Youngsters need to be embraced, not blamed: Huberman<\/p>\n
Barbara Kemp Huberman, director of the International Outreach
\nProgram for the Washington-based Advocates for Youth, spent three
\ndays working with Indonesian youth in Kuta, Bali. Having traveled
\naround the world for the last two decades as a proponent of youth
\nadvocacy, Huberman shared her feelings and experience with The
\nJakarta Post regarding the problems of youth across the world.
\nThe following are the highlights of the interview.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you see youth and their problems?<\/p>\n
Answer: Youth around the world have similar problem. They are
\noften misunderstood and viewed as troublesome. It is time that we
\n(adults, parents, teachers, law and policy makers) change this
\nmisleading portrayal. Problems emerge because the youth often
\nfeel they are excluded and blamed. Let's value young people as a
\npotential resource, as part of the solution rather than problem.
\nLet's involve them in developing programs and policies that
\naffect their well-being. Young people deserve respect.<\/p>\n
How are parents and families playing their roles in supporting
\nthe youth?<\/p>\n
It is clear, wherever and whenever in the world, that young
\npeople who feel closely connected to family are more likely to
\navoid risky behavior, including becoming involved in pre-marital
\nsex, drugs and crimes, in their teens period. Ideally, parents
\nare the primary educators for their children. They have to
\ncommunicate their values and beliefs in verbal and non-verbal
\nways so that their children will grasp those values during their
\ndevelopmental years.<\/p>\n
There is much parents and adults can do to help the young
\ndevelop into a sexually responsible adolescence. Parents can
\nstart discussing sexuality, puberty and other youth problems
\nhonestly and openly.<\/p>\n
In many countries, particularly those which still strongly
\nadhere to tradition and religion, parents are reluctant to
\ndiscuss sexuality, which is taboo, with their children.<\/p>\n
Sexuality should be regarded as part of life and young people
\nhave the right to be informed about this from early childhood.
\nThere is always a misconception about sexuality. Talking about
\nsexuality doesn't mean that parents teach them how to do sex.
\nParents and adults can teach young children appropriately about
\nparts of the human body and their functions.<\/p>\n
They must be willing to answer their children about their
\nfeelings, puberty, problems, so that they feel comfortable with
\ntheir parents.<\/p>\n
In many places, even in the United States and other Western
\ncountries, many parents do not talk to their children about
\nadolescence. They rarely open their hearts or carefully listen to
\ntheir young people. It happens everywhere, not just in Asian or
\nAfrican countries, where discussing sexuality is taboo and
\nsocially unacceptable.<\/p>\n
Lack of understanding of sexuality and the problems of
\nteenagers has also hampered two-way communication between parents
\nand their children as well as teachers and students. How do you
\nview this?<\/p>\n
Based on my own experience as a mother and grandmother as well
\nas a professional, I admit that a lot of parents do not have
\nadequate knowledge so that they are hesitate and have no
\nconfidence in discussing issues that they do not fully
\nunderstand.<\/p>\n
However, I encourage parents to educate themselves, to obtain
\nas much information as possible about teen problems. More
\nimportantly, they must be willing, even when uncomfortable, to
\ntalk to their children about issues of sexuality, relationships,
\nlove and commitment.<\/p>\n
While discussing the topic, parents may be able to stress the
\nimportance of delaying sexual relations and building a healthy
\nand responsible adolescent life.<\/p>\n
The print and electronic media, and the rapid growth of
\ncommunications technology, such as the Internet, over the last
\nten years has been blamed for accelerating youth problems at both
\nthe local and global levels. What role is the media really
\nplaying?<\/p>\n
Instead of looking at the media as a potent "enemy", I have
\nalways viewed the media and other means of communication as
\neffective partners in promoting youth health and programs. The
\nrapid growth of technology has eliminated geographical as well as
\nsocial boundaries.<\/p>\n
It also provides wide and open access to almost all
\ninformation. Teenagers in Alaska or in African countries or in
\nIndonesia can get similar information from the Internet. They are
\nable to download information, music and even pornography, and to
\nread anything as the American or Australian youth do.<\/p>\n
You cannot close your eyes to this reality. We, adults, have
\nto accept the fact that we cannot prevent young people from
\ngetting firsthand information about various things.<\/p>\n
How would you use the media as a partner?<\/p>\n
The Advocates for Youth have been closely working with the
\nprinted and electronic media in the United States and other
\ncountries as well. We have joined together with various high-
\nprofile newspapers and magazines in promoting youth issues. We
\nhave been cooperating with radio stations in creating various
\nprograms such as talk shows on parental and youth problems.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, we have also set up very positive relations with
\nAmerican television and film producers such as the producers of
\npopular sitcoms and soap operas, Friends, The West Wing, General
\nHospital and several others. We provide technical assistance and
\nexpertise and work together to produce film scripts that can
\nspread the message of how to have healthy and respectful
\nrelationships, on HIV\/AIDS, teen problems and many other topics.<\/p>\n
We also do similar projects in several countries such as India
\nand Egypt. Indonesia could also do the same. I believe there are
\nmany good television and radio programs.<\/p>\n
After spending three days with some Indonesian teenagers, how
\ndo you see them?<\/p>\n
Meeting them has been so incredible. Even in the United
\nStates, I could not gather as many teens together in such a way.
\nThis is my first time in Indonesia and I have read mountains of
\ninformation about the country and especially about its young
\npeople. If they (around 131 youth participants) represent the
\nmajority of Indonesian youth, I am so impressed.<\/p>\n
They are very active, committed young people who care about
\ntheir problems, who are so committed and intelligent. I know
\nthere are some who are in trouble now. Let's help and embrace
\nthem and show them our empathy rather than blaming them for their
\nmistakes.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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