The global population is generally young. Those under 30 years old accounted for 50.5% of the world's 7 billion population in 2012 (Euromonitor International, 2012). About 90% of these young people live in economically developing countries with a “youth bulge,” or the peak of youth share in the population (Sen and Kakar, 2017) in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Their numbers continue to increase and by 2014, according to the United Nations (UN) Population Fund, those between the ages of 10 to 25 reached a record number, historically, of 1.8 billion (Kedmey, 2014). In 2017, it is estimated that the group aged 15-24 years old will have increased from 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion in 2050 (Population Reference Bureau, 2017). At this crucial moment of possible “demographic dividend” (Momani, 2015), this book calls attention to the plight of young people as they leave their communities and venture to places around the world.

“Youth is the hope of the country,” is a phrase often heard from governments, politicians, practitioners, and others worldwide. Growing up in the Philippines, for example, the “youth-hope” dictum was, and still is, produced almost daily in classrooms, pulpits, and other public pronouncements to invigorate positive youth involvement in communities following a popular quote of its national hero, Jose Rizal. In other parts of the world, the same idea resonates and no doubt carries very strong notions of investing in youth development for national progress. Based on the 2016 Global Youth Development Index, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland stated:

“Generation Hope,” composed of adolescents and young adults, is now seemingly recognized in plans of action for growth, sustainability, and prosperity in many countries. But recognition is one thing, planning for their future with sustained action is another. In 2017, only 40% of countries in the world have achieved some form of gender parity in enrolment in secondary education, and a measly 4% in universities or higher education (Sen and Kakar, 2017).