Urgency of youth clubs

SIR' — Mrs. Meredith's views on Youth Work are shared by other Catholics, who have been trained for professional youth work.
At the end of February some fourteen Catholics have completed a Youth Leadership at the National College for the Training of Youth Leaders in Leicester. Only very few of these have taken up a job as youth leaders in Catholic clubs.
The reason, as Mrs. Meredith has said is that there are still very few openings for them in our own clubs. Many of them would have liked to get a job within a church setting, but this was not available.
I was a student at the above institution, but being an overseas student I returned to my country as soon as the course was over. During my stay in the United Kingdom, I got to know some of the problems that young Catholics have to face Mrs. Meredith mentions lapsing among Catholic school leavers, and delinquency. One of the major problems is that young people are not fully understood, and that they do not occupy within the church the place that belongs to them.
When they were still at school, they were blessed with all the cares of Holy Mother Church and with all forms of facilities. When the break takes place the problems start.
Young people feel that they should be treated like adults, and in some of our Church settings they are treated worse than when they were still at school, and very little provision is made for them.
While other organisations have made great progress, our clubs have remained the Church halls run by voluntary workers. There are many reasons for this, and one is not trying to blame the people who do this kind of work, but there is still a lot to be done.
The National Federation of Catholic Youths Clubs, and its energetic organiser ought to be congratulated. Mr. C. J. James is doing all in his power to put youth work on its feet, and I am sure that Mr. James will succeed. What is needed is more clergy and laity who are aware of the needs of our younger generation.
Paul J. Gales Malta.