Financial crisis and youth opportunities

Over the past year, there has been a major financial crisis in Greece which has led to the inclusion into the International Monetary Fund and the European Union’s support mechanism. This has created several problems in everyday’s life mainly aimed at young people. Unemployment and insecurity about the future are the most important of them. The majority of young people are pessimistic about their future and their job security.

Ireland is on a par with Greece, while in the near future this crisis will “knock the door” of more other European countries. Young people in these countries will be faced with very unwished situations and will have to overcome many obstacles in order to be able to achieve their goals!

What is the best attitude that young people should have and what are the skills that will help them progress? Certainly, pessimism is a bad influence for everybody. Young people should be optimistic and convey their vitality throughout society. The necessary skills are definitely creativity and innovation! New ideas or projects to be implemented and the creative pursuits of youth in various fields are guarantees for their future success.

ICT is an area (perhaps the most important) that requires creative and innovative ideas! We live in the era of global knowledge and dissemination of information. Everything around us needs (and uses) ICT to work properly; from telephony till telemedicine... Every single thing becomes faster and more convenient with the use of ICTs. Young people can actively engage with ICT and should contribute by all means to their further development.

ICT is a sector that has not been, and will never be saturated in terms of job opportunities. There will always be demand for new innovative services and the need for their implementation. The present and the future of mankind are directly dependent on the technology and its achievements! Especially in recent years, we are all users of ICT and impressed by its opportunities.

ICT, however, is not a panacea. On the one hand, it contributes to the economic empowerment of developing countries, the dissemination of information and improvement of communication quality, but on the other hand, it is not the antidote that is able to solve entirely all our problems! The financial crisis, poverty or fatal diseases will not be combated by ICT itself. Nevertheless we, the young people, must continue to develop the technology and especially ICT. It’s up to us to carry on normally our lives, despite any problems and to offer actively within our societies and not give up! Moreover, as the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus taught "Nothing endures but change"…

Το παρόν άρθρο δημοσιεύτηκε στο 4ο τεύχος του διεθνούς περιοδικού νεολαίας MOMENTUM: Mission Passion Expression