Call to promote innovation, leadership among youth

ISLAMABAD: At an event held here in connection with the International Youth Day, speakers called for nurturing innovation and leadership among young people. 

“If we nurture innovation and leadership among young people, we can yield a more conscionable generation that has the power and grit and repair the planet,” said Latika Maskey Pradhan, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Pakistan. 

“Together, we can unlock their immense potential, harness their creativity and innovation, and build a world that offers equal opportunities for all.”

The event was held at Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) by the UNFPA Pakistan, School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) and the QAU, says a press release.

Recognizing the importance of green skills for youth, the event featured interactive presentations, dialogues, and a theater performance that captured the essence of the day.

“Theater is a powerful medium for conveying messages of change and empowerment. By including a theatre performance in today’s event, our aim was to awaken the hearts and minds of our youth, encouraging thoughtful discussions on our collective role in shaping a greener future,” remarked Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director of SoLF.

Empowering youth for social entrepreneurship and green development is the focus of innovative projects like the health and well-being innovation challenge and generation unlimited challenge.

This has led to remarkable ventures such as She-Guard, crafting eco-friendly sanitary padss Siachen Sherpa, building an artificial glacier for sustainable water in Khaplu, Gilgit-Baltistan and Zamurd Enterprise, replacing plastics with degradable organic bio-plastic within three to six months. These initiatives were spotlighted at the event, showcasing inspiring models for best practices.