Saberkas urged to draw up youth, sports programmes
KUCHING: Sarawak Youth Organisation ( Saberkas) is urged to draw up youth and sport programmes that work to assure positive outcomes through development-appropriate designs and supportive youth relationships.
Optimal youth development programmes enable young individuals to lead healthy, satisfying and productive lives because they would be able to engage in civic activities, nurture others and participate in social relations and cultural activities, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said in a press statement received here yesterday.
” I am concerned about the growth of youth-related problems like delinquency, joblessness and drug abuse. This has led to an urgent need for the development of positive youth programmes. Suddenly there is a surge in funding for such programmes in the constituency,” he said.
He was chairing a Saberkas Batu Kitang branch meeting at his service centre here on Sunday to talk about the matter.
“We will evaluate the potential of youth sports programmes to foster positive youth development, while decreasing the risks of problematic behaviours. Literature on the positive and negative outcomes of youth sports will be presented,” he added.
Policy makers and sports organisations, especially with regard to fostering positive youth development should intensify their role towards this effort.
“During our meeting, we talked about holding bowling, futsal and football tournaments for the youths in Batu Kitang constituency. We need youth programmes to help in the fight against drug abuse, alcohol abuse and crime. It has been suggested that through optimal youth development programmes, good youths would emerge.
“Good youths can be defined as youths who have experienced more positive than negative effects, are satisfied with their lives, recognise what they do well and use their strengths to fulfi ll pursuits, and to be contributing members of society.
“I genuinely hope our youths of today will be able to absorb the positivity of life and be guided towards the betterment of their community,” he said.