You’re standing in a queue waiting to be let into an establishment.
There is commotion, a melee and a scramble.
This is an event you’ve coveted for ages and here’s a chance of a lifetime to be part of it.
So as you wait patiently, an attendant approaches the people on the queue only to inform them that they’re house full and you should apply for entry the next time they make a call.
You feel your heart sink…
Then you are suddenly enraged before sinking back to your reality and beating a slow retreat.
But as you withdraw from the gates of the establishment, some well-to-do individuals seem to walk past you while going on the opposite direction.
So you stop and track them as they make their way to the same gates where you faced rejection.
And to your surprise, you see the gates swing open for them as they are let in with open arms.
You make a mental note of what you’ve just seen.
But the message registers a few steps away.
Suddenly you stop on your tracks upon realising that there are others who are more equal than you in this space…
People who are given preferential treatment because they have some connections to the powers that be and not because they merit.
You see, the gate keepers have been careful about who they let in because they need to preserve the status quo.
They need to preserve the party because its not open to all – even though its not advertised this way.
On the posters and banners, they say that the event is open to all.
But on the ground, ‘all’ signifies all who are part of the clique…part of the special ones.
That’s the gatekeeping culture.
GATEKEEPERS
Gatekeeping isn’t always bad.
Picture a neighborhood watch that appoints several locals to be vigilant at night for security purposes.
They help keep the neighborhood safe from intruders.
But on the flip side, picture a group of individuals entrusted by community as custodians of capital, skills and opportunities only allowing those they deem favourable access them.
As part of the GenX generation, I believe that we owe a duty of opening the gates for our children, the GenZ generation.
How so?
EDUCATION
Schools, colleges and universities avail education to us.
But how much of it is really transformational?
How much of what we learn in class actually changes our communities positively?
And I’m not talking CBC here…
The point I’m trying to make is what are our problems?
– Healthcare
– Food
– Water
– Energy
And you could add more such third world problems.
Can our education fix one or more of these problems in a practical way?
If so, how could we equip our GenZ generation to be at the front line in solving these problems using the education they acquire?
What I mean is can we go beyond the basic scientific knowledge we are used to and start using that same knowledge to innovate…
Cheaper ways of energy storage…
Affordable ways of cleaning and recycling water…
Faster ways of disease diagnosis…
Local manufacture of fertilizers…
These skills (among others) will deliver power in the hands of our young ones helping them serve their communities as they earn a descent living.
And this need not be confined to STEM areas alone.
But as we all know it, we are gifted differently.
So how could we open up the gates for our young people in the
BUSINESS ARENA
If you scout for random young people on the streets, you won’t be short of business ideas that preoccupy their minds.
Some have even tried these ideas with varying levels of success – or failure.
But what are they lacking to help them succeed?
– Startup funding
– Business mentorship
I know most of us would say that business incubation centres exist.
But do they exist where they’re needed the most?
Most innovative ideas reside in the minds of youth who live in sprawling shanty and ghetto neighborhoods.
Why?
Because necessity is the mother of invention.
I’m just thinking of an angel investor setting up a small fund – with the help of his associates – and holding occasional pitching events in such neighborhoods.
The young people would come, pitch their ideas and probably the top 5 getting some funding and mentorship only if their ventures build their communities.
I think I’ll start this initiative sometime in the future.
How would it look if we are willing to open the gates for the young ones through sharing our expertise, time and funds as they build their business ventures?
Yes, they will start small…
But they’ll grow and over time be an influence to others around them.
But business is just another front.
We have more.
SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Being a man born in an inner city ghetto, I’ve seen sports lift many out of poverty.
There are a number of initiatives going on around sports training especially in soccer, athletics etc.
However, some young people fall by the wayside because these centres can only admit a certain number.
Are you given to working with the young on issues such as drug addiction and crime prevention?
Well, sports impact is a great area to be involved in.
All you need is an open public space, a group of young people and some soccer balls – if needed.
I’ve seen soccer coaches committed to training young people grow their talent to such a level that they qualify to play for teams abroad.
What positive change would it be if all of us who have skills in sports training take up this challenge with the children in our neighborhood?
The same would happen if drama and performing arts teachers and coaches would engage those willing in public spaces?
We would be helping them to hone skills and breaking the glass ceiling.
We would be opening the gates for them to an arena of success.
But in the midst of all this, we must remember to be
AUTHENTIC
Authenticity is about being real.
Many times, it’s not in talking about our successes but about our failures.
As a genXer, we are given to putting forward a brave and successful face.
But our kids know that we have seen failure before in our lives.
Why not open up the gate of our failures?
Why not wisely talk about our vulnerabilities and guide our young people in the process?
It’s unfortunate that this is often thought of as weak.
But imagine the impact when a father tells his son that he once failed in business but picked himself up and succeeded?
The falsehoods that we entertain in our society today are fast eroding trust by the young ones.
We see a politician who has clearly stolen public property telling us how they grew their wealth through a business we don’t see.
Small wonder that young people are revolting – even on the streets.
Simply because they don’t see authenticity in us.
Today, our young people are on the streets and they are demanding fairness from the government.
But how can a government that has been complicit to sale of fake fertilizer deliver fair taxation?
How can a government whose appointments have been deeply tribal understand the pain of the unemployed?
How can a government that ignores public participation expect people to accept their tax proposals as fair?
Today, the GenZ generation has shown us the way.
They’re telling us not to accept unfairness.
That we should defy gatekeepers whose aim is to keep us out of the party.
So we should make our voices heard for the gatekeepers to take note.
But if not, then let’s dismantle the gates to help the young ones gain the opportunities meant for them.
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- Source: https://cleannovate.home.blog/2024/06/23/open-the-gates-oh-ye-gatekeepers/