Seeing the fear in the eyes of Burmese boys and girls proved to me the brutality and oppression of dictatorships. Tasting the food of the poor families of Tonga proved to me the ease with which deprived people share. Smelling the earth in the unsecured diamond mines of Sri Lanka proved to me the beauty and uniqueness of nature. Hearing the laughter and joyful cries of young boys and girls on the cyclone-ravaged island of Tikopia proved to me the simplicity and value of happiness. Feeling the earth shake under my feet atop the Yasur volcano on the island of Tanna proved to me the sheer power of nature.

This is the real world; the world of people; the world where a small infection means almost certain death; the world where the slightest change in climate spells natural disaster. It is a world where any lack of harmony between nature and people yields profound human misery.

Our journey was full of adventure and suspense but, for me, there was also shadow. I would have loved to share these experiences with my own friends, but I had left them behind. The friendships I made on the islands were short-lived and, to be honest, I had little in common with those I met.

I have seen how we destroy nature. I have seen how young girls are forced into labor. I have seen how young children are covered with fungus wounds. I have seen happiness in the simplest ways of life, but I’ve also seen oppression, poverty, sickness and misery. Above all, I have seen the need for change.

We, the young generation, the affluent and educated, will have to find ways to help make this world a better place.—Oliver (son), 15 years old.