Young people’s challenges

BY: Fr Dikotsi William Mofokeng

In the run-up to the national and provincial elections in May, I followed with interest the political campaigns of various political parties — their rallies, manifestos and robust debate and promises made thereof.

Youths at a recent Bosco Youth Camp in Johannesburg.

I particularly paid attention to the messages pertinent to the youth of our country. To be sure, every political leader mentioned the challenges of the youth with passion. Unemployment and lack of opportunities were highlighted, among other challenges.

However, I think it was insufficient, and I still feel that a holistic approach to the challenges of the youth is called for.

Young people use the abundance of modern means of communicate: on cellphones, tablets or computers they engage with one another and the world through Facebook, WhatsApp, Tumblr, Snapchat and so on.

They google information and answers are provided instantly. They know what is happening in other countries.

This can be useful, but there is a danger that God is forgotten, excluded from Facebook, WhatsApp, Tumblr and Snapchat. And when God is excluded, gradually the faith is weakened.

Cellphone technology and the Internet are presented to us as necessary means of communication, but this need is being overstated to such an extent that we are made to feel that without a cellphone we are out-of-touch with the modern world.

Politically, our youth are influenced by the populists. During the election rallies, the youth were bombarded with the latest artist, dance, rhetoric, fashion, and so on. But the big challenges were ignored. Xenophobia was not addressed, which is a problem among many young people, especially at the service delivery protest. Human trafficking failed to feature. Culture as a way of life was neglected.

The youth are also faced with the mushrooming of evangelical and pentecostal ministries. Some of these, like the politicians, promise prosperity and wealth. They do their best to reach out to the young. But the youth must look carefully that these ministries do not aim to make a profit at all costs.

Media houses and advertising companies target the youth with the promise to satisfy all of their cravings and appetites. And so the youth, and even children, fall into the trap of consumerism and materialism.

These are the kinds of situations and issues that the youth of today and their animators are facing.

How does the Church help the youth to rise above the challenges, both those I’ve mentioned and others faced by the youth, such as drugs, poverty, egoism?

Maybe the Church needs to hear the experiences of young people and what they tell the Church about their challenges. This way the Church can better respond pastorally to the needs of our young people.

Fr Dikotsi William Mofokeng is a priest of the diocese of Bethlehem.