1.

The World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)

What it is

The World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) is a global

framework adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995

to improve the situation of young people around the world.

It focuses on policy guidance and practical suggestions for national and

international action to enhance the lives, participation, and development

of youth.

Core Areas

Originally, WPAY outlined 10 priority areas, later expanded to 15. These

include:

1. Education

2. Employment

3. Hunger and poverty

4. Health

5. Environment

6. Drug abuse

7. Juvenile delinquency

8. Leisure-time activities

9. Girls and young women

10. Participation in decision-making

11. Globalization

12. Information and communication technology (ICT)

13. HIV/AIDS

14. Armed conflict

 15. Intergenerational issues

Purpose

 Provide governments and other actors with guidelines for national

youth policies.

 Strengthen youth participation in all spheres of society.

 Promote rights-based development that benefits young people

equally, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background.

2. Why it Exists

WPAY exists because:

 Youth make up a large part of the global population — nearly

1.2 billion people aged 15–24.

 Young people face unique challenges such as unemployment,

limited education access, discrimination, and lack of political

representation.

 There was no coordinated global framework before 1995 to

address these challenges collectively.

 Governments recognized that investing in youth is essential for

peace, sustainable development, and innovation.

3. Why International Youth Day Was Needed

 Declared by the UN in 1999 (first observed in 2000).

 Purpose: Raise awareness of youth issues worldwide and

celebrate their contributions.

 Youth often feel their voices are ignored in policy-making. A

dedicated day ensures their concerns are spotlighted on a global

stage.
  It helps mobilize action — governments, NGOs, schools, and

communities engage in dialogue and projects that directly benefit

young people.

4. Reflection Questions for the Seminar

Q1: What does a world that truly works for youth look like?

A world that works for youth would:

 Guarantee free, high-quality education and lifelong learning

opportunities.

 Offer decent jobs with fair wages, not unpaid internships or

exploitative work.

 Ensure mental and physical health services are accessible

without stigma.

 Involve youth in policy-making at all levels — not token

participation, but genuine decision power.

 Provide safe spaces — both physical and digital — where youth can

express themselves freely without fear of violence or censorship.

 Be sustainable — prioritizing climate action so young generations

inherit a livable planet.

Q2: What's working and what's broken in today's systems?

Working:

 Global youth networks are stronger than ever due to the internet.

 Awareness of climate change, mental health, and gender

equality has grown significantly.

 More youth are entrepreneurial and involved in social innovation.

Broken:
  Youth unemployment remains high, especially in developing

countries.

 Education systems in many places are outdated, not preparing

youth for the future economy.

 Political systems often exclude young voices, treating them as

inexperienced rather than as stakeholders.

 Mental health crises are rising without proportional increases in

support services.

Q3: What bold, youth-led ideas are already shaping the future?

 Fridays for Future climate strikes (Greta Thunberg & others).

 Social enterprises tackling poverty, education, and health in local

communities.

 Digital activism using social media to drive real-world change

(e.g., online petitions, crowdfunding for causes).

 Youth-led startups creating eco-friendly products, affordable

education tools, and accessible healthcare apps.

Q4: How do we encourage real intergenerational collaboration?

 Mutual mentorship: older generations sharing experience,

younger sharing new perspectives & tech skills.

 Youth advisory councils embedded in government and corporate

boards.

 Collaborative community projects where all ages work together

toward shared goals.

 Avoiding tokenism — youth must have genuine influence, not just

ceremonial roles.
  Hosting intergenerational dialogues where differences are

addressed with respect, not defensiveness.

World Programme of Action for Youth & International Youth Day (Context &

Impact)

While detailed Pakistan-specific data on WPAY is limited, the UN

framework sets the global stage. In Pakistan:

 Youth Demographics & Challenges:

o Youth (under ~30) comprise around 64% of the population .

o Illiteracy among youth stands at nearly 30%, and around

77% leave education early due to economic pressures .

o Youth unemployment runs at 5.8%, but only 1 million jobs

are added annually while 4 million youth enter the workforce

each year .

o The NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate is

about 31% .

o Access to recreation and digital access is very limited: 90% of

youth have no recreational facilities; only 15% have internet

access .

 Why International Youth Day matters (Aug 12 annually):

o It draws global attention to youth challenges and

achievements .
 o In Pakistan, it spotlights critical issues: poor education access

(≈40% uneducated youth), healthcare, nutrition, and the

importance of youth as national asset .

Q3: What bold, youth-led ideas are shaping the future in Pakistan?

Here are some exciting, impactful youth-driven initiatives:

 Youth Co:Lab Pakistan (UNDP & Citi Foundation; since 2019):

o Has engaged 1.5 million youth, upskilled 66, and supported

62 social enterprises with $30,000 in grants .

o Programs include national dialogues, digital skills training

(especially for women, minorities), and support for social

entrepreneurship .

 e-Rozgaar Program (Punjab Government):

o Launched in 2017, it trains young graduates in freelancing and

digital skills—coding, design, e-commerce, UI/UX, digital

marketing—with a goal to produce 10,000 freelancers per

month across Punjab .

 Kamyab Jawan – National Youth Development Program

(2019–2023):

o Focused on marginalized youth, economic empowerment, civic

engagement, health, institutional reform, etc. .

o On International Youth Day 2024, government announced

support including Rs 100 billion for 300,000+ young

entrepreneurs, distribution of 600,000 laptops/tablets,

and formation of a National Youth Council with 113 youth

reps .
 UNDP/UNICEF/UNFPA Youth-led Policy Forums (2020):

o Pakistan’s first National Youth-led Policy Forum (15 men, 15

women) engaged youth with policymakers to shape youth

policy and accountability .

 Social Movements & Awareness Campaigns:

o Girls at Dhabas movement reclaims public spaces for

women via street cricket, bike rallies, and gender solidarity

efforts like “behenchara” .

o Aware Girls (Peshawar) has been empowering young women

since 2002, addressing gender-based violence and promoting

leadership; co-founders received global awards .

o Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) projects:

 Tackled HIV/AIDS and transphobic stigma via AI-powered

TransHelp app .

 Trained 300 youth in WASH programming and formed 25

active community-based hygiene clubs .

 Ran leadership development programs reaching over

100 youth with soft-skills training .

 Creative Climate Awareness:

o In rural Sindh, young musicians like Sham Bhai (folk singer)

and Urooj Fatima (rapper “Sindhi Chhokri”) are educating

communities about climate change via music—planting trees,

calling for resilience and accountability .

Summary Table: Youth-led Catalysts in Pakistan

Initiative /
Focus & Impact
Movement

Social enterprise, digital skills for marginalized

Youth Co:Lab Pakistan
youth

Digital freelancing training, empower

e-Rozgaar Program
10,000/month freelancers

Kamyab Jawan (Govt) Funding entrepreneurs, digital tools, Youth Council

Youth-led Policy
Direct youth-policy engagement
Forums

Girls at Dhabas / Aware

Gender, public space, rights, activism
Girls

YAC Projects Health (HIV, trans rights), WASH, youth leadership

Music & Climate Climate messaging through folk/rap in rural

Activism contexts

World Programme of Action for Youth & International Youth Day

International Youth Day (Aug 12) was established by the UN in 1999 to

spotlight youth issues and celebrate their contributions globally.

In Pakistan, youth make up a large portion of the population, yet face

challenges like high NEET rates, limited educational opportunities, and

scarce digital access. While comprehensive Pakistan-specific data on

WPAY’s impact is limited, local programs like Kamyab Jawan and e-

Rozgaar reflect efforts aligned with WPAY priorities.

Q1: What Does a World That Truly Works for Youth Look Like?

A world built for youth would feature:

 Accessible, equitable education and lifelong learning.

 Meaningful employment with fair wages and career development.

 Comprehensive health services, including mental health.

 Youth inclusion in political and societal decision-making.

 Safe and inclusive public/digital spaces for youth expression.

 Environmental sustainability, ensuring a livable planet for future

youth generations.

Q2: What’s Working and What’s Broken in Today’s Systems?

What’s working:

 Greater youth awareness of issues like climate change and

mental health.

 Expansion of digital youth networks and activism.

 Growth of social and green entrepreneurship initiatives.

What’s broken:

 Persistent youth unemployment and skills mismatch.

 Outdated educational systems unable to meet future needs.

 Limited representation of youth voices in policymaking.

 Insufficient mental health infrastructure and support.

 Climate vulnerabilities remain high with limited youth-driven

adaptation.
Q3: What Bold, Youth-Led Ideas Are Already Shaping the Future in

Pakistan?

Here are concrete examples of youth-led initiatives making real impact

across Pakistan:

 Green Startups from GUDS Program: University students

developed startups like:

o TerraTech: Rainwater harvesting + rooftop hydroponics—

saved tens of water tankers, served multiple Islamabad

households.

o Aqua Shield Technologies: Water-saving installations in

mosques—reduced water use by 1/3 and saved on electricity.

o Sar Sabz Qadam: Kinetic-energy pavers from recycle

streams that generate electricity from footsteps.

o Nawalah App: Redistributes surplus food—diverted 5,000 kg

from landfills and provided meals.

o Eco-Organic Fertilizers: Turns organic campus waste into

compost (500 kg/day).

 LCOY Pakistan (Local Conference of Youth on Climate): Led

by youth groups (Skynok, Skillistan, etc.), held inclusive provincial

gatherings to ensure women-led climate voices in every region.

 Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI): Trains youth in

leadership and climate action—then supports youth teams in

projects like tree planting, water conservation, waste management,

renewable energy, and climate education campaigns.

 VOCAL by Islamic Relief Pakistan: Youth-led climate clubs

engage girls in tree planting, waste management, and climate

education in schools across project regions.

 Native Youth Club for Climate Change (NYCCC): A nationwide

youth alliance (2100+ youth) raising climate awareness and

enabling youth-led environmental projects.

 Youth Climate Activists Pakistan (YCAPK): Educate youth via

institutional outreach, protests, events, and social media. Organized

the first Balochistan Climate Camp—a multi-day workshop on

climate resilience.

 Tayaba’s “Help-2-Others” (H2O): Developed innovations like the

H2O Wheel (rotatable 40 L water carrier), H2O Solar/Air clean-

water generators, reusable pads, and used-soap recycling—

distributed over 30,000 units nationwide.

 Green Warriors (Sindh): Youth-produced biochar from crop

residue—cut residue burning by 70%, improved soil carbon, and

generated carbon-credit revenue for farmers.

 Musicians in Sindh: Folk singer Sham Bhai and rapper Urooj

Fatima (“Sindhi Chhokri”) use music and performance to raise

climate change awareness in rural areas, planting trees and

challenging apathy through art.

 Girls at Dhabas Movement: Youth feminists reclaim public spaces

for women via street cricket, bike rides, and podcasts—reshaping

gendered norms in public space movement.

  Aware Girls (Peshawar): Founded by sisters Gulalai and Saba

Ismail in 2002; fight gender-based violence and empower women's

leadership in rural communities.

Summary Table: Youth-Led Impact in Pakistan

Initiative/
Focus Area & Impact
Movement

GUDS Green Urban sustainability: water, renewable energy, waste,

Startups food redistribution

Climate conferences with inclusive, women-led

LCOY Pakistan
provincial representation

Community-level projects: water, waste, energy,

PYLI
climate education

VOCAL Climate Empower girls in rural areas with climate education

Clubs and community projects

Nationwide climate advocacy, education, resilience

NYCCC & YCAPK
training

Tayaba H2O Clean water access, menstrual health, aid

Innovations transparency with solar, reuse, blockchain

Rural biochar production, agricultural emissions

Green Warriors
reduction, income for farmers

Folk & rap awareness campaigns in low-literacy, rural

Climate Musicians
communities

Gender equality, reclaiming public spaces, cultural

Girls at Dhabas
activism
 Initiative/
Focus Area & Impact
Movement

Women's rights, leadership, violence prevention in

Aware Girls
Peshawar region

Q4: How Do We Encourage Real Intergenerational Collaboration?

Effective intergenerational collaboration happens when:

 Youth advisory councils are embedded in policy and

organizational bodies.

 Mutual mentorships are fostered: young people share digital

fluency while elders share institutional knowledge.

 Multi-generational community projects (like eco-initiatives)

unite stakeholders across ages.

 Youth-led forums inform older decision-makers on ground realities

(e.g., PYLI, LCOY, policy dialogues).

 Platforms like LCOY model inclusive, youth-led policy engagement

with adult stakeholders.

 Educational institutions and NGOs pair youth innovators with

experienced mentors (e.g., GUDS mentors).

1. How can service be recognized not just as charity, but as civic

action and nation-building?

In Pakistan, volunteer work is often seen through a charitable or religious

lens—distributing food in Ramadan, helping flood victims, or giving

donations. While these are noble acts, reframing them as civic

engagement means connecting them to systemic change: education

reform, public health improvements, environmental conservation, and

policy advocacy.

 Example: The Clean Green Pakistan initiative, when led by youth,

isn’t just environmental charity—it becomes a civic movement to

hold municipalities accountable for waste management.

 Data point: According to UNDP Pakistan’s National Human

Development Report (NHDR) 2018, 64% of Pakistan’s population is

under 30, making civic participation by youth critical to shaping

governance and public accountability.

 Key shift: Encourage youth-led monitoring of public services,

community reporting apps, and grassroots civic clubs—transforming

acts of kindness into steps toward systemic progress.

2. How do we move beyond tokenism and ensure youth are part

of the policy process, especially in areas like hunger, climate, and

sustainability?

Youth councils and panels often exist in name only, with little influence

over real decision-making. Moving beyond tokenism requires giving young

people decision-making power, resources, and access to policy platforms.

  Example: Pakistan’s Climate Change Act 2017 established a

Climate Change Council—but youth representation is minimal. A

youth climate advisory board could integrate activists from

movements like Fridays for Future Pakistan into policy drafting.

 Hunger action example: Youth in Robin Hood Army Pakistan are

already rescuing surplus food; linking them to government food

security frameworks could make their impact policy-backed.

 Data point: The Global Youth Development Index 2020 ranks

Pakistan 154/181, highlighting gaps in youth political engagement.

Real inclusion means letting youth draft policy recommendations,

not just attend events.

3. How do we bridge the generational divide and foster trust-

based intergenerational partnerships for sustainable impact?

Older generations often dismiss youth ideas as inexperienced, while youth

see elders as resistant to change. Bridging this divide requires structured

collaboration.

 Example: The Kamyab Jawan Program offers entrepreneurship

loans, but pairing young entrepreneurs with retired professionals as

mentors could merge fresh innovation with experience.

 Community model: Rural development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan

have shown that when village elders endorse youth-led tourism and

environmental initiatives, projects gain long-term legitimacy.

 Data point: According to Gallup Pakistan (2023), 56% of youth

believe older political leaders are disconnected from their priorities

 —suggesting a need for more co-led community boards where

elders and youth share decision-making.

1. How can service be recognized not just as charity, but as civic

action and nation-building?

Discussion Prompts

Reframe the narrative:

“How might we shift our language—from ‘volunteerism’ as charity to ‘civic

engagement’ as nation-building? What words or concepts help make that

shift?”

Connect service to systemic change:

“Can acts like community clean-ups or food distribution inform policy

improvements in sanitation or food security? How do we take practical

actions and link them to structural change?”

Structure and visibility:

“What if youth initiatives were formally recognized—e.g., by awarding

‘Civic Action Certificates’ or showcasing them in civic innovation hubs?

How might that enhance their credibility and impact?”

2. How do we move beyond tokenism and ensure youth are part

of the policy process, especially in areas like hunger, climate,

and sustainability?

Discussion Prompts

Institutional inclusion:

“Structures like a Youth Advisory Council or Youth Parliament (e.g.

PILDAT’s Youth Parliament of Pakistan) give youth genuine policymaking

access. How might we create or strengthen similar bodies today? What

roles should they hold?”

Policy co-creation:
“Imagine youth are invited to co-write the regional climate action plan—

what would that look like? What supports (training, budget, decision-

making power) would they need?”

Results-focused youth participation:

“Take this real example: in March 2021, Pakistan’s Planning Commission

launched a High-Level Policy Forum engaging over 75,000 youth—

including women, transgender, and minority youth—to contribute to the

national youth action agenda. How might we replicate or scale such

inclusivity?”

Feedback loops:

“How can youth see that their ideas have tangible impact—like

recommendations adopted in budgets or programs? What accountability

measures are necessary?”

 3. How do we bridge the generational divide and foster trust-

based intergenerational partnerships for sustainable impact?

Discussion Prompts

Storytelling and shared learning:

“Projects in mental health promotion have shown that intergenerational

workshops—where youth and elders share stories through creative

activities—build empathy and insight equally among both groups. Could

such methods work in our own community dialogues?”

Joint ownership of projects:

“What if young entrepreneurs were paired with retired professionals as

mentors on sustainability projects? How could mutual trust and learning

be cultivated?”

Centering shared experience:

“In family-based workshops, engaging activities—like art or storytelling—

help all generations feel valued and understood. Should we adopt these

kinds of methods in civic forums or community dialogues?”

Institutionalized intergenerational platforms:

“Platforms like Youth Parliament (which mimic the structure of the

National Assembly) could benefit from elder-mentors supporting youth

delegates. How might this enhance both policy input and

intergenerational trust?”

Community Insight

 “We have the numbers and united we are stronger… the idea

of using the youth to bring the change […] how about we start

taking actual steps…?”

This Reddit discussion reflects the latent power of youth mobilization—if

only connected to intentional frameworks for impact.

Suggested Flow for Your Seminar

Activity Goal

Warm-up prompt “What does service mean to you?”—kickstart with

personal definitions

Breakout groups Tackle each core question with a mix of youth and older

adults

Shareback session Encourage actionable suggestions and co-created

commitments

Closing reflection “Which idea felt most empowering? What’s a first step

we can collectively take?”