The western culture today is taking a toll on the lifestyle of many teens. Some of the things the youth copy from the western world that are seemingly ‘cool’ such as dress code, taking drugs, way of walking, foreign accents and the way we relate with elders, are disastrous. This  trend is spreading through social media, movies and music.

The Rwandan teens, unfortunately, have been consumed by the trend too. They do not care about the origin or basis for this uncultured behaviour, but instead just embrace it so as to be seen and admired by other teens.

For example, smoking and taking drugs is widely done by many celebrities in the western world. This influences the teens since they think it is what should be done so as to be accepted and recognised in the society. This has bad influence on  the teens since it has resulted into wrong doing, for example, stealing from their parents to get the money to spend on these expensive exploits.

The influence of the western world has also resulted into ill health and in some cases death because when youth start taking drugs, they get addicted and contract deadly diseases like lung and liver cancer.

The western world influence has also led to the decay in discipline amongst the teens since they tend to follow in the footsteps of their counterparts in the western world who disrespect elders, especially their parents.

I invite the teens to reflect on these questions; What would happen if the internet and televisions were not there? How would today’s teenagers be? How would they act towards different kinds of people? Wouldn’t there be boredom?”

Teenagers are considered leaders of tomorrow and this is why it continuously makes me wonder how the next generation will be when the youth are acting this way. I imagine, the implication is that the coming generation will be dominated by smoking, drinking, drug abuse, indecent dressing and indiscipline.

This is the reason teenagers require a thorough training and sensitisation so as to know what exactly they are supposed to copy from the western world, especially aspects that are going to bring about a positive change in the country’s development.

By Ishimwe Olga, S.5 student, Gashora Girls Academy