The 2007 edition of the World Bank's leading annual publication, the World Development Report (WDR) focuses on young people and their contribution to developing their countries.

The World Bank wanted to know what young people around the world think about these issues and their experiences.

We asked six questions—a question per week—on different aspects of growing up and life-changing transitions young people experience.

All comments are posted on Youthink! Your comments also may be included in the report itself. Please keep your comments to 100 words or less.

Question 1. The transition from school: continuing to learn beyond primary. Can education systems cope with the demands of those who are leaving primary school in unprecedented numbers? What are the implications for access to secondary and higher education? Should the curriculum be more focused on vocational or academic subjects? What about programs for youth who have dropped out earlier? What role can non-formal education play in learning for life?

Question 2. The transition to a healthful lifestyle. What can be done to help young people avoid the direst consequences of risky behavior, such as death from HIV/AIDS, now the deadliest killer of girls in many countries? What about youth affected by conflict, violence and drug abuse? Are there sufficient policies and programs with regard to the health and life security of the world's young people? Are young people involved in the formation and implementation of such?

Question 3. The transition to work. Young people start to look for work either near home or further away. Their decisions on when to do that, what kind of work to get into, what skills they wish to develop, and where they work will be have broad implications for them as well as society more generally. What are the primary challenges facing young people seeking to find employment or different forms of livelihood? Think about when should young people start looking for work? What kind of work to get into and where to do that? What do you think will be the "jobs of the future?" Is the current education system preparing young people for gainful employment? What skills are necessary for young people to develop to be competitive in the labor market? What barriers do young people face to attain these skills?

Question 4. The transition to family formation. What changes in behavior regarding family formation (age at which young people leave home, marry, have sex, have children) are most important to the welfare of the young, especially of girls, now and in the future? Think about these issues:

• On Marriage: When do you think is the right time for you to get married? Who decides on your marriage? If parents decide, how do you feel about it? Any frustration? Do you want more say in this kind of decision making? If you decide, how would you (or did you) make that decision? Or would you consider other options, such as continuing higher education, seek career at work, etc.?
• On Leaving Home: What is the custom of living arrangement in your country (live with extended families, nuclear family, etc.)? Has the custom of living arrangements changed from past decade? Do you think it affected the young people's domestic status (more say within the household, etc.)? Do you think it affected the family ties? When do young people leave their birth home? On what occasion, and at what age? Are there gender differences? When do young people become economically independent? Does that timing affect when the young people leave home?
• For Newlyweds: Are you aware of any programs for newlyweds or those about to get married about safe sexual practices and about planning their children? Who do you think should be the target in these programs, and why? (Girls, boys, parents, community, etc.)
• On Parenting: Do you think young people need parenting programs? Do you know of any such programs and do you think that they work
• For Young Unmarried Mothers: What types of support are available to young unmarried mothers? What type of support do you think might be helpful for young unmarried mothers?

Question 5. The transition to citizenship. Young people begin to be empowered outside the home through a variety of experiences: they vote, participate in community life, and perform national service. How can young people's creative energy be productively directed to support development goals? What are the best ways to encourage community involvement by young people? What are some of the obstacles that young people face in terms of inclusion in active civic life? Think about these issues:

• What are the ways you wish you could participate in political and social life, but that you cannot, and why?
• What makes a person feel and believe that he/she is a full citizen of his/her country?
• What do you think of military service? Is it a good experience in your country, or a bad one?
• Are you participating in any group, organization, or association? Are they centered on school, or not? Do you find it important part of your daily life? If you belong to more than one, which one do you think is most important for you? If you don't belong to any, why? Do you wish you could?
• Do you exchange ideas on politics with your friends? With your family? Others in your community? What other issues do you discuss with your parents and community?
• Do you think there are situations where it is justifiable to use violence to achieve political or social goal?
• Do you trust your government? Why or why not?
• Suppose you and your friends are working for the government. What are some changes you want to make for your country?

Question 6. Anything else the Bank should ask? In the previous five weeks, you commented on specific transitions young people go through. Now, stop and reflect: Are there other major issues the Bank didn't ask about or that require more attention? To get started, think about these:

• Decision Making: Do you have the decisive "say" in big decisions in your life, such as schooling, making friends, job choice, when and whom to marry, having children? If you don't, who does? If you had more voice, would it lead to a better life for yourself and your family?
• Impact on your life: Who determines key decisions in your life: (a) global factors (such as wars or natural disasters); (b) national factors (government); (c) local factors (friends, community norms of behavior, teachers, religious values or leaders, etc.); (d) family factors?
• Global youth culture: Young people are increasingly influenced by the same music and movie trends, see ads for the same products and find similar goods for sale in local shops. Are you happy to have more options, or frustrated that many of these products are unaffordable? The Internet gives people access to more information than before. Is the Internet useful for you? What other communications tools (telephone, letter, mobile phone) do you regularly use?
• Migration: Would you like to visit or move to other countries, if possible? If you have migrated, do you intend to stay for good? Do you have information about possibilities to live and work abroad? Does your community or country have programs or policies to help people find out about life and work overseas? Do you have a passport? Would you know how to get one, would it be expensive or time-consuming? Do you have a family member living abroad? How often do you communicate? Has your role in the family been changed by this person's departure?