Mr. Marcel Mendy, the Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council has disclosed that about 6.6m young people worldwide are currently displaced by armed conflicts, many of whom are exposed to violence, acute poverty and separation from their communities. How horrible it is to have so many people displaced?

When will the world know that peace and propagation are the two most delightful things?

According to Mr. Mendy, the silent majority of the world today consists of young people, who remain silent because of apathy and ignorance.

He further posited that this young people are often confronted with additional barriers because of the lack of sufficient education, healthcare, protection, livelihood opportunities, recreational activities, friendship and family support.

Mr. Mendy was speaking over the weekend during the celebrations marking the one-year anniversary of the United Guardian Youth for Development, held at the President International Award School Hall in Bakau.

Mr. Mendy’s advice for young people of this nation to cast off apathy, and join the quest for world peace is vital. As he put it, we have nothing to loose but gain.

He also noted that drug abuse gives rise to dependence, both physical and psychological, and that dependence gives rise to mental, emotional, biological or physical, social and economic instability.

Youths should pay heed to this genuine advice of Mr. Mendy as the cream of the nation and desist from any form of unproductive lifestyle.

Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed.

People should not only be made to follow a course of action, but they should be made to understand it too.

Peace-building and the prevention or transformation of conflict and building a culture of peace is to promote the active participation of youths in nation-building.

“I wanted to avoid violence. Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed”.

Gandhi