By Nazario Rodriquez Jr.
Horizon news staff

NEVER underestimate the power of the youth. After all, they are the future leaders not only in their own country but the world we all live in.
Thus, it is the responsibility of every government to ensure that its youth are actively involved in the political, social, cultural and even economic aspects.
The past week (April 25-29), Palau hosted for the first time the Micronesian Youth Service Network (MYSN) Conference at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center.
Since 1990, the MYSN existed as an active group that aims to coordinate and utilize all the agencies that provide services to the youth.
In Palau for instance, these youth service providers are both from the public and private agencies that deal with the safety, health, education and employment of young people.
There are various programs within these agencies that primarily centered on helping the youth whether in detention or rehabilitation centers, hospital, sports venues, civic centers and other places where the youth are located.
One of the objectives of the annual MYSN Conference is to identify the current issues confronting the youth of today.
According to the result of a Pre-Conference Survey, there are challenges that faced the youth of Palau, which included alcohol, drugs tobacco addiction, completing education and peer pressure.
These problems are so serious in Palau that based on the survey results, 89 percent of them are into alcohol and tobacco and 85 percent are into drugs.
The respondents are 12-17 years of age, which means that they are from high school (80 percent of them are Palauans, 10 percent from other Pacific Islands and 10 percent from other places). Data showed that 80 percent of the surveyed Palauans are from Koror and 20 percent from Airai (76 percent were males and 23 percent were females).
The survey result also revealed that 75 percent of the suicide in Palau is from among that age bracket while 75 percent of them are poorly educated and that 75 percent are affected with violence in schools.
The result also showed 73 percent in teen pregnancy, 70 percent employment, 67 percent neglect/abuse, 64 percent are affected by violence at home, 63 percent on poverty, 63 percent with vocational training and 43 percent homelessness.
Some of the recommendations are youth centers or call centers where young people could call and feel safe or they can trust other people in their community or environment.
Also needed is a rehabilitation program for tobacco, alcohol and drug use, psychologists at schools more youth programs and activities to keep students occupied.
The MYSN said there is a need for better communication between parents and children on a theme " Show more attention – love more, care more, give attention, create reward programs, programs where elders teach young people, establish skate parks, community centers for the youth because they want to be heard."
Aloud enough to be part of nation building – in policy-making, implementing programs and even in judicial processes.
Which reminds me of my involvement with human rights advocacy work back home during the 1980s when the power of the youth helped organized the dismantling of the systematic violence inflicted by the suffocating Marcos Martial Law era.
The youth became the forefront of the national democratic movement that advocated for social change, free and quality education and equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth.
The rise of youth activism is inevitable in any part of this world such as in Palau. The government must do its duty to protect its youth and not wait for a time that the youth will pressure their officials to do the right kind of leadership to run the country especially programs that cater to the young people.