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The reported period of this e-newsletter (July to September 2010) has proved to be a milestone to the youth development advocacy work in Pakistan. BARGAD acted as the main instrument to form and is now the secretariat of the National Youth Advocacy Platform (NYAP) Pakistan.

NYAP is a concrete output of the “National Youth Conference on Risks and Dividends of Youth Bulge in Pakistan” that was organized by BARGAD in Lahore on 8-10 August 2010.

The organization thanks UNFPA for supporting this nationwide coalition and felicitates stakeholders to be part of this crucial initiative.

It is reassuring that NYAP has been founded as a premier coalition to vanguard rights of the Pakistani youth and to duly and urgently put them on high priority of the national policy agenda. It is a nationwide coalition of multiple stakeholders to guide public and policy actions for integrated youth development in Pakistan. It is a composed of representatives of students, faculty members and administration from universities, youth experts, civil society, and youth organizations along with elected and non-elected representatives of government and international civil society working on youth issues in Pakistan.

Through the National Youth Conference, BARGAD promoted integrated youth development reforms leading towards sustainable human development in Pakistan. It was done in the backdrop of the youth bulge and increased numbers of young people in the country.

The idea of integrated youth development encompasses all four key areas of youth lives: (i) declining fertility in Pakistan, (ii) education and youth development, (iii) youth for labour force development, and (iv) youth participation and engagement”.

The organization understands that despite risks the youth bulge is also a demographic dividend. It is not inherently dangerous but the youth may fall into conflict dynamics leading to civil strife and national insecurity in the absence of proper management of population, formal training, employment opportunities. basic necessities for life, proper channels and opportunities for youth.

At the occasion of the “National Youth Conference on Risks and Dividends of Youth Bulge in Pakistan”, a policy brief was also launched. According to the policy brief: “Pakistan is experiencing the demographic transition. It is projected that this trend will go up to 2048. With 165 million people, Pakistan is today the sixth most populous country in the world. Its population has historically grown rapidly and, if current projections are on target, growth will continue well into the 21st century. Between 1975 and 2005, the country’s population more than doubled, and the United Nations estimates that another 54 million people will be added in the next 15 years. Around the early 2040s, Pakistan will have surpassed Brazil and Indonesia to become the fourth most populous country in the world, following behind China, India and the United States (Source Asian Bureau of Statistics).”

July to August 2010 was also marked by the other activities like innovative ideas contest, radio shows, preparations and meetings for future activities.

Bargad is working exclusively on youth development since 1997. The organization is a response to troubling youth apathy towards social development in Pakistan. It focuses youth, as a primary target group of its work. It includes college/university going students, community youth and those affiliated with religious seminaries. This unique working has made the organization one of the prime youth organizations of Pakistan.

This e-newsletter briefly brings before you the programmes that organization held from July to September, 2010.

To promote peace, justice and cooperation among youth in Pakistan

House # F-36, Street # 1-A
Allama Iqbal Town
Rahwali, Gujranwala
Punjab
Pakistan
Tel: +92-55-3864920 +92-55-3864920
Fax: +92-55-3868052
Email: bargadpk@hotmail.com / info@bargad.org.pk

Text Box: If you are interested youth, join us as a volunteer or be our patron in your institution. For membership send your request at usman01.bargad@ gmail.com Join us at facebook

Mr. Jose Ferrairs, (UNFPA Country Representative) counted the launching of National Youth Advocacy Platform- Pakistan as a momentous achievement. He said,

“It is my pleasure to join you at the concluding session of the conference and most especially to witness the launching of National Youth Advocacy Forum for the youth development in Pakistan. UNFPA is honoured to be the part of this national youth initiative in participation with Bargad. ”

National Youth Conference on, “Risks and Dividends of Youth Bulge in Pakistan”

August 8-10 2010

Text Box: Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Editor: Dr. Shahbaz Israr Khan

Bargad organized a national contest on Innovative Ideas on Youth in Pakistan with an aim to engage youth in issues that directly affect their lives and functionally to put their analytical, problem solving and creative skills in service of youth development; so that the prospects of youth thinking and acting for themselves are encouraged . For the purpose, a national call in June-July 2010 was given to submit innovative ideas, suggestions and recommendations on key problems on youth in the country. 64 youth between the age of 15 to 29 submitted their innovative ideas by end of the deadline, 22 July 2010.

Following themes were taken upon by youth: economic inequality, education, education and gender equality, employment, leadership, media and communication, mentoring, peace, sports, technology, youth and extremism, youth and terrorism, youth capacity building, youth development, youth in general and youth participation and engagement. The Pakistani youth here intensely spoke in demanding tones to highlight problems they endure on daily basis and have offered innovative and have offered innovative ideas about serious issues that Pakistani youth wants adults and policy circles to hear about. Our talented young analysts passionately take on the marginalization of youth in Pakistan.

Majority of the innovative ideas focused upon overall condition of youth. Some vehemently disapproved with agitated appraisal the economic inequality and class-based segmentation of education system and the resultant poor employment opportunities in Pakistan. Still, one can find many interesting ideas on youth development; from proposing youth-led initiatives to youth participation in the national life, to exporting youth skills for international markets and the need to build playgrounds in Hyderabad, mineral exploration in Balochistan, libraries in Punjab, career counseling centers, anti-solicitation legislation and enabling environment for the suppressed girls.

A panel of seven judges evaluated the ideas upon the basis of set criteria. According to median score of the total marks given by judges; Afifa Shamim (Army Public School Quetta & Lahore Learning Campus) got 1st position, Second by Wajahat Nassar (University of Engineering and Technology Lahore) and 3rd position by Ishaq Ahmed Sohag (Public School Hyderabad).

Bargad team attended the farewell ceremony organized in honour of Mr. Gregor Enste– Country Director HBS on 9 July 2010 at Lahore. Ms. Britta Petersen is now Country Director Pakistan office.

Heinrich Böll Stiftung Lahore office was established in Pakistan in 1993. At present it works as a catalyst, an enabler and an actor. It imparts political awareness, creates space for dialogues and encourages socio-political research. HBS cooperates with social initiatives, civil society organizations, and academic institutes. Moreover, Heinrich Böll Stiftung also encourages the Pakistan / European relations on parliamentarian and civil society level. The Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s development policy activities aim at promoting ecological sustainability and social justice, respect for human rights, and a dialogue amongst cultures. Together with its partners, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung strives to create the ground for a future characterized by human dignity.

A three-day meeting of Aman Ittehad was held from 30 July – 1 August 2010 in Murree to move from resolutions to action plans, Using the Peoples Resolution as a guiding document, the objectives of this meeting were to: develop implementation strategies and action plans and devise ways of improving coordination and collaboration. Ms. Sabiha Shaheen (Executive Director, Bargad) attended annual meeting of Aman Ittehad. Established in October 2009, the Aman Ittehad is a broad-based citizen coalition striving for peace and stability in Pakistan. In March 2010 it adopted a Peoples Resolution – an agenda for peace and Pakistan civil society’s response to extremism and insecurity.

Planning meeting was first and prime activity of the project which was held on July 04, 2010 in Lahore. The participants included Bargad staff members, Executive Director, volunteers, consultant, and board members. All the participants went through the whole project to explore its thematic areas and activities.

The present project, supported by NED, is an endeavor to promote democratic values, tolerance, pluralism and peaceful co-existence in Pakistani campuses. It envisions a peaceful student activism where students would be able to flourish their leadership skills and play their constructive and proactive role for democratic campuses as well as democratic society.

Today, the youth issues are fast pacing towards debates in the public sphere and there has been gradual increase in investments on youth from the development donors and the government. The ascendance of youth issues to national priorities has primarily come from realization of the very outnumbering of young people in the country and due to what we call the ‘youth bulge’ and its potential implications that can catch the public eyes.

Realizing the seriousness of the issue BARGAD in collaboration with UNFPA organized a National Youth Conference on Risks and Dividends of Youth Bulge in Pakistan (in commemoration of international year of youth) at Pearl Continental, Lahore on 8-10 August 2010.

The conference was held with the purpose of public interest practitioners and policy makers taking account of demographic dividends and risks of youth bulge for implementation of youth-development policies and programmes in Pakistan. For that it was reiterated that Pakistan needs to move forward with the vision of integrated youth development and link different sectors for maximizing dividends of youth bulge. Chronological order of the program: inaugural session; Framing the themes of youth bulge in Pakistan; Declining fertility in Pakistan; Education and youth development; Youth for labour force development; Satellite session for youth: Reproductive health-let’s start talking; Youth participation and Engagement; and Concluding session.

The reported event was unique and of immense importance as it was the first such public and policy conference on the critical issue of youth bulge that has come up with vision for integrated youth development and needed recommendations to put youth as a top agenda for policy and public circles in Pakistan.

The national youth conference was an exclusive opportunity for all stakeholders of youth development in Pakistan. Here the representatives of government, international donor community, experts, academia, civil society, and youth organizations along with students, faculty members and administration from 31 universities took part in the proceedings; that made the total figure 200. The dinner was attended by 300 dignitaries. This conference was practically a consortium of all those who are concerned with making youth a dividend for Pakistan.

Notables among those who participated in the proceedings of the conference included Mr. Jose Ferrairs Country Representative of UNFPA, Shahid Hussain Bhutto Federal Youth Minister, Dr. Kaiser Bengali Chairperson Bargad and Adviser to Sindh Minister, Abdul Khaliq Achakzai Nasira Habib researcher and educationist, Amir Riaz editor Awami Jamhori Forum, Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasin Zai Vice Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University, T.M. Qureshi Deputy Education Advisor, Policy and planning Wing, Ministry of Education, Ayesha Tammy Haq TV Anchor and corporate lawyer, Kamyla Marvi Tappal Country Manager of LDM, Sohaila Mushtaq Senior Joint Secretary of Ministry for Youth Affairs, Saifullah Chaudary National Program Officer of ILO, Saeed Alvi Chairman TEVTA, Ali Mardan Advisor Ministry for Youth Affairs, Javed Gill Central Labor Advisor, Ali Salman Senior Partner Development Pool, Iqbal Haider Butt Asia Leadership Fellow and Qadeer Baig-Country Representative of World Population Foundation (WPF) among others.

The conference was successful in many regards: 1)Youth Policy brief, that would be a consulting document for integrated youth development in Pakistan, presented in the conference; 2) The underlying theme and design of the conference helped out to get practical outputs for the foresaid issue; 3) Input by public and policy experts’ through presentations as the resource persons and their subsequent interaction with participants during Q&A sessions facilitated to reach recommendations; 4) National innovative idea contest that helped youth participation and engagement throughout Pakistan. Scores of submitted ideas can be used as projects in future. The position holders were given prizes and certificates at the end of the competition, as a token of appreciation; 5)Establishment of policy advocacy platform named National Youth Advocacy Platform- Pakistan which is expected to work for Promoting integrated youth development reforms leading towards sustainable human development in Pakistan; 6) The recommendations arise from all six technical session has been crux of the conference which put on view the thoughts and needs of the youth in front of donors, policy makers, academia and groups working on youth development to help them out to come up with a cohesive plan for integrated youth development.

Policy Brief introduces the youth bulge debate and is a resource input for the “National Youth Conference on Risks and Dividends of Youth Bulge in Pakistan”

By looking at legacy of conception and policy practices in youth development, it highlights critical areas for integrated youth development and programming in the country: (i) declining fertility, (ii) education and youth development, (iii) youth for labour force development and (iv) youth participation and engagement.

It envisaged that the policy brief will provide a balance to integrate youth development roles of policy makers, donors and practitioners working in different sectors.

“Youth Voices” is a compelling inside view into the thinking of Pakistani youth who were asked through a national call to submit innovative ideas, suggestions and recommendations on key problems of youth in the country. It compiles three innovative ideas from winning youth voices and selections from many entries. The Pakistani youth here intensely demand in demanding tone. They highlight problems they endure on daily basis and offer innovative ideas about serious issues that the Pakistani youth want adults and policy makers to hear about. “Youth Voices” is a must reading for design and implementing youth-led and focused initiatives in Pakistan

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the recent flooding in Pakistan has caused a total human death toll of 1,802 with 2,994 injured. About 20 million people of 78 districts stood affected with over 100,000 Sq Km of area inundated by the flood waters including over 20,000 Sq Km of cultivated land. Communication links have been severely damaged besides colossal damage to the Housing Sector totaling 1,894,530 houses. A sizeable portion of livestock has been perished inflicting severe blow to the existing livelihood patterns of already marginalized communities who have lost their main and the only source of income and living. Likewise health and education sectors in the 79 affected districts have received major burnt of severe flash flooding. Some 12,516 school facilities and 579 medical health facilities have been destroyed at the countrywide level.

Bargad’s also contributed in their capacities for the flood affected people. Volunteers of Bargad, Muhammad; Wasma and Mahnoor, collected 20 bags of 1000 kg rice, 20 bags of 1000 kg sugar and cash from Gujranwala through its Youth group at local colleges. Bargad team along with the group made its way to the floods camps on 13 August 2010. Ms. Salma Butt led the relief goods to the district of Lyaah, where MPA Punjab and Bargad’s advocate Maiza Hameed provided the local support in flood relief efforts.

Bargad also worked in collaboration with Shirkat Gah in flood relief efforts, in the relief work Bargad’s volunteers were involved. Aesha, Younas, Sidara, Fiza, Adeel Kamboh, Zishan, Dawood, Zain, Sami ullah and Naveed volunteered in packaging of the relief packages.

Superior University Lahore (August 16, 2010)

At the occasion Ms. Saiqa Rani represented Bargad, the meeting went very successful. Mr. Bilal volunteered himself as a focal person from Superior University Lahore and identified his affiliation with Bargad as an advocate of the Bargad at his university. During the meeting, Ms. Saiqa shared the highlights of the project, Democracy and Peace-building for Youth on University Campuses Pakistan, with him and planned activities: forum and skill base training workshop.

University of the Punjab (August 16, 2010)

The meeting was held to explore the nature of program to be held for the students of the university. Ms. Sehreen Far Bukhari, Lecturer, University of the Punjab is a very active faculty member of department of philosophy and has been a pioneer member of Bargad since its inception. It was decided that Bargad will organize a discussion on Nikkha Namma and legal rights of women for female students of the university.

University of Sargodha (August 19, 2010 )

Ms. Saiqa Rani and Dr. Shahbaz Israr represented Bargad at the occasion and met with the representatives of University of Sargodha Dr. Naudir Bakht, Head of the Department of History; Mr. Riaz Ahmad Shad, Director Co-Curricular Forum; and Dr. Rashid Khan, Head of Department of International Relations.

Meetings with all three representatives of University of Sargodha brought successful outputs. Dr. Rashid Khan Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences agreed upon the idea of organizing of resume development training for the students of his faculty. Dr. Naudir Bakht, head of department of history showed his interest in long term activity plan in collaboration with Bargad and suggested a number of activities like training on critical thinking and research proposals.

The project aims to inculcate and promote a culture of equal opportunity for girls, developing leadership skills of adolescent girls by involving female teachers of high schools to impart life skills education comprising of life skills, social empowerment, sexual reproductive health information and economic empowerment in addition to regular curriculum.

For the above said purpose Bargad team Ms. Bushra Sadiq and Ms. Shakilla Kaukab held meetings with EDO and DCO Gujranwala. MOU’s were also signed in this time period but the transfers of the mentioned government officials remained a hurdle. As per problems the activities of the project that were designed to be held in September were postponed. Present DCO, Mr Nabeel Ahmad Awan , permitted Bargad for holding Training of Masters Trainers on 11-14 October 2010.

Government College University Faisalabad (September 13, 2010)

Fozia Akram has been a participant of Training Of Trainers Workshop On Youth Action for Democracy and Peace-Building on Campuses and an advocate of Bargad in his university. In meeting, She also showed her consent to be focal/contact person at university and showed commitment to Bargad cause and vision.

University of Agriculture Faisalabad (September 23, 2010)

Ms. Saiqa Rani, Program officer Bargad, met Dr. Atif Riaz, Associate Professor of Department of Horticulture; Azhar Mushtaq (Bargad Volunteer) and Muhammad Ahmad (Bargad Volunteer). Dr. Atif Riaz has been a participant of Training Of Trainers Workshop On Youth Action for Democracy and Peace-Building on Campuses and an advocate of Bargad in his university. He warmly welcomed all initiatives of Bargad and showed interest to organize training session and forums for student during the month of October or November 2010.