Following WSF, a Youth Conference titled “Amplifying the Voice of Youth” was organized by a Hyderabad based youth organization with the Sindh Community Foundation at Press Club, Hyderabad.

Young speakers from media, civil society, and educational institutions discussed different problems and issues of youth in the region. It was pointed out that 43% of the total population is made up of youth and yet, there seems to be little investment in their development and opportunities for growth. The discussion highlighted various issues that youth face such as HIV/AIDS, unemployment, frustration among youth, involvement of youth in drug addictions and criminal activities, etc.

Even though a large fraction of the youth has skills and potential, there is a lack of opportunities for their involvement in social development and in other professions. In addition, the lack of opportunities for improvement of skills or continued learning programs was also lamented. Speakers of the conference demanded the national youth policy which was developed in 2004 should be implemented and district governments should give attention on youth of the aree through allocation funds for youth devolvement schemes at local level. They also demanded that youth ministry should be setup to specifically focus on the development of youth in country and to face the future challenges to country as well as to meet the Millenium Development Goals in the region.

It was pointed out that the youth are hardly aware of the socio-economic issues of their region and do not participate in the processes of development. Women’s activist, Afroz Shoro, pointed out that while there were many issues facing the youth, the youth themselves have been largely aloof from socio-economic problems facing Pakistani society.

And yet, examples were also presented where youth have made a difference. Assistant Program officer from PILER, Shaista Ilyas, presented her contribution through her research on honor killing whereby her work has raised awareness of murder of youth (male and female) under honor killing custom in Sindh province. Yet, she also said that the youth of the region is being neglected from the policy level and societal level and they are facing abuse in the family and in society, thus hurting the potential of this human capital.

Asif Ilyas, a young theater director belonging with the Humanist Theater group, presented that the youth can play a role of in change through involvement in theater on various social issues. The older generation should encourage them and can mentor them.

Continued programs to help mentor, support, and mobilize youth and help them become involved in society are expected.

Javed Soz is a program coordinator for youth in Sindh Community Foundation and may be contacted at javedsozhalaiATyahooDOTcom

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