By Laura Fonseca
(undergraduate FIGRI student)
Nowadays, the entire world is facing social problems. In
the past, we used to think that in European countries and in the USA, people
lived a dream-like life even if it wasn´t the case. However, after the
financial crisis of 2008 it’s clearer that problems are everywhere and the
illusion of magical places to live is more and more ambiguous.
Social problems are
clearly a government issue but the way people react to them essentially is too.
Lack of opportunities, poverty and the lack of a state presence, which is the
case in our country, have bound people to look for a better life even if it is
by illegal ways. Also, we can’t forget about the government corruption that has
excluded people instead of gathering everyone together.
The story of many
people whose lives have drastically changed, like Pablo Escobar, just to mention
the most common example from our country’s history, encourages young people to
take the easy way to make money and get power. Pablo Escobar was a drug dealer
who after a few years doing illegal business became one of the most influential
people in the country.
The drug problem, even
if it seems to be the biggest problem, is not the only one. Robberies and fraud
are part of the daily life of many neighborhoods, not just in Colombia but around
the world. The main feature of these neighborhoods is the lack of education due
to the lack of government action.
It’s a cliché to hear
that young people are the future. They reflect the level of life of where they
live and as a result almost everywhere, they are the outcome of an accumulation
of defects in the education system.
No matter why the
conditions are as they are, either by violence and poverty as is the case in
underdeveloped countries, or as a result of a financial crisis as is the case
of European countries. The important point is not what generated the panorama;
the really important fact is the way people find solutions to get over the
problems. Young people can leave their countries looking for better opportunities
abroad. For example, in Spain, the emigration rate increased sharply between
2010 and 2012 (during the financial crisis), and Colombians have always gone to
the United States to follow the American dream. Another option for young people
is to stay and work for the country, in order to create jobs and contribute
positively to the social conditions.
Discovering the
country’s needs is not an easy task. Creativity, leadership, and invention are
capabilities that should be taught and encouraged from an early age. All this
with the aim of preparing better people that could lead the world to a better
future.
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