Ayesha Faheem, 13, from Lahore Grammar School, is a girl guide. She is one of the young people in Pakistan advocating for building bridges between generations in line with this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) theme, “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages.”
At the IYD commemorative event, which took place in the E-Library Lahore, Punjab, Ayesha explained that intergenerational solidarity is about the different generations of old and young working together and supporting one another. “But that support is sometimes very hard to gain. We usually take our elderly for granted and don’t give them the attention and support they deserve in the same stance; our youth are also not taken seriously by the adults most of the time; it is believed that sometimes their opinion just doesn’t matter and that their ideas aren't worth listening to,” said Ayesha.
The young activist also contended that some intergenerational solidarity should be encouraged. “As I know, in Pakistani households, the adults stay with the elderly; they take care of them and do not send them to old people’s homes. The youth do not have to move out or fend for themselves at a young age. They get to stay home and study without worrying much about student loans, rent, food, and bills,” Ayesha stated.
The girl guide association works towards solving some social problems of inclusion by visiting old homes and orphanages and spending quality time with the people, celebrating holidays with them, and bringing them gifts while sharing ideas on creating a better community.
The Pakistan Girl Guides Association (PGGA) and the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, Rahnuma, the Family Planning Association of Pakistan, organized the commemorative event for IYD as part of an ongoing partnership.
Since being endorsed by the General Assembly in 1999, 12 August has marked IYD to acknowledge and amplify the importance of youth participation in current affairs. This year’s theme aims to combat ageism and build bridges between generations. From the wisdom of youth to the energy and idealism of the elderly, we must welcome and leverage the gifts people of all ages bring and ensure no one is left behind. The world’s problems are too vast for entire generations to be absent from helping address them.
UNFPA champions the rights of young people and works toward enabling them to fulfill their potential.
UNFPA Pakistan Deputy Representative Ms. Latika Maskey Pradhan
Speaking at the youth day event, UNFPA Pakistan Deputy Representative Ms. Latika Maskey Pradhan said UNFPA has been supporting the Government of Pakistan to further its vision for a better, healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future. “We believe sustainable and equitable development can be achieved if young people in Pakistan are healthy, educated, and empowered to make informed decisions and resilient in the face of change. The well-being of the older generations depends upon the contributions of young people during their working lives. Fully engaged, educated, healthy, and productive adolescents and youth are resilient in the face of personal and societal challenges. As skilled and informed citizens, they can contribute effectively to strengthening their communities and the nation as a whole,” she said.
She said UNFPA Pakistan is recommitting to strengthening collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and other partners to foster successful and equitable intergenerational relations and partnerships to ensure “no one is left behind.”
“This International Youth Day, let us all be reminded that every generation has a key role in addressing global challenges. Let us all stand up for intergenerational solidarity and a world for all ages,” said Ms. Maskey Pradhan.
Unveiling the logos of the Punjab Youth Helpline and Co-Working Space Desk
Punjab Minister for Youth, Sports, and Culture Honourable Malik Taimoor Masoof Akbar officially unveiled the logos of the Punjab Youth Helpline and Co-Working Space Desk for Young Entrepreneurs at the event. UNFPA Pakistan supported the establishment of the two projects to empower the youth.
--- Pilirani Semu-Banda
