Capacity building: Youth showcase their talents to promote peace and tolerance

The event featured theatre performances, photographs, documentaries and speeches.


Sehrish Wasif April 06, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistani youth have the talent, confidence and spirit to bring a positive change in society. It is guidance and platform that they are lacking. However, they lack guidance and a platform to showcase their talents.


This was the crux of an annual youth conference held here on Thursday, which was attended by youth from Chakwal, Vehari and slums of Islamabad.

The event was held by Plan International (PI) to highlight the achievements of “Empowering Youth for Peace and Development”, a three-year project that aimed to build capacity and develop skills of the youth.

The youth conveyed the message of peace, tolerance and harmony through theatre performances, photographs, documentaries and speeches.

The audience appreciated a short documentary prepared by a group of youngsters, which highlighted several ways to make a living in the slums.

The documentary showed how girls can make a living by working as beauticians, tailors or by running boutiques.

Boys, on the other hand, can work at saloons or as daily wage labourers, while those having education can be employed as peons or clerks.

Another documentary prepared by the youth from Vehari showed a young disabled man who earned his livelihood by fixing radio sets despite having lost his arms.

In addition to that, the theatre performances on early child marriages and interfaith harmony also received a huge round of applause from the audience.

Reservations

However, some of the participants expressed doubts over the long-term benefits of such programmes.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Imran Shamoom, residing in 100 Quarters in F-6/2, said though he was living in a posh area he was deprived of many facilities and opportunities.

Shamoom, who aspires to be a chartered accountant, said the NGOs always come and work for the youth but they leave once their projects are finished. Due to his financial position, he is uncertain whether he would be able to accomplish his dream or not.

Erum Noor from 48 quarters in G-7 said she wants to be an economist but the conservative approach of people in her neighbourhood towards girls is a major hurdle in fulfilling her dreams. She stressed on the need to change mindsets to make the most out of such capacity building programmes.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2012.

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