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'The State of the World's Children 2011 – Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity,' UNICEF's flagship report, focuses on the development and rights of more than a billion children aged 10 to 19 worldwide as they negotiate the critical period between childhood and adulthood and confront the challenges of our times. This annual report includes comprehensive tables tracking basic child rights data on nutrition, health, HIV/AIDS, education, child protection and demographic and economic indicators, plus how accelerate and elevate adolescents' fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination. Breaking the cycle In this report, UNICEF and its partners are drawing attention to the frustration and limitations many adolescents may feel once they are unable to transition from school to productive and dignified employment. The report highlights the fact that investing in adolescents offers the best hope of breaking the entrenched cycle of poverty. Research clearly shows that children who are marginalised or poor are less likely to make the transition to secondary education and are more likely to experience violence, abuse and exploitation. UNICEF believes that the need of the hour will be met by involving adolescents in the decision-making process, providing them with platforms of expression and understanding their role as active citizens and not just as passive recipients. “Young people certainly need hope, they need opportunities,” said Mr. Morgan. “We can do a lot by working with adolescents and encouraging them as participants in addressing and solving the problems, including in emergency and humanitarian crisis situations.” Creating opportunities Creating opportunities for adolescents is a major priority for UNICEF. “We have to involve adolescents much more,” said UNICEF Representative in Haiti Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans. “We forget this part of the population who are not going to school, who do not have jobs. They are not listened to. They have so much energy, so much creativity. They are just waiting for us to say, ‘Go, build your country. Build your country with us.’’’ A year after the devastating earthquake in Haiti destroyed his home, Christian Dubois, 16, wonders if he will find a way to turn his ambitions into reality. His family is living hand-to-mouth from his mother’s meagre earnings, and Christian has not been able to attend school because they cannot afford the fees. “There a lot of young people who are really talented who do some really incredible things, but they are discouraged by the situation,” said Christian. “When I think about what happened to us, it makes my heart ache. In life there are high points and low points. One has to experience that to understand it. But my mother always said, ‘As long as there is life, there is hope.’”