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SC Media Centre - Young Leaders Conference (YLC)

Young Leaders' Conference enters its 6th final day with a mission of jeet hi jeet

Karachi: July 7, 2010 – On the 6th day, participants got together from their respective cities, towns and villages to discuss how they can initiate enterprise to bring social change in their communities; what is their vision for change; how they can earn the trust of their stakeholders; involve people from the communities to help themselves and foreseeable pitfalls they will encounter.

Faisal Baig, a YLC champ conducted a workshop titled 'Jeet hee Jeet' to incorporate an attitude of uniting for change amongst the participants. The workshop was all about synergizing and utilizing each other's strengths to work together as a team. Thus, they took the first steps towards how they will impact their communities.

Solutions discussed to make this happen were that participants could choose to set up a new organization, work on their own, build a team or join an existing organization. For this, they are given three months, after which they have to submit a report of the community work they have done. Only then will they be awarded a certificate of participation in YLC.

In the afternoon, participants said their goodbyes, and shared what they had learnt, how they had grown. Shumaila Bhamani a student of YLC stated, "When I came here, I was experiencing personal and professional difficulties and had become cynical and negative. YLC has helped me think positive and I already feel like a different person."

The Conference continues to attract around 300 students from all regions of the country, and will be held for the tenth time in 2011 in another city of Pakistan.

Young Leaders' Conference follows Geo-Political Leadership on its 5th Day

Karachi: July 5, 2010 – The young 320 crowd of young enthusiasts enter their 5th day with a theme of 'Geo-Political Leadership'. It was iterated that nations whose youth is engaged in political activities lead the world; others become followers to global trend. What does it take for a great nation to lead political change and what will it take for Pakistan to acquire this lead.

Abrar ul Haq, Pakistan's famous pop-singer and social worker conducted key note session on "Redefining Politics: Power and Integrity". "I want to encourage the youth to voice their opinions with votes and presence in youth parliaments and all other platforms available, to make the change they want to see. Our youth can do miracles if provided with a right guide-line"

The concept of the day was "Street Power". It started with Nadeem Chawhan explaining the power of these two words, which was followed by the keynote session and panel discussion with various leaders of our political world.

Nadeem Chawhan, day champ, is known as the "Pirate of Corporate Story Telling" shared radical ideas about politics which facilitated participants to come up with creative solutions to prevailing problems (read as opportunity).

Mr. Saleem Zia of PML-N, Mr. Nafis Siddiqui of PPP, Mr. Raza Haroon, IT Minister of Provincial Assembly, Dr. Farooq Sattar of MQM, Dr. Arif Alvi of Tehrik-e-Insaf and Mr. Sirajuddin Aziz, CEO of Bank Alfalah were the panelist on "Refining Politics". Nadeem Chawhan, the day Champ moderated the session. The problems and questions posed forward by the participants showed their interest in current political activities.

The day ended with Diplomacy awards, brain child of Olaf Kellerhoff of Friedridrich Naumann- Stiftung fur die Freiheit. Session is moderated by Mr. Olaf Kellerhoff himself aimed to provide awareness of "Youth Policy" to participants. The panel had Ms. Barrister Shahida Jameel of Jameel and Jameel Associates and Ms. Elizabeth Colton,US Consulate for discussion and judges for evaluation of Youth Policy made by participants. The idea of "No Opposition" was integrated in the activity; participants came up with a Youth Policy for themselves in teams in such a way that each team enhanced on the policy made by the previous teams. By the end of the session 300 participants came up with unanimously agreed Youth Policy for themselves. Much creativity and fresh political thought was witnessed as participants expressed how their youthful minds could come up with mutually agreed policy for themselves.

Young Leaders' Conference (YLC), 2010 young enthusiast on 4th day with an agenda of implementing Leadership

Karachi: July 4, 2010 – Day 4 of YLC was dedicated to 'Entrepreneurial Leadership' encouraging youth to spread their wings to achieve success through conscious effort, careful planning and relentless smart work.

The day started off with a keynote on 'Thinking Big' with Mr Asad Umar, CEO, Engro Corp who inspired participants to gain confidence through internal inspiration and stay ahead of challenges by expressing one's self freely. He also highlighted the infinite choices the youth can explore and make a difference.

Ms Amara Gul, Co-owner Gullak; Mr Kashif Rashid, CEO, K-Bridals; Mr Moiz Kazmi, Fashion Bites; and Mr Umair Jaliawala, Chief Turning Officer, Torque addressed the youth in small groups on changing Pakistan's culture from employment to entrepreneurship. Participants were able to discover multiple ways of transforming an idea into reality to benefit multitudes in their society, taking ownership of their work and being able to utilize resources effectively.

Participants attended a debate "Whenture: Right time to make a move" between corporate sector representative and entrepreneurs. The session allowed the young audience to gain insights into the pros and cons of being a leader in the corporate sector versus entrepreneur of a self managed business.

Participants attended issue exploration sessions in small groups with prominent experts on topics that included 'Owning the ethos: Changing Pakistan's culture from employment to entrepreneurship'; 'Resources v/s Resourcefulness!'; 'Employees as owners'; 'Multiplying Markets' and 'Aisi ki Taisi - Let's lead from the front'. This was a great learning experience for the participants.

At dinner, a simulation was conducted called 'Kamao aur Khao'. The idea was for the participants to cooperate with each other to get the dinner tables ready, arrange the food and eat it. Many participants showed their embarrassment in taking action and doing what they believe to be menial tasks such as carrying the tables and chairs, admitting how ungrateful they are for so many blessing they take for granted and blame others for what they themselves ignore to achieve.

Young Leaders' Conference discusses Socio-Development on 3rd day

Karachi: July 3, 2010 – The 3rd day of the 6-day Young Leaders' Conference was dedicated to 'Socio-Development Leadership'. Participants learnt the aspects, causes and effects of the ever-evolving cultural global environment.

The keynote address on 'Social Enterprise' was delivered by Mr Faisal Qureshi of Personality Quotient. The focus of the talk was to inculcate in the participants the spirit of earning and mutually thriving by doing good. Participants were exposed to different thematic views in break out sessions featuring Mr Ali Azmat, Artist; Mr Bilal Ahmad Rana, Coordinator Youth Parliament Pakistan; Mr Salman Raja, Senior Trainer at Evince; Ms Rahat Najam, Assistant Professor, AKU - IED and Mr Atif Sheikh, President, Special Talent Exchange Program.

Participants also attended a panel discussion 'Thought Redefined: From Scarcity to Abundance.' The panelists included Mr Wasif Rizvi, Independent Researcher; Mr Bilal, Edhi Foundation; Mr Syed Asaad Ayub Ahmad, CEO, The Citizens Foundation; Mr Raziq Fahim, Professor, Institute of Development Studies and Practices, Pakistan; and Ms Naila Ismail, Unilever. Participants asked profound questions expressing their keen interest in the subject.

Participants attended capacity building session 'Agahee: from awareness to action' with Ms Shaheen Atiq-ur-Rahman exploring the mindset 'Yes! You can'. The crux of the session was the understanding that striving with pain that forms character; binds you with a purpose; draws others as if you were a magnet and leads to spiritual fulfillment. This was a great learning experience for the participants.

Young Leaders' Conference enters 2nd day with Intercultural Leadership

Karachi: July 2, 2010 – The 2nd day of the Young Leaders' Conference, 2010 focused on 'Inter-cultural Leadership', aimed at creating an understanding of differences and similarities amongst the human race. The Chief Guest for the day was Mr Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Federal Minister for Ministry of Youth Affairs. He spoke about respecting and leveraging diversity and how we as a nation can collectively unite to prosper.

Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Federal Minister for Ministry of Youth Affairs stated, "The youth of our country is very intelligent and I must say that we have to utilize our aptitude. I can assure you that all these young leaders are going to change the future of our country, Inshallah."

EBM has been a strong supporter of the youth in general and YLC in particular. Mr Shakeel A Akram, Marketing Manager of EBM addressed the youth, "EBM promises to stay and support all the young leaders who have the urge to do something for their country. This crowd present here is a prime example of unity, faith and discipline.

Participants attended several issue exploration sessions in small groups with prominent experts on topics that included 'stories from different cultures', 'theatre as an exploration of culture', 'dance as an expression of culture'; 'film as an expression of life', 'poetry as an expression of life' and capacity building sessions.

Participants presented their solutions to the expert speakers and fellow participants. Experts included Mr Khalid Rahman, Senior Sub Editor, Dawn; Ms Mehtab Rashdi, Environmental Protection Agency, Sindh; Dr Ayesha Bashir, Aga Khan University – Institute for Educational Development; Mr Ubaidullah Baig, writer / anchor; and YLC alumni achievers from various fields of life. The key-note address was delivered by Mr Abbas Husain, Director Teachers Development Center on "Realizing our purpose and becoming what we are meant to be". The address was followed by a grueling question and answer session, in which Mr. Husain's wisdom satisfied the youths' curiosity.

9th Edition of 2010 Young Leaders' Conference sets off in Karachi

Karachi: July 1, 2010 – The School of Leadership, a commercial enterprise with a social mandate of developing the human factor has started its 6 Day Training program for 300 youth participants, aged 18 to 24, arrived from 34 different cities, towns and villages of Pakistan to attend the 9th Young Leaders' Conference, 2010,starting today. YLC is an annual event organized by the School of Leadership (SoL), Karachi. This year's theme is 'Suno ke mein hun jawan' aiming for the youth to speak out constructively and be heard. Objectives of the conference are two-fold; i.e. for the young participants to discover their infinite potential enabling them to explore and utilize the immense opportunities in our multi-disciplinary environment.

Chief Guest of the event Faisal Sabzwari, Provincial Minister of Youth Affairs, inaugurated the conference while expressing great expectations from the youth, "I am very excited to be present here once again and it takes me back to my childhood years. The youth is the country's future and I would request all boys and girls to outperform their own high standards where ever they go. The Government has launched many initiatives for the youth, which will allow them to develop their skills and provide avenues of productive interaction, resource exploration and growth."

Kamran Rizvi, Director School of Leadership while introducing the concept of the conference to the many guests stated, "First of all I like to thank all my sponsors who have joined hands and helped YLC to grow in its 9th year. Next year Inshallah we will be celebrating 10 years of our conference excellence. Our powerful and lively conference allows the young audience to express themselves. The mentoring session by our partners would help our participants to learn about their successes in life and how they overcame hurdles and barriers to reach where they are today."

Rabia Salam, YLC 2008 graduate, is heading the project. Her passion is to enable other youth to go through the same enlightening and liberating experience she had, allowing them to choose a more meaningful future while enjoying trusting relationships. The conference is designed to inspire, educate and motivate participants with the opportunity to explore cultural differences firsthand; identify and face tough economic and social challenges; build confidence and resilience; stretch and expand capacity and enhance decision-making skills to create and craft a better future.