This post originally appeared at Gloobbi
With unemployment rates surpassing well over 50 percent, Spain’s youth are at the forefront of the economic meltdown currently spanning Europe, particularly key countries within the Eurozone.
Gloobbi decided to send its photographer, Dela, to the Iberian Peninsula to find out what was really happening in the country and to get the direct opinion from young Spanish people, between the ages of 18 to early 30’s, on their account of the social, economic and political climate of their nation.
The “What Millions of Young People Really Think” project was sparked by artist Adrian Fisk’s project, “iSpeak,” in China and India and taken up by Gloobbi in France (click HERE for the link) and Spain, to be followed by other countries and continents.
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The project is a way to give a voice to a marginalize, yet significant group of young citizens who are too often drown out by the more senior voices within their social contract.
While in Spain, Dela spoke with hundreds of young adults from different areas of the country. A key surprise from the inquiry was how highly politically and financially astute was the bulk of the young population Dela encountered throughout his mission.
Many expressed deep-seated concern for Spain’s increasing national deficit of over €1.05 trillion, or $1.30 trillion, and the recent agreement within the Eurozone to lend Spain up to €100 billion, $123 billion, for what is essentially a massive bailout for banks and their faulty investments in the property market.
When asked for his opinion, Pau Escoda, a 21-year-old student from Sant Just Desvern near Barcelona, vividly stated that his father has a saying “My family does not owe money, let those who owe pay up!” Another participant, Manuel Adrade, had little faith in both his country’s government and the European Union, expressing disbelief that the two institutions were faithfully working for the benefit of the Spanish people.
Yet, amongst all the angst and the obvious concerns for an insecure future, there was a resounding and somewhat assuring strength in Spain’s youth. Many expressed that it is up to the individual and the sheer will of the people, and not any form of legislation or political leader, that will set the country on the right path for prosperity.
If there is one general consensus from Gloobbi’s project in Spain, it is that most young people believe that through hard work, by weeding out the system and key players that have lead the country down its turbulent road, the Spanish nation can bounce back from the rails of economic decay into a formidable example for the rest of Europe.
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