Eneli Kindsiko: Young people don't disappear, even when ignored

Eneli Kindsiko writes that public resources are increasingly directed towards resolving security crises, but young people's concerns do not vanish simply because another crisis appears larger. Young people rendered invisible will eventually present society with a bill.

The world has become more dangerous and public resources inevitably follow the most visible crises. In this competition for attention, young people are often the losers — their problems are not explosive or loud, but neither have they disappeared.

Eneli Kindsiko raises a question that should sound like an alarm bell in the ears of all decision-makers: what happens to a society that systematically chooses to ignore one generation's needs? The answer is not optimistic. Young people whose concerns go unheard and to whom resources are not allocated do not disappear — they present a bill later, often at a much higher cost.

The growth in security spending is understandable and necessary. But it should not come at the expense of youth policy, education and mental health services. Short-term savings in support for young people bring long-term damage to workforce quality, social cohesion and the nation's sustainability.

Kindsiko's message is simple but striking: crises are not a competition. Threats at the borders and a crisis among young people do not exclude each other — both demand attention, both demand accountability. A society that renders its young people invisible is building its future on a shaky foundation.