The transition from youth to adulthood is a critical stage for young people; armed with childhood experiences alone, this juncture is a period to build the foundations for adulthood. During this period, youths have to undergo certain undertakings towards their individual development and how well this development is mastered determines their degree of success in their adult life. Even though this is common to all young people, there is a great amount of diversity in youths, individual perspective, history and background, a unique combination of family structure, gender, culture, environment, exposure, socio-economic status, religion, political state and health challenges. The interaction of these characteristics has a significant effect on the development processes and ultimately the transcendence into adulthood.
Safe spaces for youths cannot be overemphasised during these phases:
A safe space that offers a sense of belonging and membership among young people regardless of their diversity, a safe space free of abuse, exploitation, segregation and discrimination. A safe Space that will bring young people with different life experiences, level of exposure, socio-cultural backgrounds together. A safe space that provides the needed support to actively participate, thereby providing a foundation for an association to better make them unearth research that will skyrocket the nations economy, improve political condition and maybe, just maybe, make the nation great again. A safe space for youths opinions to be heard, respected and inform decision making, a safer space for youths political participation and engagement in governance issues.
There's nothing like a safe environment. The primordial instinct of humans is often tilted towards searching for safe places to live. The same with youths, young people learn better and participate actively when they feel physically and emotionally safe. A safe environment encourages honesty, trust, respect, amongst and between adults and young people. Safe Spaces where youths themselves work towards ensuring environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
Safe Spaces in the education sector, a conducive and ultimately an intellectually stimulating environment, where the essence of education will be taught with the mind of enlightening youths and equipping them for the world outside the four walls of the school. Safe space is important, a safe space is necessary. A safe space where the world address unemployment and poverty rate, safe spaces of employment opportunities such as internships, volunteering and jobs where youths can better use their skills and education.
Sometimes, young people do not know the talent that's inherent in them, we have some talents hidden and potentials undiscovered, what they (the various talents) need is just a spark. In some other circumstances, young people have ideas but not always the person to believe in them. Provide safe Spaces which would encourage youths to use their gifts, talents, and skills efficiently to improve their lives and the society. Safe Spaces where youths can strive and realize their potential.
Youths alone cannot create safe Spaces for themselves, they look up to adults, their parents, community, government and non-governmental organizations. Creating these safe spaces will enable young people acquire a plethora of skills, abilities, behaviours and beliefs in other to equip them with the necessary requirements to promote and build personal attributes that are required by all young people to successfully thrive, and not just survive.
Professor Wole Soyinka once said "ours is a wasted generation," while that is true for his generation, let's make sure no one ever says the same about ours, or at the very least, let's make sure the same is not true for us. When these safe spaces get created, when the chance arrive, let's make the most use of them, spaces are created for development after all, develop!
*Oyekan Adebola Caroline,*
A 500level Law Student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
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