In-School Productivity Campaign | To be productive, we must know our role

'Our youth are our future' is a statement that we have become accustomed to either hearing or saying. But do we understand the implications of this? If written another way, this statement could be expressed, 'The social and economic state of our country depends on the character and skill sets of our upcoming generation.' When we put it like this, the urgency of being deliberate with how we interact and help to grow our youth becomes evident.

For Child Month, the Information and Communication Unit of the Jamaica Productivity Centre has decided to focus our attention on our children and continue to educate them on productivity tools and concepts. We believe that once these concepts become an entrenched part of the way they operate, they will find better end results holistically. More productive individuals contribute to more productive companies/firms, which lend to the foundation of a productive nation.

But Child Month also calls to attention the need to get all our change agents on board, to ensure that our youth will have the requisite guidance, support and resources necessary to become productive individuals.

We made a trip to Grace Apostolic Church in Mandeville to be a part of their Youth Week celebrations. In this setting, we had an opportunity to speak to children, young adults, parents and community members.

We saw it as important to speak to - in the same space and at the same time - a wide cross section of persons who are integral to establishing the productivity culture. Having youth understand their responsibility for self-growth and the coinciding importance to the growth of their country is critical in encouraging their participation in anything.

Of equal importance is for our other change agents to understand the role they play in equipping our youth towards national improvement. The role of change agent varies in each situation and can be:

- Leadership: Guidance by mentorship, exemplifying behaviours and a way of operating that is logical, efficient, timely and overall productive.

- Support: Youth need to be continuously encouraged in a positive direction. After they have been furnished with the requisite knowledge and skills, allow them to make their decisions and innovate ways towards their goals. Even though adults should be the voice of reason, do not discourage non-traditional approaches. Be open to new ways - just have contingency plans for any eventualities.

- Dependable resource: Persons should make themselves, their skills and network available to youth who show potential, interest or inclination towards a particular thing. Youth can be passionate and have an interest, but without persons that they can call on, they will lose hope, imagination and their creative mind.

It is a well-known notion that productivity is key to growth in our individual endeavours, in companies and the economy. What seems to elude us is, 'How can we as individuals make this happen?' ' What are our individual roles?'

We have to move from solely talk to initiating action. We must recognize that we are agents of change and identify what capacity is of most value for us to operate in: leader, supporter or dependable human resource. Once we determine our role, we can mobilise action towards the end goal of supporting our youth to improve our country.

- Sashelle Gooden is senior communication specialist at the Jamaica Productive Centre.