The Challenge

Recent census data now shows that more than half of the world's population are under 25 years of age, and that most of them live in deteriorated urban areas. Of these, the great majority of youth are poor and unable to enter the "Era of Information". Worldwide, millions of young women and men are facing hunger, limited educational opportunities, poor access to health and development services and are barely surviving in a severely depleted environmental setting. Millions of youth are having to creatively construct their futures in regions devastated by post-industrial poverty, war, natural disasters and the aids pandemic. Growing up in such an environment exposes them to hopelessness, violence, drugs, alcoholism and crime. Lack of options, coupled with the despair of their surroundings, makes it hard for many young people to visualize themselves successful, or even surviving by the age of 25. It would appear that each new generation seems doomed to repeat the hopeless and helpless lives of their parents.

International conferences have recognized that while youth are a majority of the world's population, they are a low budget priority when governments consider programs for them. By 2010, 2.8 billion youth will have reached working age. What is in store for them? . What can be expected for youth who are considered to be "out of the system"? On local and national levels, benefits offered to young people are typically geared at co-opting them politically, without regard to their needs and goals. Instead of investing in greater educational or employment opportunities, government officials usually address the "problem" of youth by promoting limited sports programs or spending money on more prisons and stronger security forces. Young people are excluded from making decisions about their own future and lack ways to channel their energy into productive means. TEKIO seeks to involve youth in creating their own future through unique and innovative approaches to addressing social and environmental issues.