CONVERSATIONS about the youth of today often have a negative tone, as though society grudgingly accepts that putting up with these reckless, messy bundles of energy is just one of those chores we must endure (disclaimer: the children of Sunday Herald readers are, of course, bundles of joy).
And so, it was refreshing to report in today’s paper the news that six-year-old Berliana McKenzie is one of more than a hundred young people in Scotland to receive a £1000 grant from The Hunter Foundation.
The grants were awarded as part of a competition to find young “disruptors” – people with good ideas and some ambition – as part of 2018’s Year of Young People celebrations. Berliana plans to start a business selling a secret recipe family sauce, and proud dad Richard describes her enthusiasm as “boundless”.
These pages also tell the story of 23-year-old Jordan Daly, who became a TIE Campaign co-founder at the age of 20. A young gay man, Daly experienced homophobic bullying at school, leaving him feeling suicidal.
He is now, along with fellow co-founder Liam Stevenson, one of Scotland’s leading campaigners. TIE is calling for the introduction of inclusive LGBT education in schools in a bid to stamp out homophobic attitudes and behaviour.
The truth is that there are young people in Scotland doing amazing things every day, and who have huge potential. In a world which is going through some of the biggest political and social shifts in many years, today’s youth are going to play particularly important roles in the future.
It’s vital, then, that we nurture and encourage our young people; society is quick to scold, but it wouldn’t hurt to be a little quicker to reward.
Hopefully the youngsters benefiting from the efforts of the TIE Campaign will be spared the damage caused by bullying, and hopefully the young people who’ve captured the attention of The Hunter Foundation will be boosted in their confidence for years to come.
Over to Berliana for the last word: “If Sir Tom Hunter can do it with training shoes from the back of a van, I, Berliana McKenzie, can do it from a small wooden trolley shop.”
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