The 26 teenagers who recently graduated from the Kerry-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES) programme vowed to use the knowledge they had gained to work towards uplifting societal values in Pakistan.
They were sharing their ideas and plans on how they will contribute towards the alleviation of poverty, women empowerment and improvement of health facilities at Alumni Innovation Camp, organised by the US Consulate at the Marriott hotel on Wednesday.
Some proposed empowering women by providing them employment opportunities. Others suggested introducing message alerts to spread awareness among the rural population regarding health issues. Yet others agreed that the need of the hour was to set up a website for counseling that would provide simple tips for students to help them make better career-oriented choices.
At the camp, the students were divided into groups as dignitaries and officials of the US Consulate judged their ideas for possible funding. All of the proposals were lauded by the officials.
Maryam, a student from Gwadar, wants to provide a platform for skilled women whose intricate embroidery is popular in the fashion industry, but who are not given due credit for their work. “These women are very talented,” she remarked. “What they need is a platform to display their work.” According to Maryam, a proper stage to display their creations will not only help them financially but will also lift them socially.
Another student, Usman Ghani, explained that he was developing a career-counselling website. “This portal will provide professional advice for students enabling them to make learned decisions on how to advance their careers,” he said.
Rehan, a social media expert, has come up with another innovative idea to improve education standards. “The plan is to revolutionise conventional teaching methods by raising awareness through social media.” The application will connect teachers in underprivileged localities to education professionals across the world, especially the US. The idea is for the teachers to learn new techniques from their counterparts in developed countries and implement those techniques in their classrooms.
Speaking on the occasion, the US consul-general Brain Heath said that the Innovation Camp was an attempt to encourage the alumni of the exchange programmes to develop creative solutions for the issues faced by their communities.
“The camp aims to polish their skills and provide them the opportunity to nurture innovative ideas,” he said. “I look forward to hearing that we have created the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet.”
He also highlighted the importance of exchange programmes, adding that these students had helped Americans understand Pakistan.
The programme
The Kerry-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study programme provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to study for one academic year in the US.
These students serve as ‘youth ambassadors’ of their home country, promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high schooland engage in activities to learn about US society and values and also help create a better understanding of their own culture among their hosts.
Since the programme’s inception in Pakistan in 2003, over 719 Pakistani students have completed the YES programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
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