Youth development is about people, programs, institutions and systems who provide all youth—"troubled" or not—with the supports and opportunities they need to empower themselves.

Consider this:

• At over 1 billion, today’s youth (15-24) represent the largest cohort ever to enter the transition to adulthood, with nearly 9 out of every 10 living in the developing world.
• Globally, young people represent 47% of all unemployment.
• 113 million of young people are illiterate.
• Early pregnancy rates are reflected in the youth population, with 13 million girls aged 17-19 giving birth each year.
• Young people account for nearly half of all new HIV infections.
• Countries with 40% or more young people aged 15-29 are twice as likely to break out in civil conflict during the 1990s.

Learn more about the importance of ensuring that children and young people have a good start in life!

Sources:

Center for Youth Development and Policy Research

http://web.worldbank.org