Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2005 Revision, http://esa.un.org/unpp.

EQUIP3 recognizes that youth are an extremely valuable asset to the social and economic life of their countries. In many parts of the world, by the time a child is thirteen he or she already carries a significant amount of responsibility in the household or may even be an income earner. Furthermore, in many communities, youth make up the majority of the local population; as a result, youth voices can be crucial expressions of overall community needs.

Rather than be seen as liabilities, young people can and should be seen as assets for community development. When appropriately engaged and adequately prepared for roles in the worlds of work, family life, and civil society, youth often become key actors in the strengthening and transformation of their nations.

Keeping out-of-school youth safe and preventing risky behavior is reason enough to invest in them. But beyond preventing negative outcomes, re-focusing policy attention and funding on out-of-school youth promotes key positive outcomes as well:

Productivity gains for industry and business: Out-of-school youth are uniquely resourceful and hard-working. Unlike youth who spend their days in a classroom environment, most out-of-school youth are engaged in an active struggle for basic survival. When programs help youth shift these skills into a formal workplace or small business, the productivity gains for employers, industries, and the youth themselves are dramatic.

Overall demand increases, boosting economic growth: Employed young people spend their money on goods and services, boosting overall economic growth. Training strategies that aid young people’s entry into the labor force ultimately help increase the size and spending power of this group, which in turn drives national economic growth.

Greater overall social cohesion: Despite their disenfranchisement from mainstream social, economic, and political contexts, most out-of-school youth still have a strong desire to take part in local social action and broader “nation-building” and will value any chance to do so. Investing in out-of-school youth—in the form of civil service-learning programs or other initiatives—gives them the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to mainstream society, thereby minimizing their marginalization and strengthening the social fabrics of communities.

Intergenerational benefits: Educated and healthy youth are more likely to emphasize the education and health of their own children. Therefore, small present-day investments can appreciate in value over time—and bring highly cost-effective returns to scale in the long run in the form of healthier, better-educated, and more economically successful families.

Cross-sectoral benefits: Providing out-of-school youth with nonformal education or skills training isn’t merely a productive end goal in itself—it’s a starting point for raising awareness about other key issues, including poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, and active citizenship. And as youths’ needs are met in more holistic ways, violent and risky behavior (which often peaks during adolescent years) can be mitigated and managed, thus minimizing risks to peace and stability.

Truly, the experience of youth today will determine the quality of the next generation of workers, parents, and leaders. Developing their skills and engaging them with the broader community will have long-lasting effects not only for the youth, but for their families and their nations.