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South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
For war-ravaged youth, education is an anchor amid chaos, not a luxury
Education systems adapted to local conditions are strategic, long-term investments in community resilience. It must be treated as a frontline intervention in a crisis Most global actors still treat education as an afterthought during crises, something to address only once food, water and shelter are secured. But in places like Palestine, Syria and Afghanistan, this hierarchy collapses. Education isn't a post-crisis luxury; it's the anchor in the chaos. Over the past decade, I've learned that education must be treated as a frontline intervention, restoring not only learning, but also safety, identity and hope. It's not just about classrooms. It's about systems that endure. This requires a different mindset, prioritising community-led design over one-size-fits-all frameworks, embedding psychosocial support structurally, trusting youth with leadership and planning for local ownership from the start. Education isn't what follows survival; it's how people survive. We don't need more tool kits, we need a mindset shift. Global actors must listen more, prescribe less and embrace complexity over metrics. Only then can we build education systems that endure when everything else collapses. In 2015, a few months after a war in Gaza, I entered a shelter that had been a bustling school. A boy, no older than 10, asked: 'When will the school come back?' I didn't have an answer. Since then, I've worked across some of the world's hardest-hit areas, in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan. These experiences challenged many assumptions that still shape global education policy. In the years that followed, we began to understand that restoring education in crisis zones wasn't only about reopening schools, it was also about building adaptable systems. Our work began to evolve beyond emergency. We developed scholarship programmes for marginalised and refugee youth, not as charity but as strategic, long-term investments in community resilience. 'I'm as old as the revolution', Syrian boy turns 10 as nation marks decade of civil war In Syria and Lebanon, prolonged displacement rendered traditional education models ineffective. For some, the urgent need was a quick entry into the labour market; for others, the dream of academic excellence still burned bright. What they needed were parallel, flexible pathways. Newsletter Daily Opinion By submitting, you consent to receiving marketing emails from SCMP. If you don't want these, tick here {{message}} Thanks for signing up for our newsletter! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Follow us on Facebook to get our latest news. The thoughtful response was to design modular options: short-term, market-aligned diplomas that allowed learners to pause and resume, alongside full bachelor's degree opportunities through partnerships with institutions such as the American University of Beirut. Optionality, not rigidity, became a lifeline, ensuring dignity, adaptability and access to opportunity. In Afghanistan, the Taliban's 2021 return triggered the collapse of the education system, particularly for girls and women. This prompted a dual strategy. The Afghan Thrive initiative aimed to offer globally recognised online learning for women barred from classrooms. Meanwhile, the Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QSAP) mobilised over 60 US universities and international stakeholders to provide scholarships and safe relocation pathways for hundreds of Afghan youth. These weren't temporary fixes. They were structural interventions designed for continuity, portability and resilience because in fragile settings, sustaining education is also about sustaining identity. But access to learning means little without addressing trauma. In Gaza, therapy rooms were introduced into public schools for the first time, central case units were developed to handle high-risk mental health interventions, and school counsellors were embedded in long-term mentorship programmes. Twinning partnerships were created with international institutions to help universities establish degree tracks in psychosocial support, and a national digital case management platform was developed to link services, ministries and NGOs. How 2 years of Taliban rule have transformed Afghanistan back to the past Still, some of the most profound healing didn't happen in counselling sessions. Many young people described dignity and income as the greatest sources of resilience. With local job markets saturated, digital freelancing became a powerful outlet. Training in globally in-demand skills allowed young people to work remotely, earn income and reclaim a sense of agency. These were not symbolic efforts. They were deliberate investments in psychological, economic and social recovery. This was never clearer than after the most recent Gaza war broke out in 2023. As institutions collapsed, young people didn't wait for aid agencies. They created informal schools in shelters, distributed hygiene kits, ran mental health activities for children and cooked meals for their communities. Many were our students and graduates from the scholarship programmes before the war. We didn't script this response. They did. We simply gave them the small grants and logistical support they needed. They are not beneficiaries. They are infrastructure. And in the absence of functioning systems, they are often the only infrastructure left. What this reveals is a fundamental flaw in how the world still approaches education in emergencies. It's not that youth lack initiative; it's that systems too often fail to recognise or support them. This ties into a deeper misconception that education can wait, that first comes food and shelter. But in conflict settings, education is often the thread holding everything else together. That boy in Gaza is likely a man now. I still don't know when schools will reopen in the strip. But I know this: if we listen more and design smarter, we may help youth believe learning is worth holding onto, even in the ruins.
Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Times
‘Young staff have the ability to lead — let them prove themselves'
Kate Robertson is the co-founder and chief executive of One Young World, a global forum connecting and supporting young leaders. A former global president of Havas, an advertising group, she's passionate about the power of youth to drive change. Here is her advice: 1. Dream big, start practical. Don't listen to people who tell you to scale down ideas. Ambitious energy is contagious on a team if it's accompanied by a roadmap and plan. 2. Create teams of equals. No one is too senior to get their hands dirty or too junior to come up with a game-changing idea. Young staff have the ability to lead — let them prove themselves and help them learn from mistakes. 3. Honesty is the only policy and simplicity the best rule. Clear, frank, simple communication ensures everyone knows where they stand. Admit when you're in the wrong and give a heartfelt apology. I am often wrong and have to accept very young people correcting me — but it's worth it even if sometimes hard! 4. Avoid preaching to the choir. Allies can come from unlikely places: particularly when it comes to social change and international co-operation. Seek out people and organisations who have a different perspective. 5. Focus on what's real. Impact must be measurable and provable. It's easy to spend energy on the people who are shouting the loudest instead of the people doing the work that really matters. 6. Stay true to your vision. In a volatile world, do not get thrown off course. Keeping teams inspired with your mission is the best way to foster resilience and camaraderie.
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform UK puts teenagers in charge of vital public services
Reform UK's local election wins have led to teenagers being put in charge of vital public services, including a 19-year-old who is overseeing children and family services while at university. Two months after the elections in which Nigel Farage's party took overall control of 10 councils, concerns have been raised about the experience of candidates who have been appointed to roles with wide-ranging responsibility. At Leicestershire county council, the Reform councillor Charles Pugsley, 19, has been made the cabinet member for children and family services. Pugsley's elevation has caused particular concern, as has that of Joseph Boam, a 22-year-old who has been made the deputy council leader and handed the adult social care portfolio, despite having previously expressed the view that 'depression isn't real'. Both are defenders of a Reform policy that would block the council from flying community emblems such as the Pride and disabled people's flags over council property. More than 100 social workers and other employees at the council have signed a letter condemning the policy, which they allege 'promotes exclusion and marginalisation'. According to the anti-extremism campaign group Hope Not Hate, a now deleted social media account appearing to belong to Boam had frequently retweeted and posted apparent praise for the misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate. Another claim on the same account that 'depression isn't real' raised concern among fellow councillors who have written to Reform's leader at Leicestershire. Boam has reportedly dismissed the allegation as 'fake news'. News of their appointments follow that of George Finch, 18, who has become the interim leader of the neighbouring Warwickshire county council a year after completing his A-levels. Their relative lack of experience has caused unease across the political divide. Deborah Taylor, a Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition who was the previous cabinet member for children and families in Leicestershire, questioned their qualifications to hold roles overseeing services that account for more than 70% of the council's £616m budget. 'I am a huge champion of young people and young councillors but what really concerns me is that new young councillors should be nurtured rather than being thrown in at the deep end to what can be a quite full-on role where there is exposure to some real trauma and difficult decisions,' she said. 'Rather than age, it's about political and life experience, whether that's as someone who has worked or even as a parent with knowledge of household pressures.' The concerns were echoed by social workers at the council. 'There is some confidence that much of what is being delivered can't be changed because it is statutory and underpinned by legislation. But there are areas where resources are being allocated on a 'spend to save' basis, such as early interventions for families who may, for example, have had multiple removals of children,' said one. 'It's an area where that spending has really paid off and there would be great concern about that being tinkered with or even cut.' Julia Ross, the chair of the British Association of Social Workers, said: 'Lead members for children's and adults' social services in local authorities are very important roles that carry the responsibility of handling hundreds of millions of pounds. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'While we recognise and value the fresh perspectives that youth often brings, ideally, candidates should have experience in administrating such complex departments, as well as a working knowledge of their statutory duty to support what are often the most vulnerable people in our society.' Pugsley and Boam have come into their roles as Reform has pledged to deliver Elon Musk-style efficiency savings at councils even though many services have been cut to the bone over recent years. Neither responded to requests to comment although they have used their X accounts to answer critics. 'Some say I'm young. I say that's exactly what this role needs. I understand the challenges young people face today because I've been there. Now I'm making sure young voices are heard,' Pugsley tweeted. But this was questioned. Naomi Bottomley, a Green councillor, said: 'I know that Charles Pugsley has alluded to the idea that he knows more about what children need because he is young. But he also went to a private school and is a landlord, so I'm not sure he has quite the same experience as many vulnerable young people.' Pugsley, a computer science student at Nottingham University, is registered at Companies House as a director of two companies that list their business as the letting or operating of real estate. He and Boam, along with Finch in Warwickshire, also reflect a drive by Farage to leverage support among gen Z voters, with the party's popularity surging among 18- to 24-year-old men. Preet Gill, a Birmingham Labour MP who has voiced concern about Finch's role as leader at Warwickshire, said the appointments indicated how Reform would approach government. 'It's a carbon copy of the way in which Farage operates. They have made a lot of noise from performance politics and from being disruptive, rather than actually saying or doing anything of substance when it comes to delivery, or knowing how to deliver adult social care or children's services.'
The Independent
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Reform UK under fire for putting teenagers in charge of vital public services
Reform UK is under fire for letting teenagers run vital public services after storming to power in councils across the country in May's local elections. The party has been criticised for letting 18-year-old George Finch run Warwickshire County Council, which has a budget of around £500m and assets of £1.5bn. Now, some two months after it took over 10 councils in the local elections, it has emerged a slew of other high profile roles have been taken on by teenagers. On Leicestershire County Council, Reform councillor Charles Pugsley, 19, has been made the cabinet member for children and family services, The Guardian reported. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Joseph Boam has been made deputy council leader and put in charge of adult social care, having previously claimed that 'depression isn't real', the paper revealed. Both youngsters are reportedly opposed to councils flying flags in support of the LGBT+ community and disabled people's rights, one of Reform's first policies rolled out across local authorities. Campaigners Hope Not Hate claimed Mr Boam had posted praise for misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate on a now-deactivated social media account. The same account contained the 'depression isn't real' remark, with fellow councillor's complaining to Reform's leader in Leicestershire. Mr Boam has described the allegations as 'fake news'. A Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council expressed unease at the appointment of the pair in such high profile roles. Deborah Taylor told The Guardian: 'I am a huge champion of young people and young councillors but what really concerns me is that new young councillors should be nurtured rather than being thrown in at the deep end to what can be a quite full-on role where there is exposure to some real trauma and difficult decisions.' One social worker at the council told the paper: 'There is some confidence that much of what is being delivered can't be changed because it is statutory and underpinned by legislation. But there are areas were resources are being allocated on a 'spend to save' basis, such as early interventions for families who may, for example, have had multiple removals of children.' The British Association of Social Workers said the roles are 'very important' and oversee hundreds of millions of pounds in spending. Chair Julia Ross said she recognises the value of fresh perspectives, candidates for such roles should be experienced in running complex departments and a knowledge of their duties supporting some of the most vulnerable in society. Responding to critics who have questioned his age, Mr Pugsley said on X: 'Some say I'm young. I say that's exactly what this role needs. 'I understand the challenges young people face today because I've been there. Now I'm making sure young voices are heard.' But Green councillor Naomi Bottomley hit back, adding: 'He also went to a private school and is a landlord, so I'm not sure he has quite the same experience as many vulnerable young people.' Mr Finch took over as leader of Warwickshire County Council after his predecessor Rob Howard quit within weeks of being elected. Mr Howard cited health challenges preventing him from 'carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish'. The change means Mr Finch, a former member of the Conservative Party, is now responsible for the council, with £1.5bn of assets and a budget of around £500m. In an interview with The Telegraph after taking over, Mr Finch vowed to take on 'the blob' and pointed out that ' Mike Tyson was the youngest heavyweight boxer of the world', aged 20.
CNA
04-07-2025
- General
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: In this day and age of AI, do we stop trusting reviews?
In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with two Singapore youth honoured at the National Geographic's global conservation challenge awards. Called the 2025 Slingshot Challenge, it celebrates youth-led solutions for conservation and environmental protection. Award recipients Raina Lakhamraju (Roots for Change) and Nainika Gupta (Orange for Green) will talk about what made their projects winning ones. Roots for Change harnesses carbon credit financing to protect the endangered mangrove forests of the Indian Sundarbans, while Orange for Green partners hawker centres in upcycling fruit waste into eco-friendly surface disinfectants and fertilisers.
