“Growing up in Nicaragua helps me understand the tragic reality that millions of children are facing everyday in the developing world. During those earlier years, I saw first hand the devastating effect that poverty has on children's lives. For more than two decades I have travelled to remote areas of the planet to learn and document the plight of victims of war, poverty and disease, and sadly, it's was always the children who were the most affected, yet their needs and opinions are all too often overlooked. Here in the West, ragged, malnourished children are often pictured but rarely heard ... until now.”

“In the Grow Up Report the unspeakable reality of poverty for children in developing countries has been thoroughly documented. At last, they have found a voice. These children are the men and women of the future, and their involvement now is essential if we are to eradicate poverty in the world. I'm backing the work of the Grow Up Coalition to ensure the voices of poor children are heard and heeded, now and in the future.”

Bianca Jagger, June '05