Youth Crisis: The Danger Zone for Tomorrow
Youth is the time of life when one is young. It is the time between childhood and maturity, the transformation from teenager to adult. It is the time when people think of their career path and the time we all have courage, a fresh mind, and energy.
The burning issue of my country is youth migration to foreign countries. According to Nepal’s statistics, almost 80% of young people migrate for better opportunity. The ones who are energetic, intelligent and creative migrate to foreign lands either to study or to work. Brain-drain has ultimately affected the country’s economy. Those who are well educated and trained in technology migrate for better jobs. Although Nepal has rich natural resources and enough of them to sustain its people, there is a lack of human resources to utilise the available natural resources.
It’s easy for Nepal’s young people to migrate in search of opportunities, but the work they have to do in foreign countries is hard. Many young people from remote parts of Nepal who are not well educated also migrate to foreign countries where they are compelled to do manual labor. For example, my friend who studied with me until grade seven left school and went to work in another country. After two years she came back physically weak. She told us that she wasn’t given her monthly salary and she couldn’t move outside of the premises. She said that her employers used to punish her when she asked for her salary.
During our final terminal exam (SEE), another one of my friends moved to a foreign country without saying anything to any of his friends. He has financial problems at home, and as the youngest he has to work and earn money. Today he is doing a labor job in a foreign country, day and night.
In addition to the economy, there are other reasons young people migrate regardless of their education. The voices of youth are not heard by their parents, society, or the government. Young people’s ideas are considered immature. Their thoughts about work and their curiosity about the future are not taken seriously. When young people try to make decisions, their own family, friends in their circle, and people in their community try to block them. Consequently, some feel depressed, or consider committing suicide, taking drugs, or getting involved in crime. In the daily headlines of the newspaper, most criminals are young adults.
I wish I could see youth coming back to Nepal and starting their own businesses that can make Nepal rich, instead of Nepal’s money going to foreign lands. It is not that young people do not want to see changes in society, or that they do not want to act to make those changes. It’s Nepal’s government and the major political party that are stopping youth from moving ahead with their brilliant ideas.
I think if we all work together for positive change, it is possible. Let’s not lose youth who are hard-working, curious, and energetic. Let us realize a dream where change will take place in the best possible ways through the remarkable ideas of youth aligned with the people supporting them.
