As of 2006, there were 1.77 billion (27% of the total population) young people 10-24 years of age, 87% of whom were living in less-developed countries^[1]. Within the next one or two decades, the decisions these young people make - or the decisions made for them - regarding their schooling, fertility, livelihood, and places of residence will have a profound effect on the world's population size, health and resources. Although adolescence is generally seen as a period of relatively good health, young people are experiencing increased risk to their health and well-being. The majority of reported problems of health cases are between 15-49 years, with the peak age at 20-29 for females and 24-34 for males. The high prevalence in these age groups indicates that a substantial number of those infected likely acquired the disease during their adolescence. The proportion of the population ages 15-24 with HIV/AIDS is 6.1%^[2].

Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with a current total fertility rate estimated at 5.4^[3]. The current population is approximately 75 million, with approximately 32% (about 24 million) of the total population between the ages of 10-­24^[4]. Though future population trends are difficult to predict, the Population Reference Bureau estimates that if current rates continue, Ethiopia's population will reach 144.7 million by 2050, which would make it the tenth most populous nation in the world^[5]. Current data regarding education and sexual health-related issues create a dismal picture of the education and health situation of youth in Ethiopia today. In order to develop a more complete picture of the current context in which youth live and the organization operates in and data regarding sexual activity, educational status, HIV/AIDS, livelihood condition other social risks should be more closely examined.

The number of females restrained from attending school and engage in laborious household business in all age ranges is much higher than for males in the same age group. As many of these girls are targeted by older men with money or "sugar daddies" in the community who give them money for their daily need in exchange for sex, they rarely attend school or develop other means of survival. Many of the young rural girls in the vicinity are currently suffering from a lack of access to education either due to economic capacity or the existing social problems in the society and their family. Consequently the young girls of the area are vulnerable to many problems health and social problems.

On the other hand, most health activists and scholars underline that the feminization of AIDS does not start at age 18 or even 15 who are deprived of education and economic empowerment, the vulnerability of women starts when they are very young; as children and as females they are often outside the range of available health services. Girls are mistakenly perceived to be out of danger from HIV until a certain age, often ignored and largely invisible. As international attention to the vulnerability of young women aged 15­24 accelerates, girls of all ages need to be counted.^[6]

Similar to the above, many problems arise from the lack of technical capacity due to low educational level of the people in the country. The majority of the population is unlearned, due to the lack of educational facilities at their reach and of awareness of the importance of education.

Education, awareness-creation, healthcare, and belonging are basic needs for poor communities--especially for orphans and unemployed youth--and are identified as the major means for successful project growth and replication in west Wollega. To this end, NGOs both religious and secular are placing increased awareness on the importance of education in their project designs in addition to institutional capacity building.

The areas where the Lift Kids – Domi – Aira Alumni Village will operate experience several environmental problems including environmental degradation, poor environmental hygiene, poor personal hygiene, and uncleanness of drinking water wells. In the history, there have never been so many people below the age of 20, particularly in the project area. As these young people leave their parents' homes in search of new opportunity, set up their households, and begin having children, the level of migration, urbanization, consumption, and population growth are likely to increase. These in turn may have negative repercussions on the environment if action is not taken.