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| Photo courtesy of Youth In Action Association |
By Edrees Kakar
Senior Reporter
KABUL, Afghanistan –
Dozens of young activists gathered last week in Kabul to mark International
Youth Day.
Dozens of young activists gathered last week in Kabul to mark International
Youth Day.
The event – organized
jointly by the Youth in Action Association, Afghanistan’s Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund – attracted representatives
of Kabul’s many youth organizations that working on projects surrounding health,
the environment, women’s rights and education.
jointly by the Youth in Action Association, Afghanistan’s Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund – attracted representatives
of Kabul’s many youth organizations that working on projects surrounding health,
the environment, women’s rights and education.
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| Photo courtesy of Youth In Action Association |
Kabul marked
International Youth Day on Thursday at the Afghan Cultural House, just a day
before the official United Nations holiday.
International Youth Day on Thursday at the Afghan Cultural House, just a day
before the official United Nations holiday.
Event participants
named volunteerism as the focus for Afghan youth in the coming year.
named volunteerism as the focus for Afghan youth in the coming year.
Speaking to the
gathering at the Afghan cultural house where the event was held, Youth in
Action Association President Sayed Ikram Afzali stressed the importance of
volunteerism among the youth in Afghanistan, encouraging the nation’s youth to
give back to their country by volunteering.
gathering at the Afghan cultural house where the event was held, Youth in
Action Association President Sayed Ikram Afzali stressed the importance of
volunteerism among the youth in Afghanistan, encouraging the nation’s youth to
give back to their country by volunteering.
Afghan youth –
estimates say they make up more than 60 percent of the population – are facing
serious challenges of security, access to tertiary education, unemployment and
more.
estimates say they make up more than 60 percent of the population – are facing
serious challenges of security, access to tertiary education, unemployment and
more.
Though in the last 10
years of international involvement in Afghanistan there are explicit
achievements in different sectors of life, massive efforts are still needed to
build up the platform for Afghan youth so they can take charge as the future
leaders of their country.
years of international involvement in Afghanistan there are explicit
achievements in different sectors of life, massive efforts are still needed to
build up the platform for Afghan youth so they can take charge as the future
leaders of their country.
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| Photo courtesy of Youth In Action Association |
Temor Shah Ishaqzai,
the deputy minister for youth affairs, urged Afghan youth toward sensible
consumption of their time.
the deputy minister for youth affairs, urged Afghan youth toward sensible
consumption of their time.
“It is much better to
work for some practical projects in celebrating youth’s day rather than
organizing concerts for youth,” Ishaqzai said, adding that reinforcement of unity
among the youth is fundamental to the future of the country.
work for some practical projects in celebrating youth’s day rather than
organizing concerts for youth,” Ishaqzai said, adding that reinforcement of unity
among the youth is fundamental to the future of the country.
The celebration drew
participation from an eye-catching number of expats from Kabul-based international
organizations.
participation from an eye-catching number of expats from Kabul-based international
organizations.
It included workshops
on youth advocacy and youth behavioral change in Afghanistan, booths for youth
activist foundations, arts exhibition and discussions where participants shared
knowledge.
on youth advocacy and youth behavioral change in Afghanistan, booths for youth
activist foundations, arts exhibition and discussions where participants shared
knowledge.
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| Photo courtesy of Youth In Action Association |
“Investing in youth,
their reproductive health and gender equality can help put countries on a path
to accelerated economic growth and equitable development,” said Arie Hoekman,
the United Nation’s Population Fund representative to Afghanistan.
their reproductive health and gender equality can help put countries on a path
to accelerated economic growth and equitable development,” said Arie Hoekman,
the United Nation’s Population Fund representative to Afghanistan.
Hoekman also announced
a program of small grants of up to $4,000 USD for volunteer initiatives in
Afghanistan for civil society youth foundations.
a program of small grants of up to $4,000 USD for volunteer initiatives in
Afghanistan for civil society youth foundations.
Later
in the event, the participants were entertained by an exciting circus show from
the Afghan children’s circus.
in the event, the participants were entertained by an exciting circus show from
the Afghan children’s circus.
Thanks for the story about Afghan youth, Edrees!