Youths do not live in a vacuum; they need support from all of us

Without that society's support, the youth tend to feel the impact of ageism even more. [iStockphoto]

It is not uncommon to hear that young people are either too young or too immature to handle some things. Phrases such as 'youth of today' and 'this generation' are often loaded to highlight an older generation's vexation with the youth.

Usually, such statements create an environment where the youth feel out of their depth and where they are denied the opportunity to learn and develop - something that needs to change.