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SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

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<strong>THE</strong> RIGHT START IN LIFE<br />

Young people’s choices, capabilities and opportunities<br />

have profound impacts not only on their<br />

own lives, but also on their societies. While<br />

policy makers sometimes see young people as a<br />

‘problem’ group, a large young population, where<br />

youth have the right chances to make their way in<br />

life, can catalyse enormous human development<br />

gains and the demographic dividend.<br />

Policy decisions can help or hamper this<br />

process. A positive childhood, adolescence and<br />

youth, with a high-quality education, good<br />

nutrition, sound health, ready access to decent<br />

employment and an empowered voice in decision-making,<br />

can set young people on a successful<br />

path. But if many youth end up struggling with<br />

little sense of hope for the future, their potential<br />

may be lost—an unjustifiable cost.<br />

Many Asia-Pacific countries are entering a<br />

demographic transition, where any dividend<br />

depends heavily on young people having the<br />

right capabilities and opportunities. This is a<br />

critical moment. Decisions made today—about<br />

and with youth—will determine the future for<br />

everyone. Countries making the right choices<br />

will derive tremendous benefits from the energy<br />

and idealism of the largest generation of young<br />

people in history.<br />

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