The Travel Diva

UKYouth

I am one of the first to point an accusing finger of youth crime on, well... the youth. So I shouldn't be too exasperated when all we (in the UK) hear about today’s youth is that they’re no good.

It humbles me to say that I recently witnessed a little old lady stumble and fall in the street and was about to defend her when I saw a group of pikey’s approach her. Instead of mugging her (as I thought they were about to) they righted her, helped her with her bags and sat her on a park bench, then one of them hailed her a cab.

No good youth?

In London yesterday an elderly German tourist stopped a group of menacing looking youngsters, asking for directions. There were smiles all round and animated conversations discussing the quickest route and the best chip-shop in the area.

No good youth?

This morning I heard Alexander Rose being interviewed in BBC4. His a nineteen year old south Londoner who saw his friend Eugene Attram shot and killed by a gang in 2006; his cousin was stabbed the following year.

By using his skill as a graphic designer - Stop (Solve This Ongoing Problem) – he designs posters and T-shirts to promote his cause. He is also involved with the Battlefront project, in which young people use the internet to campaign about issues affecting their lives.

“I go round to schools and youth clubs talking to young people about the issues around gang culture. To make them think about what else is out there. To make them realise that they don’t have to join a gang or carry weapons. I want to raise awareness to educate young people to STOP carrying weapons. Friends and family members have died due to this issue. I decided I just had to do something. I turned to what I knew at the time, which was graphic design, and came up with a t-shirt design and a campaign called Solve This Ongoing Problem (STOP). I’m using positive fashion to fight the negative gangster image. I want to inspire others. I’m not special. Everyone can use what they have to do something. I’m telling you: positivity pays off. Talent + Belief = Success.”

Watch this video in which Alex speaks to a group of students at a local college.
The world is filled with upstanding young people like Alex. Let me be the first to turn the accusing finger at myself for prejudging them. It saddens me though that we (the media) don’t broadcast all the goodness out there.

Labels: UK youth; Alexander Rose; BBC4; south Londoner; Eugene Attram;

posted by Cindy-Lou Dale @ Wednesday, November 12, 2008