Our youth are under siege. Every day, young people face threats that no child should endure, including intimate partner violence, dating violence, domestic abuse, and the broader dangers of youth violence. This isn’t just about dating violence—it’s a global public health crisis that reaches into every corner of their lives. Statistics show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 4 boys will fall victim to violence before they reach adulthood. The impact? It’s devastating. Their physical, mental, and emotional health is severely affected, with many young people turning to drugs, alcohol, and even suicide as a way to cope with the overwhelming trauma.
The Global Public Health Crisis of Youth Violence
This crisis is not limited to intimate partner violence alone. It intersects with a range of dangerous and exploitative circumstances that our youth are vulnerable to:
- Human trafficking
- Sexual violence
- Gang violence
- Bullying
These interconnected issues make it clear that we are dealing with more than just unhealthy relationships. We are facing a threat that impacts the very future of our world. Youth violence has devastating long-term consequences, leading to cycles of abuse, addiction, and mental health struggles that extend far into adulthood. If we don’t intervene, we are not just losing individuals—we are losing the future leaders of our communities, our society, and our world.
The Physical and Emotional Toll on Youth
Victims of intimate partner violence and youth violence experience a range of severe impacts:
- Physical health consequences like injury, chronic pain, and increased susceptibility to health risks.
- Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation.
- Emotional trauma that affects self-worth, confidence, and the ability to form healthy, trusting relationships.
As young people face these battles, many fall prey to substance abuse as a way to escape their reality, or worse, see suicide as their only option. The time to act is now. This isn’t just about protecting our youth—it’s about saving their futures.
It’s More Than Just Relationships—It’s About Saving Future Generations
The issues young people face today are far greater than any one form of violence. This crisis touches on human trafficking, drug abuse, gang culture, and bullying. It’s a complex web that requires us to take a multifaceted approach, focusing on both education and empowerment.
To truly address this crisis, we must:
- Educate our youth about healthy relationships, boundaries, and self-worth.
- Empower them to become leaders in their own right, so they can stand up for themselves and their peers.
- Provide mentorship and guidance, giving them the tools they need to overcome these challenges.
That’s where the Only 11 Minutes: Youth Leadership and Empowerment Program comes in.
The Only 11 Minutes: Youth Leadership and Empowerment Program
At its core, this program is about creating a generation of young leaders who are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make a positive impact in their own lives and their communities. The program is built on three pillars:
- Education on Healthy Relationships: Teaching youth the importance of recognizing the signs of abuse and helping them understand what a healthy relationship looks like is the first step toward breaking the cycle of violence. Prevention through education is the most powerful tool we have.
- Leadership and Skill Development: It’s not enough to simply educate; we must empower our youth with leadership skills. This gives them the confidence to navigate life’s challenges and inspire others to follow a path of positive change. By fostering emotional intelligence and problem-solving abilities, we are preparing them for future success.
- Mentorship Moments: Connection is key. Through mentorship, we provide our youth with role models who have faced similar challenges and can offer guidance, support, and inspiration. These moments create a bond that helps young people feel seen, heard, and capable of achieving greatness.
Saving Tomorrow’s Leaders, One Educated and Empowered Youth at a Time
Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow. If we want to save our future, we must start with them. The Only 11 Minutes program provides the education and empowerment young people need to break free from the cycle of violence and rise as confident, capable leaders.
This is not just about addressing an issue of dating or intimate partner violence—it’s about creating systemic change. It’s about building a world where future generations can thrive, free from the traumas of their past. Our youth have the potential to lead, but only if we give them the tools to do so.
If we do nothing, we are letting a public health crisis claim the lives and futures of countless young people. But if we act, we can save lives and secure a future where today’s youth grow into tomorrow’s leaders.
Interested in Learning More? Schedule a Call
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can help us build the leaders of tomorrow through the Only 11 Minutes: Youth Leadership and Empowerment Program, I invite you to schedule a call with us. Together, we can change the trajectory of this global public health crisis. Together, we can save Promise—the promise for them all.
Schedule a call today to get involved and make a difference.