05/06/2025
15 years old!
My parents wanted to teach me a lesson and so they threw me out of the house. I never looked back. I wasn’t a bad kid, I loved my parents (they loved me) but I just wanted to smoke my w**d, drink beer, and skip school. Plus, my English teacher had already suggested that I quit school because I would never amount to anything. I hated school and skipped more days than I attended. Why? When I look back now at my report cards from school, I see nothing but 4, 5’s in everything. But there were also 10’s in biology, psychology, human anatomy, American literature, creative writing… and these are the things that I am still great at and interested in today. Who will identify a young persons natural talents?
Today I consider myself as just another brick in the wall of Brabant’s Street Culture & Hip-Hop Scene. Some consider me an expert!
The world moves much faster than when we were young, and this generation is under immense pressure, surrounded by triggers and distractions. I am passionate about what I do and truly believe in their abilities. We must pay more attention to our young people, they are our future.
Every young person has a talent. That may be painting walls, laying bricks, playing the piano, or reading and writing. But, everyone excels at something!
If we aren’t there to help them recognize their talents, support their growth, encourage them, and guide them, we risk losing them. And when we lose them, well… for some, there’s no telling where they will end up. I know, because I was one of them.
Creative individuals are exactly that, individuals. They think differently and, without guidance, they can struggle with self-esteem, feel isolated, and often lose touch with their potential because they don’t feel 'like everyone else.' I love my work and the joy of seeing a young person realize they aren’t alone and that it’s okay to just be ME!
How can the government justify cutting funding for culture?
The price we pay is the development of our young people at the most formative stage of their lives. The results of these budget cuts will affect us all. Every cent removed from cultural programs is a direct loss for Helmond.
For some, the word 'culture' is just that, a word. But what it really represents is an investment in our future. Reducing cultural funding carries consequences far beyond the “budget.” In connection with our cultural youth, we should focus more on their creative and social skills. Help them learn to problem solve, manage modern-day triggers, develop coping mechanisms to avoid being bullied, and understand how and why not to become bullies themselves.
I want to empower the youth! They have a story to tell, and I want to give them the chance to do exactly that. Tell their story in their way and in their own language. Let’s help them build self-confidence and discover their own unique potential. Investing in our kids and young adults today is a step towards a better future for all of us, tomorrow.
—Leanne Carlisle, Chair of Stichting RAUW!
