With Their Inner City Youth Programs Indianapolis Organizations Do The Best They Can

By Kathleen Smith


In some rural areas one often still find some sense of community but it is becoming increasingly rare. In the cities, social structures seem to be all about prestige, position and money. Nobody seems to care for others any longer. Selfishness and greed seem to be the new creed. In the process, many people fall through the cracks and a large percentage of them are young people. Nobody cares about them. However, with their inner city youth programs Indianapolis is trying to reverse the tide.

Youngsters often end up troubled and in trouble because they no longer enjoy the love and care of a family. So many parents are just too busy to pay attention to their children. These youngsters often look for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Organizations that try to help therefore often focus on creating an environment where young people feel save, worth something and cherished and where they receive encouragement.

Another reason why so many youngsters find themselves adrift is because they have no marketable skills. Many do not even finish school and their chances of finding employment are very small indeed. Some organizations focus on this aspect and they offer young people skills training that will help them build a future for themselves. They often even help them to find employment and they work in partnership with potential employers.

Serious behavioral problems are common amongst troubled youngsters. Rejection, anger, insecurity, abuse and low self esteem all eventually leave their ugly marks. Young people react by becoming violent, depressed, defiant and sometimes even suicidal. They need psychological help and many organizations offer counseling to these unfortunate youngster. They cannot move on until they have overcome their own problems. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to convince them that they need help.

Then there is the major problem of youngsters falling into the very ugly claws of drugs and alcohol addiction. This is a very difficult pit to get out of and it is unfortunate that so many drug addicts and young alcoholics will not seek help. They find oblivion in their addictions. However, there are organizations that offer rehabilitation programs but it is an expensive and lengthy process with a very low success rate.

No effort, however noble, will permanently have an effect of a young person that still have to survive in the streets. That is why several organizations have shelters where they can stay. They are kept safe from the bad influences of the ghettos and they are fed. It is almost always in these sheltered environments where charities do most of their good works and achieve most of their successes.

It is a sad fact that only a fraction of those young people that desperately need help are actually reached. There simply are not enough resources. The vast majority of desperately needy youngsters will end up living lives of crime, landing in jail or dying from violence or drug overdoses. Those trying to help them know this, but they can only do what they can within their means.

The future of the world is in the hands of the youth. Large numbers of disenfranchised young people spell serious trouble for the future. That is why every effort to help them, to guide them, to counsel them and to employ them should be supported.




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