I
constantly try to tell people, young Bahamians In particular that you
don’t have to be some rich philanthropist in order to make a difference
in the world. With World Humanitarian Day behind us I find that now more
than ever we need to have more youth involvement, there needs to be a
louder voice from this, our Bahamian Generation “Y”, an uprising of the
free thinker so to say.
Where
are our Change makers? Where are the young Bahamians that will stand up
and say what is wrong and then in turn do what is undoubtedly right?
Conversations with several locals led me to believe that they are
hopeless about how young people fit into the scheme of things in
Bahamian Society. Where are the young people that care for our
Environment or our Economy or our Education system or just our country
as a whole?
One
might think that these young people don’t exist in The Bahamas but that
would be a blatant disregard to the many youth organizations that never
tire of their community service work and a slap in the face to the many
Independent Young Activists such as myself that tirelessly contribute
to the Future that we not only want but we desperately need.
We
do not need one specific day to go out and do good in the world but
instead we should seek to constantly provide help for those that need
it, information for those that want it, and hope for those that cannot
find it.
I
once looked around and tried to figure out where the Bahamian “Erin
Schrode’s” or “Alec Loor’s” were but then I realized that we don’t need
them. We have our very first Nevar Smith and our very first Olivia Curry
and yes even our very own Nathaniel P. Lewis.
The
Point I’m trying to make is, Humanitarians come in many shapes and
sizes and come from many different backgrounds but the one thing that
makes us all united, the one thing that makes us all strong is the fact
that we have a love for humanity.
So,
when the time comes and you’re sitting down in a rocking chair next to a
fire and telling your grandchildren about all of the wonderfully
reckless things you did as a young adult what will be the first thing
you say? Will you tell them about that one time you questioned the
government because of something you knew deep down wasn’t right? Will
you tell them about the time you contributed to the eradication of
illiteracy in our Country? Or will you tell them about a frivolous trip
to Vegas that you can’t fully disclose because we all know what happens
there, stays there.
In
this year 2012 and going into the New Year 2013 we should all take a
vow to perform some act of humanitarianism, not because we have to, but
because we care. I encourage every person out there to make their mark
by doing something good. Be that one person in the crowd who will be
able to smile and say “I was There”.
Ashleigh Rolle