International Youth Day (12 August 2008)

Youth Advocacy network-YAN, a youth led initiative of World Population Foundation-Pakistan WPF and Capital Development Authority-CDA celebrated International Youth Day with a slogan “Grooming Youth for Greener Pakistan” on 12 August 2008.

IYD presents an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, celebrate their achievements and plan for ways to engage young people to social development process. This year the theme for International Youth Day was “Youth and Climate Change; Time for Action” as it is a well recognized fact that the climate change has already begun to devastate communities and deepen the effects of poverty, ill health and hunger. Pakistan’s decreasing forest cover is suffering from among the world’s worst deforestation rates, primarily from the large logging industry.

Pakistan currently has the largest group of youth (Ages 10 – 24) in its history with nearly 54.2 million individuals-almost 34% of its total population and in 2025; the number is expected to increase to 64.8 Million. We believe that young people everywhere have aspirations, and potential to contribute for the betterment of society. They are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. However; their role cannot be made effective without their involvement in development process.

WPF has been working in Pakistan since 1997 to harness youth potential and enhance their leadership qualities to further the social development process. WPF does it by providing young people information and skill training facilities through both educational institutes and community level in order to provide an enabling environment that allows young people to exercise their rights. Youth Advocacy Network is a group of young volunteers, formed by WPF to indoctrinate responsible behaviours among young people.

On International Youth Day, YAN took up a lead to mobilize young people to enhance their leadership qualities by involving them into healthy activities and advocate for their rights securing the future of the country. For this purpose a walk was held with more than 500 students from various schools on Margalla Road, Islamabad. Students were carrying play cards demanding for youth involvement in social development and decision making process, implementation of youth policy and the role of youth in cutting down pollution. The walk led by students and other young volunteers ended with tree plantation. Various schools planted trees in the name of their institutes with an aim to show their commitment to keeping the environment clean. The broader objective of tree plantation is that these schools will look after their trees in future encouraging social responsibility among students and citizens for keeping the environment clean.

Prior to the event, YAN had held a poster competition on “Climate Change and Role of Youth” through its website. Several entries were received for this competition, and with the help of the jury first, second and third winners were awarded cash prizes and certificates during the event.

Member CDA, Mr. Mazhar Hussain congratulated YAN for mobilizing a large number of young volunteers to participate in walk. He said, that CDA has been committed to make Islamabad greener and cleaner, and WPF has complimented their effort by bringing this platform where together we make a pledge to involve young people in healthy activities. And by involving them in this activity and giving them a chance to lead the programme, we want to set an example as to how young people can be involved in social decision making process.

SSP Traffic Police, Mr. Zuber Hashmi also addressed the audience and appreciated the collaborative effort by CDA and WPF. Commenting on student’s participation in the walk, he said, it is very essential to involve young people in advocating for development issues. Youth has the potential, & it is our responsibility to provide them opportunities and utilize their potential for developed Pakistan.

Addressing to the audience Ms. Mariam Jamal, Communication Officer, WPF said that WPF believes that for any development issues, youth can play an effective role as they are considered to be the change agents and future of the country. WPF believes to invest in youth for nation’s better tomorrow. She said we are celebrating this day with two main purposes. Firstly, to advocate for implementation of Youth Policy along with emphasis on the role of effective youth participation in Policy Development Process. Secondly, to raise awareness on pollution factors that affects the social development process affecting all segments of society particularly youth (as they are the major chunk of population).

Addressing to the audience, Mr. Fahd Shafiq, Gen Secretary YAN said that his network comprises 300 volunteers from all over Pakistan. These young fellows are involved in carrying out various activities all over the country to advocate for their rights and enabling environment where they could actually exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights. He said, his network has been involved in several other such activities in past, such as, organizing National Youth Forum with Policy makers, Celebration of Fathers’ Day etc. Talking about National Youth Policy, he said that the policy has been drafted and its high time to implement it without any further delay. He lauded the efforts of the volunteers and participants for making the event a success.

Various youth and environment focused organizations participated in the celebration by displaying their materials for awareness raising on the above mentioned issues. A large number of Young Volunteers, CSOs, Government Officials, Corporate Sector and Media also participated in the walk.