Dear Ms. Demeranville,
From the medical field, I’m afraid that there is little can be done to this important and perhaps neglected action of ‘Youth- feeding the future’. Nevertheless let me express that:
The selection of ages 15 to 17 years is appropriate because corresponds to middle and late adolescence (17 to 18 yr.) This latter period is characterized, apart from biologic maturation, by a psychosocial development in which peer values go down in favor of individual thinking. This point is crucial because it encompasses the steps of breaking away (family model separation), career decision and realistic planning for economic independence. All this, in the frame of changes in affection and idealism is, let me say, the most favorable scenario for the proposed action.
The six precise challenges (paragraph 3 of the topic note) are most appropriate, but from my own adolescence point of view, the first (Education) and the third (Finance) deserve special dedication because they would attach youths to the agriculture way of living.
Due to possible gender discrimination, I would suggest to stress a special consideration for females.
Yours Sincerely
Manuel Moya
Catedrático E/ E Professor & Head
Editor in Chief of the Newsletter. International Pediatric Asociation (IPA)
Chair of the IPA Technical Advisory Group on Nutrition
Board of Directors of IPA Foundation
Academician of the Real Academia de Medicina
Pediatric Dept. University Miguel Hernández
Ctra Valencia s/n, 03550 S.Juan. Alicante. Spain
Manuel Moya