|
|
|
 About |
 |
Title: YES Country Network-Pakistan
Location:
Global
Categories: Work & Economics
Status:
Completed
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
YES Network Pakistan
An initiative of young people to empower young people to be leaders and entrepreneurs.
Background:
Pakistan at the moment houses the largest number of youth in its history. According to Census 1998, Youth under the age of 29 constitute 70% of the total population. As much as 64.87% young population resides in rural areas and 35.13% in urban areas. The census of 1998 counted 56 million children under the age of 15. There were another 13 million adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19, and 11 million youth aged between 20 to 24 years. It is a great tragedy that the vast amount of youth energies has never been put to proper use. They have not been given any participation in any sphere of life. They have never made partners in the development of the country. This is the best time for Pakistan to invest in youth and reactivate and relocate their disfranchised energies. The youth of Pakistan presents the most promising resource and in huge quantity-a big reservoir of energy. If this energy is put to proper use it will bring about a complete social, economic, cultural and ideological revolution in the country.
YES Network Pakistan: Window of Opportunity
YES Network Pakistan is an initiative by the young people to address the greatest challenge of Youth unemployment. This initiative has been taken out of the need for an integrated and well-coordinated effort to address the pitiable and deplorable state of Youth. There are many young people in Pakistan who have no opportunity to realize their gifts and talents. Disappointments, deprivations, sufferings and despair among Youth of Pakistan leave them with no choice.
It is clear in Pakistan:
· Youth unemployment is high and rising.
· Youth are more unemployed than adults.
· Young women face poorer employment prospects.
· The majority of new jobs are low paid and of poor quality.
· The costs of youth unemployment are high.
· There is an urgent need for action.
Alarmed by this situation, Youth of Pakistan decided to take the responsibility to address the challenges being faced by them by teaming up with broad range of stakeholders. YES Network Pakistan is making efforts to create the conditions and the stage whereby young people can find their power. YES Network Pakistan believes Young people of Pakistan as to be part of solution rather than part of the problem and a major force to bring positive change in the communities. Their enthusiasm, energies and creative abilities will be properly utilized to create a meaningful impact on the socio economic development of the country.
YES Network Pakistan is a legally registered not-for-profit organization. It has a nationwide volunteer structure The Network is establishing National, Provincial, and Functional (local) committee’s structures in place to facilitate decision making and implementation and to spearhead the development of a shared vision with public and private organizations, civil societies and young people on ways in which to address youth unemployment. These structures are key to promoting youth advocacy at the local, provincial and national level.
Our Vision
We envision of a Pakistan where all young people have productive, decent and sustainable employment. To achieve this vision, we will work to ensure that by 2012 our country has a targeted youth employment strategy in its national policy agenda and has a network of individuals and institutions committed to sustainable employment for youth.
Our Mission
YES Network Pakistan cultivates youth empowerment, promotes participatory development, challenges attitude and affirms social change. We accomplish our mission through community building, consciousness-raising, and skill building, and taking action. In doing so, YES Network Pakistan creates opportunities for youth to think critically, express themselves, and assume a central - leadership - role in their communities.
Our Strategies:
Advocacy for building social capital.
Youth Participation and Leadership Development.
Integration (utilizing existing resources instead of reinventing the wheel).
Youth Service (training and engaging youth for a definite period).
Research and Training
Adult Functional Literacy.
Our Achievements:
Since its inception, the Network has made rapid strides and achieved successes across many sectors. I would like to share with you some of the milestones of the YES Network Pakistan.
· The YES Network Pakistan Model was selected for presentation from among models by over 60 other countries, which was a rare honor for Pakistan, at the first ever Youth Employment Summit in Egypt, in a plenary session which was attended by delegates from 120 countries.
· YES Pakistan has developed an institutional structure that involves young people in a meaningful way in the campaign.
· YES Network Pakistan has established 5 YES Skill Development Centers for underserved and marginalized young people in Lahore, Hafizabad, Rawalpindi and Quetta to provide them an opportunity for self-development and growth. These centers are established with the support of local communities and elected bodies.
They are being led and run by local youth. They offer facilities for literacy, tuition, stitching, computer handling, and typing training.
· YES-Pakistan and the University of The Punjab have conducted a pilot household study on the employment realities of 100 families in the slums of Lahore. The opportunities, needs and life experiences of this research sample are serving as the basis for developing viable projects.
· YES Network Pakistan was invited by the World Assembly of Youth to participate in the Roundtable of World Youth Leaders in Melaka, Malaysia 10th -16th May 2003. Mr. Ali Khan, Country Coordinator YES Network Pakistan was introduced to the honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia Mr. Mahatir Muhammad, as a dynamic Youth leader in the international field of Youth Affairs, from Pakistan.
· On August 13, 2003, about 100 YES Volunteers, 15-29 years old, dedicated one year to community service and to demonstrating their capacity for involvement in societal change and development. This was done as part of the ceremony to launch the Pakistani National Youth Service (PNYS) in Lahore. This youth volunteerism program will later be launched in three other provinces. Government of Pakistan and Private sector pledged their utmost cooperation.
· It has contributed in the establishment of Citizens Community Boards (CCBs) for community development activities in Rawalpindi district.
· Social Mobilization for Universal Primary Education in Kasur District of Punjab Province in Pakistan is currently in progress in collaboration with District Government Kasur.
· Undertaking research to understand the priorities of profitable and non profitable organizations in recruiting, retaining and rewarding young employees.
· Operating over 50 non formal literacy centers in Rawalpindi District with the support of Pakistan National Youth Service Volunteers
· Established a theater group to use local culture for creating awareness regarding social problems. Currently, they are performing at selected places in Kasur District.
· YES Network Pakistan has established PNYS Academy for promoting the concept of Youth Service and producing a trained cadre of young volunteers who are able to organize and implement community development projects. Our mission for the academy is to provide youth with a solid foundation of high needed skilled education as opposed to traditional academic education. It is providing training in the academic deficiencies areas, which are greatly needed by the youth for personal and professional development as well as community development. Currently 12 girls from marginalized communities of Pakistan are getting six month residential training and after the training they will go back into their communities and impart the learnt skills to other underserved girls of their communities.
YES Network Pakistan model of working with young people in an under-resourced environment was selected for the major presentation at the opening ceremony of the YES Mexico Summit. The event was attended by over 1000 representatives from 105 countries. Mr. Ali Raza Khan, Country Coordinator presented the model.
Developed several Modules, Teaching Aids and Action Planning Kits to mobilize young people to constructive action. These materials are being used by local, national and international NGOs for youth involvement and mobilization. It includes modules on leadership development, physical development, career development, social development; teamwork, gender sensitization and setting up self help youth groups.
· Currently in process of establishing 50 Adult Functional Literacy Schools in Kasur District with the support of the Government of Punjab.
Future Plan of Action
Harnessing the potential ICTS for social and economic empowerment of youth
Strengthening and Expanding Youth Service Program
Organizing national consultation of Youth leaders in Pakistan to synchronize and coordinate the efforts of youth-serving and youth organizations
Establishing the net of local youth groups throughout Pakistan
Advocacy for the development of youth service policy as an integral part of the youth policy of Pakistan
Exploring new opportunities for empowerment of youth through research and skill-building trainings
Establishing support structures for youth empowering environment in the family
Contact us for information, participation or support
Any amount would be greatly appreciated and would help us to fund vital services to our service programs.
For more information please email Mr. Ali Raza Khan County Coordinator, YES Network Pakistan: connectwithali@yahoo.com or aliaccessed@hotmail.com
Objectives:
Recognizing that the kind of society we live in tomorrow depends on how young people grow up and contribute to their communities today, YES Network Pakistan is focused on channeling its resources in the following pivotal areas:
Youth Participatory Development
Research and Training
Youth Service Program
Entrepreneurial Development .
Reproductive Health.
Education and Skill Development .
Gender Equity and Child Rights
Environment Sustainability
Information Communication Technologies
Needs:
Inorder to reach the goals YES Network Pakistan will emphasis on the following strategies:
Partnership and Participation.
Youth
Families
Local Govt.
Member of Legislatures
NGOs/CBOs
Private Sector
Religious leader
Mass Media
International Organizations
Advocacy:
Website & IEC
Media
YES Advocacy with stakeholders
Networking with organizations
Involvement of celebrities
Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Menu
