SOCIAL Inclusion
from Zghazagh Haddiema Nsara

In today’s modern society the words ‘social inclusion’ is used in several contexts but it is still ambiguous of what really consist of. Sometimes we act out of pity rather than empathy and we tend to call it an inclusive attitude. It is also questionable how much it is being practiced in our daily lives. Regardless of how modern and affluent we consider our society to be, social inequalities persist to exist. In truth, by taking on this attitude we are not moving any forward. For social inclusion to truly happen we need to first acknowledge that we are all different from each other in different ways. We must truly believe that in being different we are simply completing each other in our strengths and weaknesses. It is not just a right to be integrated but it’s also a duty of every human being to participate constructively in building our society. After all no man is an island!

One would expect that young people don’t have issues with social inclusion. However, ZHN has met real people who are isolated and alienated from the rest of society and feel inadequate. They are invisible to society’s sense and thus not given appropriate attention. The young generation still face certain prejudices. Phrases like “good for nothing”, “light headed” and other stereotypical talk about youth engaging in deviant behaviour is part of our everyday conversations. Young people today also struggle with several pressures induced by a society that continuously sets standards of what you should be like. They have to commit for several loans in order to gain their social status. Youth are also discriminated on access to work based on lack of experience. Consequently, they end up unemployed or doing a job which does not fulfil them as a human being. It is true that there are several schemes that support young people today particularly those considered most vulnerable; however, are they being employed? There might be lots of job and educational opportunities; however, are these accessible to every young person or is it for a particular class of youth? It is possible for everyone to leave our shores and continue his education or finding a new job?

ZHN calls to start inquiring and see where the institutions and structures purposely set up to support and train young people and other vulnerable groups are failing to really make a difference. The institutions might as well be doing their best but they require adequate resources to fulfil their mission. For inclusion to occur we need to do the first step and move out from the office in order to reach out where the problem really is. Furthermore, it is not enough to pass a legislation that promotes social inclusion; appropriate measures have to be set up in order to make that law enforceable or else it will add up to nothing. The European Union should support both young people directly and the agencies that represent them without imposing excessive demands on them.

Our founder, Rev. Joseph Cardijn once said that a young person is worth more than all the gold in the world. He believed that young people were the key in building the future and initiate positive change in world. In fact, despite their age, young people can be up to the challenge. Yet, this can only happen if they are provided with the space to contribute meaningfully in society. One has to understand that young people are just about to start a journey called life and without appropriate guidance and support they often end up lost and misled and the consequences are often tearful. Young people also have a responsibility in building the future just like everyone else is in society. Regardless of age, physical or mental limitations, colour of skin and sexual orientation God bestowed us with talents and abilities that are our tools that can make the future happen.