Parents-Youth meet for an honest dialogue

A number of parents and members of the younger generation will come together for a free, frank and open discussion of the issues confronting them at home, schools, colleges, universities, community and the society at a Forum in Auckland next week.

The Forum will be held from 10 am to 345 pm at the Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Hall at 12 Spring Street in Onehunga and is open to all those interested in the welfare of our youth.

In my previous assignments as the Race Relations Conciliator, Chief Families Commissioner and member of a number of organisations, I have worked with families and migrants and tried to understand and find solutions to the challenges and problems confronting them.

During these engagements, I was often reminded of the struggle some parents and youth experienced in their day-to-day lives. A number of migrant parents have been critical of some youth born and/or raised in New Zealand as they struggle with a number of competing demands.  

These include adjusting to the New Zealand society, the trauma of transition, identity development, schooling and career. Each of these is complicated by the expectations of parents who grew up in a vastly different environment and cultural milieu.

Caring Parents

The parents I have met have been caring, concerned and eager to ensure that the youngsters under their care received the best possible guidance and support. 

Their teenage children have similarly been typical of many other youths I have known.  Some parents however have been frustrated and struggled to understand the developmental challenges their teenage children experienced during adolescence. 

Some parents have serious relationship difficulties with their teenage children, easy resolution of which has not always been possible. 

These issues have at times placed serious pressure on the whole family and many have not been able to resolve these differences. 

In other cases, families have given up, lamenting over their decision to migrate to New Zealand. 

However, in many cases, parents, sporting a good relationship with their teenage children and appreciating their needs have made successful transitions. Such a positive mode has allowed the young people to make them proud socially, culturally and educationally. 

Many parents look back to the days when their children were teenagers and take pride in their achievements.

This is the promise to all parents, and indeed all youths, who work to understand the stage of development, and make the adjustments necessary without losing sight of their objective in migrating to this country.

When these issues were brought to me a few weeks ago, I invited a number of people who were working with youth to consider the issues raised and suggest a way of addressing them. 

The group felt that there was a need to raise the level of awareness of these issues and encourage discussion and dialogue between parents and youths. 

With support from a number of organisations including the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), ANZ Bank, Radio Tarana, Indian Newslink and Art of Living, we have created an opportunity for a facilitated dialogue between parents and youth. 

In addition to creating a safe and enjoyable environment where parents and the youth can hear each other’s concerns and issues, there will be an opportunity to experience constructive dialogue. 

I hope you would consider this important, participate in the Forum and become a part of the resolution process.

Dr Rajen Prasad is Member of Parliament on Labour List.