Hope

Thursday, June 14th, 2007
A couple of months ago I watched a great movie, on dvd, ” Children of Men”. I thought the story was well crafted, the performances daring and the artistry of the director of photography impressive. I won’t give away details (recommend that you rent it) but the premise is that 18 years have passed since the last child was born. It left me pondering the hope we place in the ‘next’ generation. We hope the issues we face and have created will be eliminated or solved by the children. When the world was faced with no children they lost all hope.

I came across a site that again encouraged me to hope that kids can change the world. Teenedge is an organization from Nashville that “are dedicated to encouraging youth to become informed and involved while providing a good online experience.”

They offer advice from teens in their language, articles by teens on issues facing the world, and ways that teens can become involved finding and implementing solutions.

One program that they started Safe Place that engages the community in creating havens for kids when they are in trouble. Teenedge explains “How Safe Place Works”.

1. Go into any store, fire hall or business that has a Safe Place sign. Or get on a MTA bus. (They are also Safe Places)

2. Say that you need help and want Safe Place. Ask for the manager if the clerk doesn’t know what to do.

3. The manager or MTA dispatcher will call the Oasis Center and tell a counselor that you are there.

4. You can then talk to the counselor on the phone about what is going on and what you need.

5. The manager will let you wait somewhere safe while a volunteer or cab comes to pick you up should you decide you want to go to Oasis where you can get help.

6. At Oasis you will receive free, immediate and confidential help from a trained counselor.

Maybe by offering these outlets there will be less dangerous behaviour and youth can be helped through the immediate crisis rather than piling it on top of all their other pressures.

Hope comes from helping others.