YAW: Manifesto
One would think that we live in a time of global war. The youth are more anxious, depressed and cynical than the all the elderly. Suicide rates amongst young people are at an all-time high in certain parts of the world. Younger people are facing difficulty with finding meaningful professions, as well as expressing themselves creatively. Despite this unprecedented accessibility to information, education and entertainment in this new age, the youth are seemingly the most disconnected in this world. “Youth At War” is not a metaphor, it is not poetic. It is candid. It is the term that articulates the daily battles that the young people fight, just so that they can maintain their sanity in a crazy world. For the youth, this is wartime. And the worst part is that everyone feels like they are fighting this all on their own.
However, “Youth At War” can also be something else. It is something else, at least, for Addai (aka YAW Majesty). He developed this brand over the period of several years with a vision in my mind; a new rebellion, a new anarchy, but also a new unity of the struggling youth. Why? Is it just so the youth can raise their middle fingers in the air against the corporates, enforcers and legislators of the world? No. Is it just so younger people can ride a new wave that will make them feel special, different and perhaps better than their friends and colleagues? No. Is it just another movement like every other, which fights against the status quo for the sake of it, only so that the oppressed can someday become the oppressors? No.
“Youth At War” is not just about “fighting the man”. It is about fighting for the youth. It is about making youthful creativity the “Plan A” in people’s lives, not some hobby that keeps you stable. It is about creating platforms for people to truly express who they are, in a society that craves the attention of people who don’t know who they are. It is not about likes or followers, but love and leaders. That looks like young people loving whatever they do and being the leaders of their own lives. “Youth At War” is not just about the war, but about the victory. It is about the youth truly winning in this age. And maybe the most important thing, it is about making the youth going through this daily struggle realise that they are not alone. That it can all be beaten, if they do it together.
So, yes. We’re the killing the “9 to 5”, so that the youth can push themselves 24/7. We’re breaking the rules, because the youth’s freedom is on the other side. And we’re making a noise, so that the youth do not have to listen to the same lie over and over again; that the world is the way it is and that there’s no changing it.  This is not a careless, reckless, destructive tantrum. This is a branded, strategised and intentional assault on the daily battles that plague the youth. This is war. This is Youth At War.