Today was Youth International Day. H.A.N.A Youth Center did not plan and host activities today as our youth, at least most of them, work during this time and we could not impose due to a symbolism. They help parents in family/large family businesses, are employed in the touristic service sector and in the mean time trying to enjoy the last weeks of summer before returning to school or universities.
Some of them prepare to leave Albania to go atudy abroad while many others dream of leaving one day as soon as they can as well!
“Happy International Youth Day” is a shallow wish in the face of a reality that our youth still does not have the conditions to thrive into a prosperous future in their country but seek it elsewhere, internationally!
In this symbolic day let us reflect on the actions that we could have taken as a civil society, public structures and media to fulfill the needs of our youth in their country but we systemically failed to do so.
Propaganda, disinforming, gaslighting, patronising, shallowness and false hope is no way to talk to youth. They know better than that!
