A Change that Brings Transformation
Here in Ireland there is a wonderful television series that follows individual teenagers as they stay with a new family for a week. The teenagers concerned are from inner city areas, or big housing estates. The ones chosen for the programme are struggling with behaviour issues and their parents (often a single mother) are finding it hard to cope.
The teenager talks about their life a little bit at the beginning. Some are starting to get into trouble with the law. Some are addicted to video games. And some are just finding it hard to get out of bed and live their lives. Their surroundings are often bleak. The parent is also interviewed where they express their worries.
A car arrives and takes the teenager on a journey far into the countryside to spend a week on a small, working, family farm. The first thing that happens is that they have to hand over their mobile phone. Then they are given a pair of wellingtons.
The next day, very early, after breakfast with the family, they are taken out and shown how to interact with farm animals, drive tractors, and do the many jobs that make up farming life. They witness the other children in the family helping with the farm chores and are shown how to do their bit.
At first, they are very reluctant. Some are scared of the animals, even chickens. Growing up in the inner city, some have never seen real farm animals. They grumble at the hard work.
But nature and the power of being needed and getting involved works magic. Soon they are relishing the responsibility and enjoying learning new skills. They are feeling part of things. When the girl or boy returns to their old life. they have a new outlook and a new set of experiences to put them on a better road.
It’s a very moving programme. The change that comes over the young person is huge. It would be fabulous if everyone struggling with modern life was given such an opportunity.
I feel the way we live now is very artificial. Animals in the wild do not live as closely with their neighbours as we usually do. Of course, life 200 years ago, before the industrial revolution involved a lot of hardship. But I feel there was a wholesomeness and a sense of purpose that is missing now. There is a sterility to today’s life and a level of comfort that takes a sense of adventure away.
Wouldn’t it be great if all teenagers could go and work on a small farm for a week? I’m not at all sure that the luxuries of modern life have improved human beings. We are losing connection with the real world. I think a camping trip out in the wilds would work just as well.
Sadly, character building experiences like these are only open a few who have fallen by the wayside. It would be nice if adventures like this were a rite of passage that all youngsters could enjoy and benefit from.
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Great as that opportunity sounds these kids are then chucked back into the same bleak housing estates they came from and now they know that there IS another way to live, but that they will almost certainly never have the chance to achieve it. To my mind that’s a very nasty form of mental cruelty.
@waylander In the episodes I have seen, the teens grow very close to the families they stay with. They are usually told that they are welcome back at any time. A follow-up comes on screen and often says that they are now regular visitors in the school holidays. When the teens realise there is a different future they could aim for they usually end up joining the local scouts or other groups or sign up for agricultural college. There is also a psychologist that works with all involved, the teen, the host family and the parent. This work also continues after the programme. It’s really both an injection of energy for the young person, and a torch to say , yes, you could be a farmer or anything you want to be, if you put your mind to it.
If there is follow up as you say, then OK. From your initial post it sounded very cold. Apologies for the misinterpretation.
I guess like @waylander Im a little sceptical. I dont think there is any better way of developing our humanity, team work and work ethic than growing up in a nurturing extended family. Living and working on the land would be an ideal. But I think its hard to genuinely give this experience to a young person of teenage years who has never had this and expect them to run with it. An ethical TV programme may have the resources for follow up and psychological support. But my experience of reality TV is that it very edited. For adults thats fine. You sign up and take your chance.
Sorry but my background in Mental Health has flagged up how an emotionally deprived start in life takes some rectifying.
I think it would be great if we are all in touch with nature a little more, in all its forms. For the majority it seems to occur to us much later in life rather than in our youth unless we are brought up that way. In my older years I can definitely feel the value of understanding and appreciating nature but when I was younger I probably couldn’t have cared less about it. That’s not a good thing obviously, just a reflection on the outlook on life back then as a younger person. It may not be quite like that anymore of course because youngsters these days are more environmentally aware and conscious than we were, and I’m definitely more in tune with nature and animals now too. I was a boy scout (although perhaps not entirely willingly at the time) and that certainly embraced all the values of nature. That movement is smaller now but it still exists and operates. Camping itself isn’t as basic as it once was though, with more luxuries available these days, take ‘Glamping’ for instance. A lot has definitely changed over the years, but some aspects preserving nature and the planet may be slightly better as well now I guess.
I grew up on a big, rather notorious housing estate and I always had this longing for places where nature was in abundance. Of course not everyone feels that way. Some people adore cities, and hustle and bustle. I had a visitor once here in my country home who asked did I not miss being close to theatres, restaurants, good shops and so on. I had to admit, I don’t miss those things. It’s far more important to me to be able to see a hare hop by and look at mountains and lakes. We’re all different. I did the Duke of Edinburgh Awards from the age of 13, which involved camping and hiking in North Wales. As a city kid this was like a dream come true. There was Bronze, Silver, Practise Gold and Gold sections so this was a regular treat. I think anything which expands our horizons and opens us up to possibilities and variety as kids is a good thing. My Mum actually grew up on a tiny island 13 miles long and 3 miles wide and never left it until she was twelve years old. She longed for the excitement and grandeur and sophistication of cities, so I guess that’s the whole concept in reverse. It’s nice if we all get a chance to find our haven in this world.
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