A cursory look
at our society and world at large will
reveal that the young people are not effectively
represented in the decision making bodies
that exist in the world today and this
has hampered the
contribution the young
people can make
towards ensuring a
peaceful and harmonious society and
world at large. So the question is, despite
this difficulty, how can the young people
still play a role and contribute to
the peaceful and harmonious co-existence of
our world? I have been able
to identify three ways by which young
people can help to realize the vision of a
peaceful and harmonious world and they are:
1. BY
JOINING INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL
VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS:
In
this present world, there are
so many national
and international voluntary
organizations that a young
person can join
and through which such
a young person will be able to play a
role and contribute
to a peaceful and
harmonious world. Such organizations include AIESEC,
ROTARY, AMNESTY and RED CROSS
just to mention a few.
These bodies are
notable for the
efforts being made by
them to ensure
that the world will live in is
peaceful Thus; a young person can join
any of these
organizations in his domicile country
and be effective
in projecting the
vision. Also at the national level there
are other organizations
that a person can join.
In Nigeria for example we have Access
to Justice, CODER,
Save Democracy Group
and professional bodies. This is also
another forum where a young person can make
himself/herself effective in ensuring
global peace and harmony.
2.THROUGH THE
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA:
The media
has proved to
be one of the best tool
through which global peace
and harmony can be ensured. A young person can share his ideas and views through the media. The
Internet which the
young people are so
used to is another effective avenue through
which a young person can
contribute to
global peace and
harmony. Social network
sites like FACEBOOK and TWITTER host millions
of youth around the world and
it can also be
employed to contribute to
global peace and harmony.
3.THROUGH STUDENTS’
BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS:
Majority of
young people are at different stages of the
educational structure such as the High
School, College and
the University. Students’
bodies exist in
most institutions and
where properly employed, they can
become effective means
of participation in
ensuring the vision
for global peace.
The popular social
network site, FACEBOOK
was started by a group of students in
Harvard and today
it has become the
largest and most
popular social network site in the world. If a group of students
could achieve this feat then we can imagine
greater things students’ bodies will
be able to
do. Thus, Students’ organizations
can be an effective platform for a young person to contribute to world peace and
harmony.In conclusion, to build the theory of
Change we need to support the youth
to be part
of policy making
in the nation.
By Olumide Climate
Idowu (Nigeria)
IHAV Nigeria Country Director / iHav 2013
Conference participant
