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SC Media Centre - Young Leaders Conference (YLC)

‘Geo-Political Leadership Day’ marks successful completion of YLC 2011

Karachi: July 6, 2011 – On the 6th and last day of YLC, the Geo-Political Leadership day, participants got together to discuss how they can commit to good governance and make a difference 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 how they will manage challenges and pitfalls.

Mr Imran Khan, led the keynote session, ‘Power Plan: What Would You Do If You Had the Reins?’ to incorporate, amongst the participants, an attitude of uniting for change. This session encouraged participants to think and find solutions to problems.

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 Implementation’.

Four Youth Parliamentarians presented their views, as a panel, on how youth should get intensely involved in the political process to steer the Nation toward growth. They emphasized that by sitting back and blaming; nothing will change. They highlighted how the Youth Parliament, initiated by Abrar ul Haq, has done wonders for how, through the extensive training, youth has taken up the role of good governance.

In the afternoon, participants said their goodbyes, and shared what they had learnt, how they had grown. “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,” is the confession by Ali, a participant from Karachi. The 350 participants rejoiced as a representative of TCS gave each one a trophy for their hard work and passionate involvement in this highly-demanding Conference.

The Conference continues to attract hundreds of students from all regions of the country, and will be held for the eleventh time in 2012 in Pakistan.

‘Socio-Development Leadership’ at YLC 2011

Karachi: July 5, 2011 – The 5th day of the 6-day Young Leaders’ Conference was dedicated to ‘Socio-Development Leadership’. Participants learnt how local and global partnerships synergize their efforts and resources to build communities deprived of basic structure, amenities, literacy etc to develop capacities for sustainable growth.

The keynote address on ‘Believe in an Alternative World’ was delivered by Mr Javed Jabbar. The focus of the talk was to inculcate in participants the spirit of earning and mutually thriving by doing good. Participants were exposed to different thematic views on Millennium Development Goals in break-out sessions featuring Mr Asher Hassan, CEO, Naya Jeevan; Ms Farida Zuberi, Teach for Pakistan; Mr Sajjad, Amal, Islamabad; Ms Farheen Siddiqui, Director, Drug Free Pakistan Foundation; and Mr Mashood Rizvi, British Council Karachi.

Participants also attended a panel discussion ‘Stories of Change’. The panelists included YLC Alumni sharing their inspiring stories of social development since the time they graduated from YLC and intensely worked on engaging their communities for positive change.

At dinner, a simulation called Hunger Banquet was conducted. The banquet simulates the unequal distribution of food in the world, with some being well provided for, while others, most in numbers, survive on one meal or less a day. The purpose was to create awareness among participants regarding the economic disparity that exists in the world today so as to become responsible to bring the necessary change.

Another inspirating speaker of Pakistan, Mr Sarmad Tariq, held the 350 youth spellbound while narrating his story about how he, as a one confined to his wheelchair, can do and achieve more than anyone can think possible.

Participants attended capacity building session ‘Making the Impossible Possible’ by Mr Kamran Rizvi, Director, School of Leadership with the theme of ‘Developing Faith in your Vision’. 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.

YLC continues with ‘International Economic Leadership’ sessions

Karachi- 04 June, 2011: Day 4 of YLC was dedicated to ‘International Economic Leadership’ encouraging youth to create value with social responsibility.

The day started off with a keynote on ‘Exemplary Leadership’ with Mr Sirajuddin Aziz, CEO, Bank Alfalah Limited, who inspired participants to gain confidence through internal inspiration and stay ahead of challenges by expressing one’s self freely. He presented valuable learning points that, when acted upon, take organizations from being average to a state of mastery.

Mr Khurram Ali Pasha, Faysal Bank; Mr Haroon Waheed, Unilever; Mr Mazhar Valjee, Areva; and Ms Jehan Ara, PASHA, addressed the youth in small groups on examining industries for opportunities and threats. 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 keynote “Value of Social Enterprise” by Ms Saima Irtiza from Acumen Fund. The session allowed the young audience to gain insights into the benefits of social enterprise and its contribution to long term sustainability for Pakistan.

At dinner, a simulation was conducted called ‘Extra Cooperation’. The idea was for participants to get a feel of what it is like to live life with the physical challenged. Many participants admitted to how ungrateful they are for so many blessing they take for granted and live a life of physical ease.

‘Inter-cultural Leadership’ Training at Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC), 2011

Karachi: July 3, 2011 – The 3rd day of the Young Leaders’ Conference, 2011 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 Raza Haroon, Minister ICT. He spoke about the wealth of diversity we are enriched with in Pakistan and, when we look beyond, the many cultures of the world we can respect and learn from.

English Biscuit Manufacturers, the lead sponsors of YLC, inaugurated the day. Since the last nine years, EBM has supported YLC as they strongly believe that, youth trained in life skills develop into responsible citizens eager to make a difference in their communities. Mr Shakeel A Akram, Marketing Manager of EBM addressed the youth and emphasized that each individual has to play their part in building the Nation and when 80 million youth unite to do so, with faith and discipline, there is no doubt that we will embark on the road to prosperity.

The keynote address on ‘Change the Way You Think’ was delivered by Mr Faisal Qureshi of Personality Quotient. The focus of the talk was to inculcate the spirit of listening and appreciating other’s perspectives. Participants were exposed to different thematic views in break-out sessions featuring Ms Sheema Kermani, Dance; Mr Talat Hussain, Theatre; Mr Yousuf Kerai, Music; Ms Sharmeen Chinoy, Film; and Dr Awaab Alvi, Street Power.

Participants also attended a panel discussion ‘Kalaam: Intercultural Dialogue with Ambassadors of Change’. Mr Abbas Hussain chaired the session while the panelists included Mr Deepak Perwani, Ms Sidra Iqbal, Dr Zsuzsnana Fajcsak, Ms Shazia Khawar and Mr Khalid Malik. Participants asked profound questions expressing their keen interest in the subject.

Participants attended capacity building sessions to explore ‘The Spirit of Culture’ with Mr Umair Jaliawala in the session titles ‘Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain Teray’. The crux of the session was the understanding that diversity strengthens culture and character. This was a great learning experience for the participants.

2nd Day of Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC), 2011 dedicated to Environmental Leadership

Karachi: July 2, 2011 – The 2nd day of the 6-day Young Leaders’ Conference was dedicated to ‘Environmental Leadership’. Participants learnt the aspects, causes and effects of the ever-evolving global environment. The Chief Guest for the day was Mr Sheikh Muhammad Afzal, Federal Environment Minister. He spoke about respecting and leveraging the natural resources we are blessed with and how we, as a nation, can collectively unite to prosper.

The day was sponsored by National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). NBP has been a strong supporter of the youth in general and YLC in particular. Mr Qamar Hussain, President NBP addressed the youth and reinforced their continuous efforts and commitment to societal uplift, which NBP is intensively pursuing.

Participants attended several issue exploration sessions in small groups with prominent experts on topics that included ‘health’, ‘community welfare’, ‘economic well being’, ‘culture’, ‘organizational environment’ and capacity building sessions. Participants presented their solutions to the expert speakers and fellow participants. Experts included Mohammad Shahzad, UNFPA; Mr Adeel Hashmi, Nokia; Mr Olaf Kellerhof, FNF; Ms Nigar Nazar, Gogi Studios Islamabad; and YLC alumni achievers from various fields of life. The key-note address was delivered by Mr Toufiq Pasha Mooraj, on “Stand up for our planet: What’s wrong with it?” The address was followed by a grueling question and answer session, in which Mr. Mooraj’s wisdom satisfied the youths’ curiosity.

Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC), 2011

Karachi: July 1, 2011 – With the theme of “Eman, Ittehad, Tanzeem – Inqilaab,” the 10th Young Leaders’ Conference (YLC) commenced today at a local hotel. YLC is an annual event organized by the School of Leadership (SoL), Karachi, attended by 350 youth, aged 18 to 24, from 34 different cities, towns and villages of Pakistan. 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.

Mr Syed Shoaib Siddiqui, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Department, inaugurated the conference expressing great expectations from the youth, not only to make the best of this 6-day learning experience, but to outshine and outperform their own high standards where ever they go. The Chief Guest applauded the efforts of SoL in organizing the Conference for the 10th successive year.

Mr Kamran Rizvi, Director SoL introduced the concept of the conference to the many guests comprising representatives of 26 companies that joined hands to sponsor the event and representatives from various companies that have sponsored the event over the past ten years. These include the lead sponsor, English Biscuit Manufacturers, as they have been in the previous nine years. In affiliation are also HUBCO, Thal Engineering, House of Habib, Fauji Fertilizer Company, Askari Bank, Nokia Siemens Network, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Nokia, Aspen University, Avancee, Nestle Pakistan, Bank Alfalah, Djuice, National Bank of Pakistan, FATA, UNFPA, CiMA; Shamrock as the official PR company; TCS as the official courier and Navitus as advisors. The powerful and lively inauguration ceremony, based on the conference theme, allowed the young audience to express themselves. A mentoring session was conducted thereafter in which participants, in groups, met with guests to learn of their successes in life and how they overcame hurdles and barriers to reach where they are today.

The conference is being led by Abdul Maalik Khaskhelly and Syed Bilal Nazar, YLC 2007 graduates. Their passion is to enable other youth to go through the same enlightening and liberating experience they 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.