The idea of “it takes a village to raise a child” is a saying most people are familiar with. As different individuals interpret the same idea differently, this saying is no exception to the heterogeneous possibilities of interpretation. However, at the heart of it, it affirms the fact that every individual is shaped and reshaped by not one but many contextual factors, and to foster a healthy and safe life for an individual — be it any age group, it takes the meaningful contributions of and interactions with several other fellow human beings. The period from childhood through adolescence before embarking on adulthood can often be a tumultuous one — the memories of alienation or disconcerting experiences such as bullying will remain deeply etched in one’s psyche as they progress into adulthood. Thus, teenagers should work together to build safe spaces, creating a safer and healthier present and future.
In an article exploring the necessity of creating safe spaces for youth, Ashley Krombach discusses how safe and supportive learning environments that foster inclusion and belonging are core to developing a strong sense of self for young people. Safe spaces wherein one can unapologetically be oneself can not only help an individual tap into their potential, it can also promote self-discovery and exploration. A survey by the International Youth Foundation in 2018 with youth and young adults to understand what safe spaces meant to them testified that deep down, everyone’s idea of safe spaces included meeting places where one can have a healthy dialogue with others, including those with opposing views, and gain confidence to openly express their views.
Further drawing from Krombach’s exploration of creating safe environments, one must also realize as an individual they can contribute towards building safe spaces. A few important suggestions include practicing empathy and cultivating sensitivity — through these values, one will find it easy to listen closely and be patient. Remember, all human beings are unique, and it is important to celebrate our differences. However, the journey towards celebrating differences is a tumultuous one as even to date, many teenagers are alienated and bullied in the classroom space based on lines of gender, caste, class, sexual orientation, disability, etc. As teenagers, one way to help fellow teenagers is by making sure that everyone is heard. Practicing active listening can be exhausting at times, but there lies immense power when one’s feelings are validated and lived experiences listened to.
While fostering a sense of community, it is also important to establish healthy boundaries — after all, self-care is an integral step in the journey towards building secure futures. In her article on the strategies to build safe spaces, Gina McGovern some of the central characteristics that safe spaces must be founded upon. These include the cultivation of a culture in which people actively care for each other, the formulation of ground rules for group processes (listening, decision-making, sharing of emotions, etc.), and the promotion of equity and inclusion along with an avowal of the principle that all youth are different, equal and important. As teenagers, it could be easy to undermine the potential of every teenage voice in cultivating safe ecosystems around them. However, every voice has a transformative potential lying deep within, and with that, the world can be made a better place, both in the immediate present and in the future ahead.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment