ISLAMABAD (PRESS RELEASE)
The 17th installment of the Young Leaders Conference is Pakistan’s pioneering youth empowerment and leadership event organized by School of Leadership. The conference, which saw its initiation in 2002, is all set to take off this year at the Faletti’s hotel in the historic city of Lahore from July 1st. The second half of the conference starting from July 4th – 6th will take place in Chandbagh.
Conducted on an annual basis, YLC has been playing a significant role in influencing the lives of countless young individuals imparting the confidence and exposure that they need to succeed. Over the past 16 years, the alumni network of YLC has extended to 4,700 and has impacted over 2 million indirect beneficiaries from more than 130 cities, towns and districts of Pakistan.
The theme chosen for the year and revealed in early April is ‘Its Time’. As the key drivers of social change, it’s time for the youth to bring in new ideas and innovations and put efforts to bring a change to the future of Pakistan.
This six-day residential program, supported by the founding partner EBM, brings together 300 youngsters between the ages of 18-24 from all over Pakistan, with an average ratio of 50% male and 50% female participants. These participants are mentored by over 50 expert speakers, scholars, educationists, corporate heads, academicians and trainers on themes including economics, environment, gender equality, business development, arts and culture and policy making.
Many of the volunteers have contributed back to their campuses, communities and companies in extraordinary ways. Over 105 youth-led organizations have emerged across Pakistan as a result of YLC’s Social Action Projects giving hope, putting themselves out there, sensitizing their society about global and local challenges and redefining their own lives in social action. The myriad of sessions, simulations, field visits, and panel discussions held throughout the conference ignite hope and inspire the youth to bring a change in all sections of the society.
Azhar Hamza, the YLC Champ for 2018, is all geared up for the conference. Mentored by Kamran Rizvi, Shireen Naqvi and Umair Jaliawala, Directors at SoL, Hammad Saeed, CEO at SoL, Maalik Khaskhely, Executive Director at SoL, Waqar Ali, Consultant at SoL and supported by his energetic team, Azhar Hamza is ready to lead the change.
This year’s conference has been sponsored by their Founding Partner EBM and Cause Partners The Asia Foundation, Australian Government, Feroze1888, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, USEFP, Wilshire, British Council Pakistan, UNICEF Pakistan, Marie Stopes Society, Jubilee Life Insurance, Alif Ailaan, KFC Pakistan, PTCL, Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited, ACM Foods and Sui Southern Gas Limited.
Jang Media Group, the News, Geo News are the official media partners and Suno FM 89.4 is the official Radio Partner, for the conference while Xenith PR serves as the Digital and PR partner, helping to bring the message of YLC to all media platforms and providing essential coverage. TCS is serving as a logistics partner, ensuring smooth- running and timely execution. Along with that, YLC has also partnered with Torque for their strategic support. The YLC vision of youth empowerment and leadership is shared by and reflected in the efforts of all our partner organizations.