The Sindh Department of Youth Affairs signed the agreement to launch a youth initiative programme worth Rs 60 million with the Habib University Foundation (HUF) on Saturday. Provincial Youth Affairs Minister Faisal Ali Subzwari inked the agreement for the project titled Youth Empowering Spaces (YES) with HUF Chief Executive Officer Wasif Rizvi at a ceremony.
“The pilot project would be started within this fiscal year,” Subzwari said, adding that it would be run in Karachi, Jamshoro and Matiari. He said that in the next financial year, the scope of this project would be expanded to the universities in the province as well as to the youth development centres that are under construction. Subzwari said that the activities would pertain to counseling and awareness as well as the empowerment of youth.
“YES is a very innovative sort of project that would help provide opportunities to youngsters,” he said.
The minister said that youths would be encouraged to adopt the future course of action which they would like for themselves. “This would also help the department conceive projects that would be launched in the time to come,” he added.
The project is aimed at enabling the youth to aspire for a healthy and productive life. The YES initiative would offer several activities including seminars, conferences, workshops, innovative learning camps, youth action projects, advocacy sessions and courses.
YES would focus on fostering leadership, community spirit and active citizenship among young people.
The Youth Affairs Department has pledged a sum of Rs 60 million for the first phase of the programme which extends up to June 2013.
Sindh Youth Affairs Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Youth Affairs Director Sindh, Khurshid Ali Shaikh and British Council Sindh and Balochistan Director Mashood Rizvi were also present on the occasion. During the ceremony, Subzwari also pointed out that five regional youth development centres are being established in the province.
“A mega youth development centre is being built in Karachi. The centre in Hyderabad is almost complete and work is in full swing for the one in Nawabshah,” he said.
