In a few months, millions of students from our schools and universities will begin the summer holiday. These young people will become a source of concern for their families who will struggle to see that the young people spend their time usefully. The problem is not confined to families. The police, the public and shoppers will have to put up with the inconvenience, and in some cases, the violence caused by gangs of youth roaming the streets, driving aimlessly about with nothing to do but certainly chasing women and girls.
It is the same every year and this year will be no exception. We find ourselves facing the same problems over and over because we never plan or prepare for eventualities. What we always do, however, is to prepare piles of proposals and recommendations that are then locked for years in drawers and never looked at. They are seldom read and never acted upon. We busy ourselves with blaming each other for the problem, not sparing state institutions which in turn hold parents and families fully responsible and demand that they do more to rein in their children.
The only people who seem concerned about these youth and who are constantly working to address their needs are travel agencies. They present the youth with attractive offers, encouraging them to travel at reduced fares and visit other counties in order to learn about other civilizations. And where better than in discos and on beaches can these civilizations be studied? The youth who cannot afford the air fares are provided with cheap bus fares to neighboring countries.
School holidays continue to lack the kind of cultural and social activities that attract youth, encourage them to develop their talents and make them into productive and useful members of society. I find it extremely difficult trying to fathom why the summer holidays have no such activities while during the fasting month of Ramadan, a month for worship when schools remain open, we are bombarded with endless promotional campaigns and recreational programs offering valuable prizes.
We want to see the General Presidency of Youth Welfare, General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Culture and Information and other public and private bodies sponsoring creative programs and initiatives to attract these youth and allow them to spend their time in useful activities. It pains many of us to see our sport clubs deserted as soon as the football season ends.
We would also like the Shoura Council to step in and come up with recommendations to turn the long summer holidays into a useful and productive season and, as parents and family members, we should not forget our own roles and what is required of us for our children.
