Why should Nepal invest in adolescents and young adults?
Let me point out three main reasons. First, adolescents and youths together represent a significant segment of the country’s total population. This population subgroup – ages 10 through 24 – in Nepal is currently estimated to be 7.1 million, that is, 31% of the total population. Due to the phenomenon known as “population momentum,” the number of adolescents will continue to grow. It is estimated to increase to 12.6 million by 2030 before beginning to decline. Second, behaviors formed during adolescence or young adulthood are known to have profound implications for the rest of the person’s natural life. For example, smoking or drinking habit initiated during this period is several times more likely to lead to chronic conditions or result in worse scenarios (such as chain smoking or alcoholism) than habits picked up during later stages in life. Conversely, good habits or positive behaviors formed during adolescence and young adulthood can be expected to have salubrious effect on a person
