Lack of community responsibility

Although many people are searching for effective and significant methods of corporate activity, there are less opportunities for total citizen engagement. Total expenditure of energy into a job and family life are no longer adequate means of full engagement in community life. Social clubs and groups have also become ineffective in this direction. Apparent reasons are varied: few social events bring people together regularly; the public nature of assuming leadership roles tends to draw increased criticism, making recruitment difficult; individuals hesitate to speak their opinion publicly for fear of not drawing support; individuals and family units have few opportunities to directly contribute to the community's life; parents frequently have lost sight of their role as guide and supporter for their children and have accordingly given up parental responsibility to the school, neighbours and television; lack of structured community life has emphasized the influence of the youth peer group and left their potential untapped; and alcohol use and child abuse are concerns, but no communal approach has been developed to cope with these problems which leave families and individuals on their own.