A Mega-Generation of Hope

The youth population today is larger than it has ever been. Today’s mega generation of hope has the power to create a more just and equitable world.

But our fast-paced world seems to have designed the toughest ever challenges for this largest ever generation. Strategies found in old playbooks seem antiquated for young people growing up in a world in which population growth outstrips our ability to harvest and preserve natural resources, global economic stability is fragile, and the rights of women and girls still come in second far too often.

For those of us working to improve global health, this mega-generation is an opportunity to instill an understanding and appreciation for adopting healthier behaviors that can be passed on to the next generation.

But first we must be able to reach them.

Young people now have one thing undeniably in common with all of us formerly young people: they are focused on themselves. The global health community must strive to make our messages relevant and simple to understand. They must convey information in a way that fosters a productive discussion among youth.

At the recent International Conference on Family Planning in Dakar, Senegal, PSI hosted a panel discussion titled “Passing the Baton,” where up-and-coming young leaders in reproductive health grilled their veteran counterparts who led and shaped this movement over the last few decades. As our veterans noted, we need younger voices and a fresh wave of leadership to see us through the challenges of the 21st century. We need to bring a fresh perspective to the fight against HIV, we need innovative programming that addresses the issue of child marriage, and we need youth ingenuity on overcoming barriers to access family planning and reproductive health services.

Like all of us, I see the spark of hope in my own children, two of three of whom were born overseas, and therefore, who grew up with a global perspective. When my daughter visited an HIV counseling and testing center in Haiti last year, she was most inspired by the courage and strength of her young Haitian counterparts who were taking the time to educate themselves about HIV prevention.

Connecting to help solve pressing social challenges is something the Generation of Hope is inclined – and networked – to do. We need to communicate effectively with them, listen to them and, eventually, get out of their way.