For youth of Bhutan
29 November, 2008 – The long-awaited recreation complex built by the Youth Development Fund was formally opened yesterday by Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck. It is an extremely valuable facility and could have a very positive impact on our social trends.
The first priority is that the complex has to be used for youth. With the extreme shortage of facilities for all forms of public activities, there is already pressure for the central facilities like the multi-purpose hall to be used government conferences and functions. It must not be hijacked by officialdom, which actually needs some good facilities of its own.
We hope that the YDF complex will be a hub of healthy and creative activities. It is designed to accommodate a wide range of sports with space for other activities like yoga, tutorials, and the creative and performing arts. Bhutanese youth are not lacking in talent, and certainly not in confidence, so the creative arts scene – music, drama, dance, film, painting – could emerge as an exciting new wave.
The pressure is that YDF needs to raise maintenance funds because it is not cheap to maintain such a facility. The additional pressure is that YDF needs substantial funds because the complex must not become an elite facility. It needs to cater to youth who cannot afford to pay membership fees.
Students, by and large, have the education ministry to organise some activities but have a lot of free time. Young professionals are on the lookout for social activities outside working hours. They are all in need of extra curricular activities.
But a bigger problem is the out-of-school unemployed youth. This is the group that tends to get involved in drug and alcohol abuse and other social problems. It will also be a greater challenge getting this group engaged in useful activities.
This is an experiment that has implications outside Thimphu. With towns sprouting in every major valley, the dzongkhag communities are looking for examples to follow. Every urban centre has youth looking for recreation. A successful youth centre would be a fine example to urban societies around the country.
What the YDF complex needs is professional support – a professional management and support from all organisations, government and non government, that deal with youth and youth issues. The concept of volunteerism is wonderful but not practical at this early stage of development. Such a centre cannot be run on good will alone. We keep in mind that youth is a current priority.
“Our youth we can have but today”
Source: Kuenselonline