Young people have enormous power to shape better world, Migiro tells students
I absolutely love the section from the text by Paul Kivel entitled "Alliance: What do young people need from us?" This list of twelve items really speaks to the ways that we (as adults) can be trusted allies with the youth in our lives. Whether it be our own children, our children's friends, young people we work with in a counseling setting, family members, or even youth we don't know personally, as adults, we hold more power and influence than we can imagine. Kivel's idea of shifting our emphasis from raising self-esteem to increasing power is profound. Speaking to this idea is an article on the UN News Centre website written about a speech that Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General, gave at the University of Missouri. It is my opinion that through her remarks she provides excellent examples to what Kivel speaks about in his list of ways that we can be trusted allies of today's youth. She demonstrates her role as an ally as she speaks the truth regarding power, promotes true history, discusses openly the mistakes that adults have made, invites youth to partner with adults in forging positive changes for the future, trusts them to be powerful, and celebrates their successes.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40284&Cr=youth&Cr1=
I thought this speech provided a positive and powerful message to today's youth. I'd love your thoughts...
