Establishment of Youth-led Social Enterprise

Stage One
YES Network Pakistan either invites or receives expression of interest from young people living in low-income or under-privileged communities either directly or through its partner selected under youth incubator program. We select those youth who are interested, innovative, passionate, visionary and forward-looking in their approach to serve their communities. To qualify and join the program, young people must submit their expression of interest either collectively (in the form of a Youth Service Network) or individually ( as a service volunteer or a youth social entrepreneur). YES Network Pakistan assists interested young people in submitting their applications and ideas for change. YES Network Pakistan has designed a very comprehensive application package to assist youth in presenting their ideas and running their Networks or Micro Social Enterprises. Each Youth Service Network or Young Social Entrepreneur is responsible for conceptualizing, developing, implementing and co-ordinating its/his/her social change program. YES Network Pakistan plays an important role in organizing, training, documenting, improving, equipping (with tools and financial resources) and rewarding the Youth Service Networks/Young Social Entrepreneurs. In addition to this, YES Network Pakistan monitors, advocates and coordinates the activities of Youth Service Networks/Young Social Entrepreneurs. Expression of interest from the Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• Need
• Pre-situaton
• Knowledge/Skills
• Innovation
• Passion
• Sustainability
• Personal Commitment

Based on the above-mentioned criteria, YES Network Pakistan selects a Youth Service Network or Young Social Entrepreneurs for setting up community based Micro Social Enterprises in the areas of the greatest need. YES Network Pakistan gives special preference to poor and dis-advantaged young girls for starting up community based ventures.

Stage Two

YES Network Pakistan organizes a training on the development of business plan for the selected youth. The purpose of the training is to improve the plans of the Youth Service Volunteers/Young Social Entrepreneurs and also to build their capacities in basic areas of Micro Social Enterprise Programming.

Stage Three

YES Network Pakistan conducts open sessions in the communities from where disadvantaged young people have been selected for the program. The purpose of the open sessions is to inform the key stakeholders about the initiative and to create an enabling environment for the youth as well as to tap local resources for building-up the momentum of service activities.

Stage Four

YES Network Pakistan establishes an advisory body in the communities where Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs plan to operate. The role of the advisory body is to assist YES Network Pakistan in carrying out a community-based monitoring and to provide guidance in case of any mishap.

Stage Five

YES Network Pakistan organizes an oath taking ceremony for the members of Youth Service Network and Young Social Entrepreneur in their respective communities to legitimatize the program and to clarify their role and responsbilities publicly.

Stage Six

YES Network Pakistan assists members of Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs in opening up bank accounts for transferring seed funds. The members of the Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs use these funds for the execution of their ideas.

Stage Seven

YES Network Pakistan organizes need-based capacity building trainings for the members of Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs.

Stage Eight

The members of Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs launches their social enterprises in their respective communities.

Stage Nine

YES Network Pakistan carries out monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs. It is carried out at different levels and by different players. At the community level it is done by the partner organization and the local advisory committee and at the head office level it is carried out by the relevant staff and the Board Members of YES Network Pakistan.

Stage Ten

YES Network Pakistan works with Youth Service Networks and Young Social Entrepreneurs to build-up their Micro Social Enterprises through advocacy and partnership-building. Many of the Micro Social Enterprises have reached a point of sustainability as they are carrying out a wide range of programs by their own in their communities.