A parent meeting on preventing destructive processes among young people was held at KBSU

A meeting between representatives of the republic’s ministries and agencies and parents was held at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov. Participants discussed key aspects of child safety, combating delinquency and cybercrime, drug addiction, and other pressing contemporary challenges.

The event was organized by the Kabardino-Balkarian Ministry of Youth Affairs, together with Kabardino-Balkarian State University, the Kabardino-Balkarian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Kabardino-Balkarian Ministry of Health. Similar meetings, at the request of the Head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, have already been held in all municipalities of the republic, and over 10,000 parents participated.

The first to address the meeting was the Minister of Youth Affairs of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Azamat Lyuyev, who emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue between family and government:

«Our task today is not to preach, but to warn about the problems and dangers that beset our children.» The statistics are relentless: those drawn into destructive activities are getting younger. More than half of the children who find themselves in criminal groups come from perfectly prosperous, affluent families. The most important thing we’re losing today is face-to-face communication. We must stay in touch with our children, understand their lives, and remember: our actions always set an example for them.»
Senior State Inspector of the Analytical Department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Zaur Balkarov, cited alarming statistics on traffic accidents involving minors and urged parents to remember their own responsibility:

«Unfortunately, since the beginning of the year, we’ve lost 34 people on the republic’s roads, and this figure is growing. It’s important to remember that a parent is a child’s first authority and primary role model. When an adult crosses the road in an unauthorized place or allows a teenager to drive «just for a drive on a country road,» they don’t realize they’re ruining their child’s life. Children don’t know how to recognize danger; they simply imitate us, so our personal example is a matter of life and death.»

Galina Yakovleva, Senior Inspector of the Juvenile Affairs Department of the Kabardino-Balkarian Ministry of Internal Affairs, warned parents about schemes to recruit young people into crime under the guise of easy money:

«Teenagers often look for part-time jobs to avoid having to ask their parents for money, and they fall into the trap of scammers. They are offered ‘easy money’ for delivering bags, courier services, or registering bank cards in their own names, but they end up complicit in serious crimes related to drug trafficking or extremism. Our task is not to be passive; we must talk to children and explain that there is no such thing as a free lunch.»
Zaur Tlekhuraev, Head of the Destructive Processes Prevention Department at the Kabardino-Balkarian Multifunctional Youth Center, emphasized digital literacy and social engineering, noting that criminals are even using children’s games in their schemes:

«In the cyberspace, our children are merely expendable for criminals. Fraudsters carefully study a teenager’s profile, offering them «romantic friendship» or easy money through cryptocurrency, luring them into illegal schemes. We must teach young people critical thinking so that before committing an online act, they ask themselves: ‘What will this lead to and who is behind it?'»
Hasan Khushtov, Head of the Admissions Department at the Nalchik Narcological Dispensary, shared statistics on youth addictions and urged parents not to ignore the first warning signs:

«Addiction is rapidly becoming more prevalent among younger people, and it often begins with seemingly harmless vapes and snus. Parents need to pay attention to behavioral changes: secrecy, aggression, changes in social circles. But most importantly, you should become the person your child turns to first in a critical situation. A happy family isn’t necessarily a wealthy family; it’s a family where absolute trust reigns.»
Aslan Khamizov, a psychologist and assistant at the Institute of Pedagogy, Psychology, and Physical Education and Sports at KBSU, spoke about the psychological aspects of adolescence, bullying, and the ability to assert personal boundaries:

«Children who are prone to bullying or easily fall into bad company often grow up either in an overprotective environment or in an emotionally cold environment. We substitute the concept of love with material security or permissiveness. But true parental love is emotional acceptance of the child, supporting their right to make mistakes, and simultaneously instilling a sense of responsibility for their actions.» Summing up the meeting, Rezuan Kumykov, head of the Department of Youth Policy and Social Affairs at KBSU, emphasized that the university cannot replace families, but is always ready to partner with students in their development:

«We can’t protect our children from making mistakes. Our students are smart and capable, but only by uniting the efforts of family, society, and the state, and passing on the legacy of our ancestors, can we raise a truly worthy generation.»
During the meeting, parents received informational materials, leaflets with QR codes, and helpline numbers where they could anonymously seek psychological support. The organizers expressed hope that the information they received would help adults and children become closer and avoid many tragedies.