Youth Violence and the Kids In Need of Direction

As the murder toll climbs to 70 murders in 54 days of 2010, crime and violence continues to be a growing concern amongst the Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The newspapers alone, can tell you that people are being robbed, assaulted and murdered every day, sometimes for nothing more than a pair of shoes.

Taking a deeper look into the various aspects of these brutal crimes, we observe that the majority of these acts of violence are being performed by young adults between the ages of 15 to 27.

We have to ask ourselves, “Why has Trinidad and Tobago’s youth become so violent?”

There is no question in my mind why these children are becoming more violent and less concerned about consequences. The dysfunction is merely a symptom of the breaking down of family, community and moral standards. Children are responding by how they are socialized.

In today’s poverty stricken families, children are often left to fend for themselves without being provided with the primary needs for health development. Consistent parenting and guidance is necessary especially for children being raised in high risk environments.

Many parents are forced to go to work and leave children at home since they can’t afford the basic necessities to send them to school. Children left alone without supervision become idle and can become negatively influenced by things around them such as gangs.

Due to the common break down of social structure found in many deprived communities, these children also fall victim to various types of abuse. Child abuse is common in such circumstances and can derive from parents and/or family members who themselves abuse drugs, alcohol or other illicit substances or simply lack the education and/or emotional support needed to provide proper parenting.

How do we help these children?

Many parents and their children seek a different way of life but do not know where to start. Most of them have little or no education and some cannot read or write. They need guidance from the ground up, starting with obtaining a proper education as well as emotional and financial support.

Kids In Need of Direction (KIND) is a charitable organization that bases its foundation on providing these basic needs.Underprivileged children and their families are provided with the tools and guidance necessary for progress towards a better life.

For more information on how you can help contact us at 626-KIND (5463) or 626-NEED (6333) or visit our website http://www.kindkids.net/.