I have worked with youth for years and the things I have learned has been astounding. In my professional position, many youth will confide in me and speak truthfully of their situation and their problems.
Altruism is wonderful and so are boys clubs and ?places to hang out? and recreation centers.
But you want to know what the bottom line really is?ECONOMICS. They want the things they see. The Reeboks, the designer jeans, the material items of the ?good life?. They don?t want to go to a Rec center if they can?t be dressed ?cool? to go there.
What they want and need are legitimate after school jobs that pay a decent salary for them to get the things they want/need. One patient confided to me that they make far more in 30 minutes on their back than they can flipping hamburgers for a week at MacDonalds. And, that is, if they can get a job at MacDonalds! There are very few jobs in developing countries for adolescents. So, if there is a way to prevent abuse and exploitation, it is thru legitimate employment opportunity and education. Most college graduates can not find decent employment, so what?s left for a high school kid?