The generation of young people nowadays is facing different challenges and questioning whether there is hope in the future. The present situation appears bleak due to the difficulties experienced in the social, economic, family, education, political aspects of their lives.
Joseph Cardijn, the founder of Young Christian Workers around the world, in his time, as it is present today, underlined that the social struggle had taken a global dimension: the distance between the under developed world and the developed world is more disturbing each day. And at the centre of this gap, there are young workers on both sides, all of whom are facing similar issues.
Whether in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Middle East or Asia, the situation of the young people is affected by; lack of employment, poor working conditions, job insecurity and instability, low wages, lack of dignity in the working environment and exploitation for maximization of profits by the employers. All these further leads to fear of the future, decreased sense of independence as most are forced to go back and live with the parents, and lack of recreational time for personal growth and development.
The International Coordination of Young Workers (ICYCW) continues to give a voice to the young workers in order to share, reflect and take action on the issues facing them. Here are some of the testimonies from some of the young workers around the world.
“I work as an assistant at the Metro in Barcelona. At the beginning of this job the company stopped paying wages. The workers held strike because of it, but then all stopped because the company said that they would pay back little by little in 5 years. I was trying to motivate my colleagues to ask questions or to go back to the strike because it makes no sense to be paid back our own salaries in so long time. I like my job but not the work conditions I am provided. Each year passing I become poorer. Everything increases but wages decrease and the company keeps saying that - what was not paid yet - the delayed wages will be paid in 5 years." (Dani, 24, Spain)
“After my graduation at university I am studying again to be a school teacher. We have to pass the national exam in order to be a school teacher employed by the government. However it is very difficult to pass this exam because hundred thousand young people study for the same and this exam is held only once a year. I work in a primary school as a temporary employed during first half of the year and I study for the exam last half.” (Bora, 25, South Korea)
"Rwanda is a poor country. I could not continue my studies. I decided to leave the country to find a job as a domestic worker in Uganda. But I failed and had to return to Rwanda.” (Andre, 23, Rwanda)
"I have been working as a seller for 6 years to earn money to finish my study in high school. The working conditions are very bad – my salary is 144 USD per month and I have no insurance. I only have to wait to complete my studies (electromechanical) and get a different job." (Victor, 22, Dominican Republic)
"I finished my medical studies last year but I works as a mobile phone salesman now. Salary is very low and does not cover the family expenses. I am the only son in my family. I would like to get married but has no autonomous living conditions. No one wants to marry me.” (Limim, 25, China).
"There is a general expectation that all young people have to go to university. We pay 9000 pounds per year, but then once with the degrees in our hands we cannot find a job because we do not have work experience." (Evam, England).
Faced with this reality, the YCW plays an important role for the young workers worldwide. As Cardijn said; we need an organization of young workers, boys and girls, to bring them out of isolation, abandonment, and powerlessness; To train and help them to re-Christianize their lives, environments, and the whole mass of young workers, according to their divine calling and purpose of God.
Similarly, the Church has a new look at the young people and affirms the importance of the workers in the our communities. According to Cardinal Rylko, the ICYCW carries a big task of helping the troubled young people not lose the meaning of life while providing a shared space for linking the meaning of life with Christianity and work.
Each YCW movement across the continents is called to serve, educate and represent in order to dignify each young worker.
Together in solidarity and in our Christian values, we must have faith in a better future and we must work to build it. It is we, the young people of today, to fight again for the world to allow us to live in dignity and happiness, as sons and daughters of God.
The International Secretariat of ICYCW
