“What did you do on your summer vacation?” It's a question most of us probably had to answer in a report or presentation at some time in our first week back to school. Watching TV, hanging out with friends, playing with my dog, and complaining about being bored didn't seem worth telling my classmates about. Looking back, I wish I had had an opportunity to explore what I cared about and a chance to use my summer vacations to make a difference in my community.
Most people thinking about their summer plans might be fantasizing about lying on a beach or catching up on some TV. In the background of our summer planning, we are aware that our society is currently faced with enormous social and environmental problems that we want to do something about. While the root causes for these many problems are complex, one common cause is lack of social engagement — something we at Youth Empowered Action want to do something about. In fact, this is what we are doing for our summer vacation.
We would like to take this time to debunk the myth of apathetic teenagers. Many youth instinctively want to do something about the social problems they learn about. Nevertheless, while school curricula and the media cover some social issues, there is typically no call to action, critical analysis of root causes or solutions, or even a suggestion that individuals have the responsibility or power to make a difference. As a result, it is no surprise that youth are seen as “apathetic” or too young to understand or care, and then became jaded or disengaged adults, like many before them. In the absence of institutional encouragement -- in fact, with institutional discouragement -- along with peer pressure not to care and a lack of awareness of youth or adult role models making a difference in the community, it is tempting for young people to put their natural desire to help aside, particularly in the face of schoolwork, sports, and other activities.
Our summer camp, Youth Empowered Action (YEA), was created in recognition of this missing and critical piece to inspire social engagement. There are other programs like this springing up around the country, recognizing the need to to support caring young people to be confident and inspired leaders overcoming those challenges to making a difference; where youth are nurtured and validated for their passion to make a difference, and surrounded with encouragement, inspiring examples of people generating real results, and a network of support for them to take action to bring about the world they want to create.
We believe teenagers are at a critical juncture in life, exploring their identity and values, and that the current climate encourages a lifetime of disengagement. YEA’s strategy to address the many social issues we face is to ensure young people are aware and empowered to make an impact on those that are most meaningful to them. Our primary program to accomplish this is a week-long summer camp. Away from the distractions of school, activities, phones, and computers, YEA Camp launches youth on a lifetime journey of leadership and action for change.
The summer is an opportunity for youth to step out of the pressures of school or home and to go way beyond summer boredom: to make like-minded friends, and to pursue their passions. For those interested in social change, youth empowerment programs are setting the standard for youth activism and leadership-- causing our “future” leaders for social change to take action now, rather than waiting until they are in college or beyond to get involved.
YEA Camp is part of a growing movement that is developing youth leadership for social change and is filling a gap where schools, documentaries, and the Internet leave off. The most critical attributes young people will need in the future will be the initiative, confidence, commitment, and community support to take the helm of the ship and steer it away from disastrous climate change and wars, and toward a more just and sustainable society.