We obviously have a youth problem in this country.  We have youth violence, drunkenness and the list goes on.

Why do youths have this lack of respect, self respect and direction?

What can we do about this, apart from “warehousing” them (ie: putting them in jail)?

Why not National Service?

What would they do?

No I don;t mean guns and killing and reinforcing their violent behaviour.  I mean service to the nation.  Enforcing the ideals of Community Service is the objective.  This would include working in hospitals, community centres, old age homes, for local councils on roads, in clerical positions.

Getting them fit, physically and then working on their mind and attitudes.  Physically train them like the Defence Forces, then work with them socially.  Put them all through 12 weeks of Life Coaching.  Basically everything that schools and modern families don;t do.  Build their self esteem, allow them to find some direction.

The objective is not to humiliate or demean them, it is to build self esteem, build confidence and community awareness.  From the communities perspective it is to get things done around the community.  To allow them to pay back the community for the investment  in them.  How much could we get done if our younger generation all worked to develop the community for a period of time, if they all had their own coach during this development time of their life and if we could provide some direction to these PEOPLE and prevent them from going off the tracks?

So who would be conscripted?

• Lets start with all unemployed for more than 3 months.
• All 19 year olds.
• Exceptions :- Medical reasons, university students (who would have to do it after they completed their first course)

This is done in many countries, including South Africa and Singapore, admittedly their focus is defence, ours would be community and development.

Is its taking away people’s free choice?  Yes but every law does this, for the benefit of society.

The real question is, are there benefits there for the individual and the community?

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