Adolescence

“To provide the opportunity for adolescents to develop… their individual capacities in safe and enabling environments that empower them to participate in, and contribute to their societies.” From "Adolescence: A time that matters"

Adolescence is a period of transition depending on many variables and factors that influence and determine their wellbeing and development. They are not a homogeneous group.  They live in varied circumstances with different needs and experiences which vary not only in relation to gender but also ethnicity, culture, disability, economic, educational and social status.

Substantial investments in the health and education of adolescents and young people, if designed and implemented effectively, will enable them to effectively participate and shape their own lives and and the future of their communities and countries.  

The successful achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 will require the urgent and increased attention of policy makers on young people. It could be argued that today’s generation of adolescents are the primary targets, beneficiaries and actors of the full realization of the MDGs. They will be the young adults whose lives are most impacted by the levels of achievement of the goals.  At the same time, not only do all eight MDGs impact on adolescents, but adolescents themselves are, and need to be recognized, as playing a key role in their attainment.

Investments aimed at creating human capital (i.e. improving access to preventive or curative health services, or improving the coverage, quality and relevance of educational programmes) result in a better trained, more productive young population with greater potential to contribute to local, national and international development.  It will also enable governments to achieve the economic growth required to meet the needs of their populations. 

Programmes to develop and utilize the creativity of adolescents and young people are key to maintaining the innovations which lie at the heart of development in todays globalized economy.