DISSATISFIED with efforts targeted at development for youngsters across the country, youth representatives are seeking more opportunities to boost social and entrepreneurial growth.

During a roundtable discussion with United Nations special representative of the secretary general on violence against children Dr Najat Maalla M’jid recently, the youth leaders called for more interventions and job opportunities.

Youth programme officer at Project STAR Hykel Nunes said more mentors would help to improve the social development of youngsters, especially those living in inner-city communities.

“[The] ability and availability of having people to talk to — because sometimes that is overlooked — not everyone has someone to share their stories with or talk to them about it. When we look at crime now, the existing mechanisms that are here sometimes does not take into account the psychosocial support because it is a rigorous process in terms of attending to anyone who is going through that process,” he explained.

Sharing a sentiment similar to Nunes, youth facilitator at Fight for Peace Sashane Parker noted that interventions helped with his personal growth.

“Some of the changes I think might help are life skills and interventions at a very young age. I am from a volatile area and I always view myself as a diamond in the rough, and the reason why I can say that is because I was involved in a number of interventions such as youth groups while growing up,” he shared.

“Sometimes children just need an intervention, just somebody to come and show them something different form the norms they have seen in the community. A lot of times they don’t really see anybody in the community to help, or a mentor,” he elaborated.

At the same time United Nations Children’s Fund U-Report Youth Council Jerome Palmer called for, “a lot more community-focused decisions — not just the programmes — to ensure that communities can steer programmes that can help them help themselves. We need routine mentorship at the community level. It should be built into programmes going forward for parents and children”.

Meanwhile, social worker at Fight for Peace Karen McGlashin pointed to the lack of employability. She expressed concern about youth turning to violence after being high school dropouts and the stigma placed on them.

“They are not able to be gainfully employed to better sustain themselves and their families, and that will lead to them choosing a path that is not good for them, or their families, or their community. If we want to make a change we have to look at employability, we have to look at boosting that kind of system where most persons would become gainfully employed,” she said.

Noting that he was disheartened about the lack of opportunities for youth, Fight for Peace participant Ajani Willie said, “When I am down in the ghetto and I look around me, I see potential but they were influenced by certain things that block their creativity — and this is why I found a group like Fight for Peace. I would love to see children around me come to something good. It breaks my heart to see wasted potential, and I really hope I can make a difference in my community one day.”