In many parts of the world there is teenage boom…much like baby boom in USA after the second world war. Currently, the total population of 10 -24 year-olds is estimated at 1.5 billion, of which 86 percent live in developing countries. The growth is most rapid in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. Some suggest the possibility of a critical, and potentially dangerous, global generation gap as emerging adolescent populations age and their political and economic expectations rise.
The World Bank’s 2006 World Development Report found:
- Nearly half of all unemployment in the world is among young people.
- 500,000 young people under the age of 18 are recruited by military and paramilitary groups.
- 300,000 have been involved in armed conflict in more than 30 countries.
- 13 million adolescents give birth each year.
- Young people account for nearly half of all new HIV infections.
Many nations and global developmental agencies are keeping a close eye on this growing breed of teens. What does church or youth ministries have to say about this?
In a book on the impact of globalization on missions called “One world or many”, I have written two chapters on global emerging cultures of youth, which I had called as TechnoCulture & TerrorCulture. Young people around the world are gravitating towards one or the other, much like debates of Lexus/Olive Tree or McWorld/Jihad.
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