Disturbingpictures and a short video of a drunk girl heading home on a motorbike have been making rounds on social media platforms, especially on messaging service WhatApp, provoking renewed debate on the moral decadence that seem to pose a real threat to the future of the country’s young generations. Apparently the young girl had passed out and the motorcyclist was stuck with her, clueless about the exact location of her home. These images did not come as a surprise to those who have been keenly following the increasingly reckless lifestyle of many of Rwandan youths, including high school teenagers –boys and girls alike. Scenes of teen binge-drinking are commonplace in Kigali’s entertainment spots and house parties, often resulting in many of these gullible youths passing out in the process and being exposed to assault, accidents, among others. A while back, bars and other entertainment venues were warned by the police against underage drinking. However, underage teens (involving especially teenagers who are a year or two shy of turning 18) openly drinking in bars is no longer a rarity these days. This begs the question; do parents or guardians of these teens know about their whereabouts during those awkward night hours? Do such parents still care about the safety and upbringing of their children? Yes, Kigali and indeed Rwanda in general is one of the most peaceful places, at any time of the day, globally, but does this give parents leeway to let their guard down and abandon their parental responsibilities? While pop culture and western values (or lack of thereof) understandably have a big influence on young people all over the world, often with far-reaching implications, it is incumbent upon Rwandan parents to do their job of raising children who are sensitive to Rwanda’s values of good moral character, self-respect, and responsible citizenship. It is only when parents are playing their rightful role both in the family and community that efforts to combat such ills as excessive drinking, especially among the youth; drug abuse; and sexual misconduct can bear fruit. At the moment it appears that many parents need to go back to the drawing board as far as parenting is concerned.
