Youth Ambassador Calls for Greater Investment, Stronger Support to Tackle Youth Crime

By Azara Lavia
National Youth Ambassador Christal Percival is calling for greater investment in early intervention, mentorship and community-based support as concerns continue to grow over crime and violence involving young people.
Speaking exclusively to Observer Media, Percival said addressing youth crime requires more than responding after young people have already become involved in offending. She believes greater attention must be given to understanding the personal, family, social and economic circumstances that can influence their decisions.
“I’m very concerned about the current level of crime and violence involving young people,” Percival said. “And as a youth myself, I believe we have to ask ourselves whether we are doing enough to understand what is driving our young people to this point.”
She stressed that understanding the factors behind offending should not be seen as excusing criminal behaviour. Rather, she said, identifying challenges early can allow families, communities and agencies to provide appropriate support before young people reach the point of offending.
Percival identified a lack of positive support and guidance as one of the major factors affecting young people. She said some youth are particularly vulnerable to negative influences when they do not have strong support systems around them.
She is therefore calling for more mentors, particularly positive male role models for young men, while also emphasising the important role fathers can play by being present, active and involved in their children’s lives.
Young people, she said, need adults who are willing to listen to them, guide them and hold them accountable.
“I do believe we need more mentors, particularly positive male role models for young men,” Percival said.
Percival also questioned whether existing programmes are reaching the young people most at risk. She noted that many initiatives tend to engage youth who are already connected to schools, churches or other organisations, while young people outside those spaces may be left without consistent support.
She believes intervention must therefore extend beyond traditional institutions and move directly into communities.
“We need to meet young people where they are,” she said.
That means building relationships with at-risk youth, gaining their trust and maintaining consistent contact with them. Percival cautioned that short-term programmes are unlikely to produce lasting change, arguing that communities must be prepared to invest the time required to establish meaningful relationships.
“We cannot simply have intervention for one month and then expect to see lasting change,” she said.
According to the youth ambassador, intervention must also begin at home. Parents and guardians need to take a greater interest in their children’s lives by knowing where they are, who they associate with and what activities they are involved in.
She added that family involvement must be supported by opportunities that keep young people positively engaged.
Percival pointed to after-school programmes, sports, arts, technical and trade programmes, entrepreneurship and mentorship as important avenues through which young people can develop their skills and discover their purpose.
She believes young people who can see positive pathways for their future are better positioned to make constructive choices.
At the same time, Percival said young people themselves cannot remain on the sidelines. They have a responsibility to become involved in addressing the challenges affecting their communities, including advocating for themselves and their peers and having honest conversations with young people who may be at risk.
She again stressed the importance of reaching those who are not connected to established institutions and going into communities to engage them directly.
“If we genuinely want to prevent young people from turning to crime, we have to be willing to invest time, build trust, and show them consistently that their communities are caring for them and care about their future,” Percival said.
According to Percival, young people should not be viewed solely as victims of the country’s crime problem. They must also be recognised as an important part of the solution.
She is urging families, communities, government agencies and youth organisations to strengthen their efforts to provide young people with the guidance, accountability and opportunities necessary to help them build positive futures.
“Young people are not just affected by what’s happening in our country. We are also part of the solution,” she said.