By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter
Governments and organisations should ensure that youngsters get enough opportunities to express their ideas, said Dr Auma Obama, half-sister of US President Barack Obama and the founder and CEO of Sauti Kuu Foundation .
Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr Obama , who is in Doha to take part in the Empower 2014 youth conference organised by Reach Out To Asia (Rota), said that youth should be provided with skills that can help them take up responsibilities. “We should have a clear strategy of grooming them into responsible adults”
“In many cases, such opportunities are missing and the youth are looking for platforms that give them the attention and the identity. Such a platform needs to be created to avoid conflicts and tension in societies,” she said.
Dr Obama stressed that young people need to have mentors and role models to form their individuality. “They need role models as well as mentors who will instill confidence and enthusiasm among them. These people must be someone other than their parents and close friends. Parents and relatives already play a great role in shaping their future,” she said.
Dr Obama hailed the efforts of Rota. “Conferences such as Empower 2014 provide the youth with the necessary skills to face the challenges of the world. These types of activities will enable them to live their lives by themselves.”
She said one major problem faced by youth today was that they did not get enough attention from society. “The youth have a feeling that they are not listened to and taken seriously. Therefore they are trying to find ways to get their voices heard.”
Dr Obama said the arrival of social media enabled youth to express their ideas, grievances and aspirations. “The youth have shown us that if you are not talking to us, we are going to talk among ourselves. The social media provide a great platform for them. The youth have a voice in all the matters concerning the world and they need to be heard all over.”
