Young Lives is in the unique position of being able to study and work with a group of 12,000 children over 15 years as they grow up, start school, drop out or leave school, start work, cope with births and deaths in their families, and maybe even get married and have children themselves.

These pages share some of the children?s own perspectives on the world and their reflections and responses to our research ? in their own words. This is an essential part of the Young Lives approach ? to ensure children?s voices are heard and their participation is a core value of the study.

The author Ngoc Hue is 16 years old and a member of the Young Journalist Club at the Children?s Culture House in Ben Tre province.

It is said that children are young plants that need to be taken care of, brought up and educated by parents, teachers and all community members. Our duty is just to study hard and obey our parents and teachers so that when we grow up, we can advance Vietnam?s position in the world. However, some pupils in my region have dropped out of school, a matter of serious concern to their parents and others.

The author, Luong Thuy Linh is 14 years old and attends Le Quy Don Secondary School in Lao Cai city.

It is said that children are the future of the country, or in other words, ?Children today, the world tomorrow?. Nowadays, children in Vietnam enjoy a peaceful life, provided not only with food, clothes and education but also entertainment facilities, along with lots of attention, care and love from the community. Thanks to our country?s rapid development as well as advances in technology, the quality of our education system has improved significantly day by day.

The author, Pham Huyen Trang is 12 years old and attends Pho Rang 1 Secondary School in Lao Cai city.

Net was seven and her sister Na was six.

Sadly, Net was born with only two toes on her left foot. It became smaller and smaller as she grew up and eventually she had to crawl to move. Her parents were exhausted from taking her from hospital to hospital, and her mother cried night after night.

The author, Ninh Quynh Trang is 16 years old and is a member of the ?Young Journalists? Club of Bao Nhai commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province.

Dear Mr Chairman,

The author, Trinh Hi Nhi is 12 years old and attends secondary school in Mo Cay Nam District, Ben Tre Province.

My hometown is in the ?Land of the Coconut?, Ben Tre province. It has been changing a lot. Now the biggest concerns of the local government and people are illiteracy and children who don?t have an education. This reminds me of my friend, Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong.

The author, Phan Thi To Uyen is 14 years old and attends Pho Rang 1 Secondary School in Lao Cai City.

I think there are few people who have such a hard life as me: my father died when I was little, and then my older brother dropped out of school and ended up unemployed, so there is nobody in my family but me for mother to lean on.

Young Lives hosts and attends many events that attract speakers and international experts from a wide range of disciplines around the world to discuss issues affecting children living in poverty. Some of these lectures and discussions are available to listen to or view online.