A Manifesto for My Generation - By Vivien Whelan, Wexford

- We're right to be angry. We're young, educated and unemployed. This is a call for action to my generation. Let's get organised! 

Vivien Whelan, author

My generation grew up on the back of the Celtic tiger. We grew up with never before seen technology at our fingertips, and at a time when getting a good standard of education was predominant. New innovative businesses were springing up all across the country and the future looked bright. My generation grew up - in a fiercely general sense - having it all.

But this is a tale of a fleeting moment. My generation is not at its knees, carrying a sense of forlornness on our shoulders. In Wexford, my home town, the statistics show that 47% of young people are on the live register. We are emigrating in our droves - not in search of adventure, or experience - but in search of a job. Unemployment at this level is not needed in today’s world. Something has got to be done because the youth of today is the future of tomorrow.

I am angry. I am angry because I cannot afford to continue with college this year. I am angry that if I did strive to go, the grant I would receive would not even cover my rent for the year. I am angry because Ireland allegedly has free education but this is not the case, not for people who can barely make ends meet.

I am angry that I may have to consider leaving my own country in pursuit of steady employment. I am angry that a large number of my peers are joining the unemployment line. I am angry that the youth is being punished for aberrations made by ‘competent’ adults, elected at a time when my generation was not even old enough to vote.

I am angry that people on the live register- mainly the youth, get judged for being in the situation. I am angry that they are being told to sit down and accept 64 euro a week. I concede to the reality that there are many people out there who make receiving social welfare a lifestyle choice, but what about the people who want a job? The people who want an education? The people who want to better themselves? The people who want to upskill? What about the lost ones? The people swindled out of a steady future? The people robbed of a chance? The people begrudged hope of a better time?

We the people truly do not know the power we hold. This article is not intended as another tedious piece complaining about how inadequate the shower up in Dublin is. Because let’s put things into perspective here; our fair isle will improve. Throughout our history we have always come back from hard times and we went on to prosper. We are slowly but surely getting back on our feet. The youth need to step up and be the change they wish to see. Let us not stand for this economy, let us help ourselves. The key to improvement lies in education, training, entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs.

A large amount of 18 to 25 year olds do not even vote. Those who do not vote have no right to complain about the state of the contingency of the government. Those who do not go out and actively pursue a job do not have the right to claim from the social welfare. We are the future; let’s make the future bright for our generation and generations to come.

I read somewhere: “This generation wants more than any generation that has come before but is willing to work for it less than any other generation”. In many ways I think this analogy is legitimate. My generation grew up having it relatively facile, but those days are over, work is the key to coming back with a bang. Change begins at the centre of the community so setting up group initiatives and trying to change what is happening is something to think about, as opposed to sitting back and allowing others to get us out of such predicaments. We must work together for the greater benefit of all.

Recently I visited An Dail Eireann as part of a youth action group in County Wexford - set up to discuss and take action against issues young people have in today’s Ireland. I was notably impressed at how keen TDs were to listen to our opinions regarding changing the way of life for the youth. We met with many T.D’s including Mick Wallace, Paul Kehoe, John Lyons, Brendan Howlin and Michael D’Arcy. All of whom gave us feedback on the project, lent us advice on how to go about such matters and provided information on issues like The EU Youth Guarantee. Additionally the group gave a submission on how the Youth Guarantee should work to best sustain the youth. As of yet, whether these meetings will have any impact is not known to me.

My generation has a right to be angry. I call upon the Irish youth to take a stand and realise that they can make a change. We do not have to accept what is happening. There are many local development offices over the length and breadth of the country that would be more than happy to govern meetings and organise youth projects wherein young people can offer comment and criticism on issues like this. The best people to make the best of a bad situation are young people. We have the most drive, we have the freshest ideas, new ways of thinking and we have categorically the least to lose.

The society in which we live is a favourable one, a fair one, a democracy. Let’s use this for all it is worth. When one looks at things in a positive light, the future seems bright. In the grand scheme of things these hard times are just a ripple in the ocean. There is so much better to come. And we, the youth, are the bright future. Give us a chance to prosper.

Read the Winter 2013/'14 edition of 'Changing Ireland' which highlighted the work of Vivien's group. Each person had their say in the coverage. Thanks to Wexford Local Development.