Most of us remember back to the time when we were children and teenagers struggling to navigate life. What a tough time that can be for some, especially those that are vulnerable based on adverse life circumstances. Making sound choices is challenging in any culture and at any age. That’s why it is so important to reach youth in their early years. Preventing them from life’s pitfalls can make all the difference in dreams fulfilled or dreams buried in the grave at the end of life.

As educators we have a golden opportunity to provide youth with tools that aid in: 1) developing a healthy self esteem without being self-centered; 2) creating lives that are purpose driven rather than power driven; 3) understanding the difference in being accepted as opposed to being popular; 4) cultivating a true sense of inner beauty and intrinsic worth; 5) establishing safe boundaries for living true freedom. These are only a few topics out of a host of others that youth need to learn if we are going to help them grow into healthy and whole adults and avoid the lures of human traffickers in the process.

Some aspects of society tend to underestimate young people and their ability to collaborate among themselves for the good. They really do listen even though we think they are not taking in what we say (and do). Youth will instinctively reject what they intrinsically feel is not right in societies and they gravitate to what they believe is a positive force.  That is why they need tools to work with during their formative years so they can engage one another in becoming all that they are meant to become. Not only do youth possess the ability to rise above adversity but they seize opportunity much quicker and with a purer sense of attainment than those of us who have been jaded by challenges and setbacks later in life.

World Vision states, “Given the opportunity, young people can be a driving force in creating positive change in their communities, their nations, and the world. Youth are highly capable of designing solutions to the challenges they face daily.” Let’s work to empower youth by giving direction and wisdom and then watch the beauty unfold in the next generation. Get out those tools, dust them off, and pass them on.