¡Viva la Juventud! - a praise for the youngsters of today

...too many options, too many possibilities, too much of everything - that leads us to become indecisive: "We" are the narcissistic youngsters born in the 80s and early 90s, the principal performers in this multipotional society, in which we live and act with few boundaries and in which we overthink every decision we have to choose. What should I study, and where, and how can I maleg my vita more interesting? Maybe with a stay abroad or a social commitment? All this privileges - having free access to education and to obtain the highest high school graduation in order to enter the lecture halls of the world and the opportunity to go abroad or do social work - turn into nightmares for the youngsters. We want to keep all options open in search for the maximum best!

As a europena volunteer among this generation I tried to consider them objectively and with distance...and what I see is impressive!

Some volunteers already finished university or a training but most of them are very young, they just got their A Levels and it's the first time that they leave their protected nest. And you know what? They dare - they care! They are brave and overcome obstacles such as living alone in a foreign country. They are interested and involved in environments, politics, economics, education, cultrue and social life and its Europeanisation up to global complexity. They were born into a time where internet and social networks belong to everyday life, so the information flows quickly and comprehensive to them.

This young people engage politically and participate in protest movements such as Occupy, the Spanish Revolution or the Arab Spring in order to draw attention on political, economical and social grievances. They care about injustice, explotation, social inclusion; about ebola and crimes against Afro-Americans; they fight for the rights of refugees and against extreme right-wing movements like Pegida, against homophobia and they care about waste separation tin order o reduce pollution. One thing they have in common is courage! They use their creativity to work with children, young and elderly people or they look after the homeless, refugees and disabled people with the aim to help others, to make a contribution and to participate in a cultural exchange.

Don't forget that they grew up with the awareness of 911, the Tsunami, Climate Change, Fukushima, the Euro Crisis, several wars and moreover they are worried about unemployment and corruption. Nowadays they also have to face a political reversal in Europe but they are brave and curious and ready to make our world a better place!

¡Viva la juventud!