The youth movement will build a bridge of continuous contact between
youth from rural communities and those from the city, creating a positive
exchange for the welfare of the community as a whole.
- Youth will be educated in the spirit of good citizenship, its values and
the knowledge of being part of a society whose members work together
towards a common future.
To achieve these objectives, certain values should be developed:
- Regarding the people: Pride in its values and national culture.
- Regarding ideals: Loyalty, responsibility and learning, devoid of
dogmatism or sectarianism.
- Regarding the world: The study and interpretation of life, the human
mind, and interest in the surroundings. Acceptance of resolutions achieved
in a democratic way. Tolerance, action and readiness to offer material,
cultural and spiritual assistance.
- Regarding peers and family: Open friendship with peers; respect for
parents' values while keeping in mind one's own ideals.
- Regarding the environment: Love of nature and the environment, promoting
volunteer activities to allow sustainable development to ensure the
preservation of life and natural resources.
- Regarding oneself: Creativity, constructive criticism, analysis of
actions and the constant desire to learn.
Taking into consideration these objectives and values, we can understand
the importance of training youth. The traditional formal educational
process that starts in primary school and ends in university has proven
that, in spite of its importance, it cannot satisfy the expectations and
needs of all sectors of the young population. This implies the need for
creating participatory settings within the framework of non-formal
education to facilitate the emergence and development of a genuine youth
leadership, and to offer adequate answers to the problems that youth
experience.
Youth leadership training opens the way to achieve the development of the
potential of the young, the emergence of an authentic youth leadership, and
the harmonious integration of youth in the socio-economic development
process.
* The author, an Israeli on a long-term mission to Costa Rica from the
International Institute, teaches the promotion of youth leadership.
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