Youth Enterprise Challenge Competition

Retrospective

YES Network Pakistan has played a pioneer role in introducing the concept of youth social entrepreneurship in the country. It has adopted a very holistic approach to promote the concept of youth social entrepreneurship in the country. YES Network Pakistan sees youth social entrepreneurship as a tremendous opportunity to reconnect youth with the society and to help youth to become self-reliant and contributing members of the society. YES Network Pakistan’s service learning program offer a base on which to build youth social entrepreneurs. It helps youth to establish a positive bond and connection at a very young age with the society. It is the most economical and viable means for young people to develop and exercise leadership while effecting concrete changes in their communities. Through youth social entrepreneurship program, young people’s ideas and energy can contribute meaningfully as they participate in community development, work toward social change and apply their leadership skills, all the while gaining access to services, supports and opportunities that facilitates their own development.

Snapshot of the Program

The youth social entrepreneurship program of YES Network Pakistan believes young people, from age 15 to 29, have the creativity and the energy to create and launch new initiatives that can change their communities. Indeed, many youth have already formed such ventures. Youth social entrepreneurship program has grown out of young people’s own interests, motivations and ideas. It entails young people being actively involved by initiating their own activities rather than just being told what to do. Yet it also requires resources and supportive and experienced adults who can mentor/guide young people without being controlling. The program is implemented in collaboration with leading local and international youth-serving institutions.

Areas of Activity

It includes sensitizing and training representatives of youth-serving institutions such technical institutions and civil society organizations on the concept of youth social entrepreneurship, developing material and curriculum on youth social entrepreneurship and, identifying, training and investing financially in young social entrepreneurs.

Outcomes

YES Network Pakistan has sensitized and trained representatives of over 600 youth-serving institutions including technical and vocational institutions and civil society organizations on the concept of youth social entrepreneurship. YES Network Pakistan has trained and engaged over 20,000 young people in designing and implementing community-based micro social enterprises. YES Network Pakistan’s model of youth social entrepreneurship has been featured at the leading international platforms.