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From the original opinion article in Postimees - 60s were the time of revolution. Not only in the music but in art, fashion, politics, technology and lifestyles as well. It was the time of turbulent change. And in any case it is the time fascinating to look back to, especially for those of us who hadn't even taken their first breath yet.

The young were behind those changes. Young and restless souls. As Robert Kennedy said, this world needed the quality of youth. "Not the youth as a period in time, but youth as a way of thought - willpower, the quality of imagination, boldness dominating over cowardice and desire for adventures over simply making it through," JFK's younger brother said these golden words.

Today's Estonia needs all that. We can do a lot, the old dinosaurs we are (the author is 34 years "old"), but the young are the ones to make Estonia anew. Praise the young and they will flourish - an Irish proverb. Involve the young and the Republic shall flourish, could be an Estonian proverb.

Any business or project that is not initiated by the young or where the young are not involved in as whole hearted owners from the start has the risk of not growing. At least they will not lead our society forward nor contribute in what president Meri called Estonian vigour. I'm not talking about mere daringness. The balance between life experience, knowledge of the world and youthful enthusiasm is important. In youth organisations, e. g. JCI which's Tallinn department I had the honour of managing couple of years ago, it is called mentoring - mutually supportive trust relationship between the more experienced and young newcomers. In Singapore by the way, even the government has a mentor not to mention the new generation of society leaders. I believe that we as well would benefit from using this modern version of master-apprentice relationship!

I write this article because I'm worried. Worried, because our society and our young are moving to different directions. They are like two trains on a branch line, moving apart. The further out of the station they go, the smaller is the chance of them meeting again. Like this year's snow - the larger the pile the longer it melts. Though, in the nature the coming of spring is a given, in the society not so much!

I will tell you a story about Marili.
Marili is an industrious economy student who studied in Netherlands, came to the Development Fund for internship, and with whom I talked about life one day. According to her for a young person Estonia is already complete - you step off the school conveyer, into a country where everything seems to be in place. But at the same time it's too boring and uninspiring, and it's hard to find one's place.

Marili says that Estonia is extremely hostile to new ideas. Everyone's sole purpose, amplified by media, seems to be beating others - mere complaining and making words. Everyone looks back all the time. This is like a wall for a young person, they hesitate with their decisions. And this is where the boldness comes in. Large undertakings of the 90s jumped in the water and learned to swim. Today many lack courage and many don't care. People see themselves outside Estonia. Sportsmen go study in the USA in search of better trainers. The curious go to travel in Australia, etc. This in itself is a good thing. Most young people want to and they should spend one longer period of their lives outside.

"The problem starts when none of the older generations really waits us back," says Marili. It feels like we can't find and don't have a place. And at the same time, among the young, material interests dominate over the desire to be a full fledged member of the society. Everyone asks, what does the society give me for this? People hope to self-make themselves and get "there" on their own. But where is there? "In Estonia it is the status among others - expressed by a new car and a house. Life like in a movie," Marili adds.

In Scandinavia and Europe the focus on the society can be felt more. There are many people, all of them tough. But they do not show it - there is no need to seek attention at any cost like Estonians tend to do.

The Dutch have a dignified history and they are very self-conscious people. At the same time they accept new ideas. Everyone walks with their backs straight, doing their own thing. Estonians do little but talk loud. And no-one wants to be just a good citizen.

There are dogmas in Estonian society that inject complexes and cowardice into the young. You have to be like others, think similar, so that you wouldn't be screwed. You need to keep good relations. If you step on a tail you may endanger your future. Few people, such as Lauristin, say things straight out - they have nothing to lose. That is why many young Estonians going to the world suffer from an inferiority complex.

They feel not important and are modest accordingly. That, in comparison to an American, who has seen nothing outside his country, but feels superior nonetheless. We need to encourage our young to keep their backs straight. It's a question of culture and values we obtain through experience and with the support of our home (and society).
Marili's friends' circle is not a political one. But still they use a saying - let's not talk about politics, it's dirty. If people see that many things are done dirty, that there's juridical correctness without moral one, it develops similar mentality in our young. There has been more of this lately. Direct and open unworthy conduct is equal to spitting to people's faces.

Despite all that young people still go to politics. Especially the high achievers; and even the student bodies are already political. But this could wait. There should be a time to study abroad, understand how the world works, make a professional career and do something in the real life. One should go to the politics only when they have something to give. When there's something you know really well and can rely on when making general politics.

Marili concludes that young people don't know where this country is going. They ask, why should we waste ourselves here? Why's there a glass ceiling to our society, obstructing our growth? These questions are asked by people who actually care about Estonia.

These are merely one youth's feelings towards her country, but they invoke thought. It's the better part of our young that do not feel at home in this society. If we do nothing they might grow to be the next generation of student freedom-fighters. Selfless young in pursuit of justice, the ones we decorate with medals in another three fourths of a century.

Sven Grünberg said that too many grumble about this country. And he said it well, but we must also not forget that the right to grumble is called the freedom of speech - corner stone to democracy. But the constitution also tells as to secure and develop our country. For the present and future generations. With these generations.
In the Development Fund we plan to include more directly at least 100 of our most brilliant young people - our future thought leaders, public figures, businessmen and politicians. To brainstorm together, to debate and to set big goals to our country's economy. What will you do?

Ott.Pärna@arengufond.ee, CEO.