The Role of Youth in Volunteering with Juvenile Children in Yemen… Juvenile Children in Yemen: In-Depth Youth Perspectives that Demand Implementation

Haneen Al-Wahsh – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

The youth’s perspective on juvenile children is a critical topic; it reflects the interaction between two generations and their mutual influence on each other. This perspective is formed based on cultural, social, and psychological factors, and varies from one society to another.

A Deep Look

Many young people see juvenile children as a reflection of their society and their future, and an opportunity to renew hope and build a better society, especially in the current circumstances that the country is going through. They also believe that they are responsible for guiding and raising them properly, to be role models for future generations.

Regarding the youth’s perspective on the situation of juvenile children in Yemen, Asma Taha, a sociology specialist, says: “We are aware of the challenges and risks facing juvenile children in this difficult time where economic, social, security and other problems have accumulated due to conflicts.”

She believes that juvenile children have great opportunities for creativity and innovation, and they have latent energies that must be invested in and developed, to achieve great accomplishments in the future in various fields.

She says: “Children possess hidden treasures of creativity in many areas, and their pure minds and vast imagination make them capable of devising innovative solutions to the problems they face. To achieve this enormous potential, we must provide the appropriate environment that motivates and supports them, starting with the family and school, and reaching the entire community. By investing in our children, we are investing in a better future for us and future generations.”

Influencing Factors

Regarding the factors influencing the youth’s perspective on juvenile children, Dawood Ahmad, a sociology specialist, emphasizes that family upbringing plays a role in shaping the youth’s view of juvenile children. Parents who treat their children with respect and appreciation often raise children who are self-confident and respectful of others, and the opposite is true if they are subjected to abuse.

He explained that family upbringing is the foundation upon which an individual’s personality is built; the child, from birth, is highly influenced by those around him, especially his parents. The father and mother are the first role models from whom the child learns values, morals, and behaviors. When children are treated with respect and appreciation, they feel their self-worth, and their self-confidence increases and this feeling is positively reflected in their dealings with others. Those who respect themselves respect others.

He adds: “Education also broadens the horizons of young people, increases their awareness of the importance of childhood and children’s rights, and provides them with the necessary skills to deal with juvenile children. In addition to the social environment in which young people live and its impact on their perspective, instead of seeing these children as criminals, they will see them as victims and deserve another chance to prove themselves in society.”

The youth’s perspective on juvenile children is a multi-dimensional and constantly changing view; it is influenced by a set of complex factors and varies from one individual to another and from one society to another. It is important to promote a positive outlook and provide a safe and stimulating environment for juvenile children so that they can reach their full potential.

The Importance of the Role of Youth in Coordinating with Institutions

Institutions in Yemen face significant challenges in supporting juvenile children, especially in the difficult circumstances the country is experiencing. However, these institutions can play a vital role in encouraging participation in volunteer work and supporting juvenile victims in Yemen, as suggested by youth.

Basma Hamood, an activist in the field of volunteer initiatives, believes that there are several ways to employ young people through institutions to serve the cause of children, including organizing large-scale awareness campaigns about the importance of volunteer work and its positive impact on society and children and highlighting the success stories of volunteers and young people who have contributed to improving the lives of children in this area.

She adds: “It is important to design specialized training programs to provide young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with children, offer courses in child protection, educational methods, and appropriate recreational activities for children, organize workshops to develop communication skills for young volunteers, create online platforms or groups on social media to facilitate communication between young volunteers and institutions, and provide the necessary resources to implement volunteer projects, such as educational materials, games, and other educational tools.”

For her part, Asma Taha believes that it is important to cooperate with schools, universities, and other non-governmental organizations to implement joint programs targeting juvenile children by organizing various activities for them that develop their awareness in various life and skill areas.

An example of this is providing private tutoring in various religious and scientific subjects, organizing educational workshops, participating in health awareness campaigns, providing psychological support to children in Yemen, organizing intellectual and sports games and competitions, and providing opportunities to participate in arts and sports.

Ongoing Obstacles

Juvenile children in Yemen face significant challenges as a result of the ongoing conflict and difficult economic conditions. Here, the role of youth emerges as an active force in society; they seek to provide support and assistance to this age group. In this context, Ghufran Saif, a community activist, says: “Among the most prominent challenges facing young people in helping juveniles is the lack of financial resources to fund the necessary programs, and the security conditions due to the ongoing conflict, which pose a significant threat to the safety of volunteers and children.”

She continues: “Also, among the challenges facing young people is the lack of community awareness of the importance of volunteering. There is still a lack of awareness of the importance of volunteer work and its role in society, and the difficulty of coordinating with government agencies and non-governmental organizations.”

Future Plans

Supporting juvenile care homes is an investment in the future of juveniles and society as a whole. By providing care and support, juvenile children can be helped to build a better future for themselves and society.

Regarding the future direction of youth in assisting juvenile care homes in Yemen, community activist Ghufran Saif says: “It is necessary to improve the quality of life for juveniles residing in the home, and provide a safe and supportive environment for growth and development, in addition to enhancing their social and daily living skills, and preparing them for successful integration into society by providing psychological and social support to them and their families.”

In the same context, she adds: “Regarding the building and its suitability for children, it is important to expand the care home if there is a need to increase the home’s capacity. Existing facilities, such as rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, can also be updated to provide a more comfortable and safer environment. In addition to providing recreational facilities to contribute to improving the psychological state of juveniles.”

Regarding educational programs, Asma Taha sees the importance of providing educational programs that compensate juvenile children for lost schooling and help them continue their education, in addition to vocational programs to train them in life and professional skills to help them integrate into the labor market.

Regarding the psychological and social aspect, she continues: “The presence of continuous psychological and social support is very important by providing a team of psychological and social specialists to provide psychological support to juveniles and their families, implementing individual and group treatment programs to address the behavioral and psychological problems they suffer from, and providing support to families to help them deal with their children’s problems and communicate with them better.”

Regarding youth and their role in helping children, especially juveniles, Dawood Ahmad believes that strengthening partnerships with government institutions and non-governmental organizations to benefit from their expertise and resources is the first step to contribute to saving children, in addition to training young volunteers to provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement their projects and organize large-scale awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of volunteer work and its role in serving children’s issues in society.

He continues: “Young people in Yemen are a driving force for positive change, and their role in volunteer work with juvenile children is crucial. By providing the necessary support to young people, we can contribute to building a better future for juvenile children in Yemen.”