YES NETWORK PAKISTAN CREATING TOGETHER WORKING TOGETHER ACHIEVING TOGETHER CREATING TOGETHER WORKING TOGETHER ACHIEVING TOGETHER Ali Raza Khan Country Coordinator YES Network Pakistan A youth initiative to address Pakistans greatest challenge of youth unemployment and under employment What is YES Network Pakistan? zPakistan at the moment houses the largest number of youth in its history. zPopulation under the age of 29 constitute 70% of the total population. zAlmost 65% youth live in rural areas having very little or no opportunities for education, training and skill development. zPakistan has been ranked as number one in gender discrimination/male domination. zPakistan is the third largest contributor to the world population after china and India. Why YES Network Pakistan? zLaunching YES under environmental and organizational constraints. zPsychological and economic poverty. zLack of initiative and drive among youth. zFatalism. zEnvironment of Mistrust. zLack of self confidence among youth. zLack of multi sectoral coordination. Challenges zAdvocacy for building social capital. zYouth Participation and Leadership Development. zIntegration (utilizing existing resources instead of reinventing the wheel). zYouth Service (training and engaging youth for a definite period). zResearch. zAdult Functional Literacy. Our Strategies How is YES Network Pakistan Organized? YES NATIONAL COMMITTEE YES Provincial Committees Sindh YES Provincial Committees Balochistan YES Provincial Committees N.W.F.P. YES Provincial Committees Punjab YES Functional Committees YES Management Committees YES Management Committees YES Provincial Advisory Committees YES Provincial Advisory Committees YES National Advisory Committee & Board of Directors YES National Advisory Committee & Board of Directors Our Programs and Achievements YES Network Pakistan Skill Development Centers PNYS Academy PNYSProgram PNYS Program Research Education Adult Literacy Reproductive Health zDont wait for external assistance mobilize and use local resources (Start small think big and act now) zEvolve institutional Structure gradually and carefully in stages zFocus on building and channeling social capital towards right direction zCreate a sense of caring within the network before creating outside the Network zOrganize Youth Service Programs zNetworking and developing partnerships with public and private sector zYouth unemployment is not evenly distributed Lessons Learnt Future Plan of Action zExpanding, strengthening and integrating existing programs for synergistic affect in the following areas : Education RH Skill Development Centers Advocacy Gender Sensitization Youth Service Trainings with the addition of entrepreneurship at grassroots level Research and evaluation Harnessing the potential ICTS for social and economic empowerment of youth 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 Establishing support structures for youth empowering environment in the family Last Thoughts The first essential of success is that you begin. Once you have started, all that is within and without you will come to your assistance Do not wait. The time will never be "just right. start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you have at your command. Better tools will be found as you go along