Background and objectives:
The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) was established to increase the participation of young Afghan women and men in the reconstruction and advancement of their country. The activities of this Project establishes a network of female and male youth groups throughout the country who are equipped with strong life skills, actively involved in the social, cultural, sporting and economic life of their communities; and linked to similar youth networks in other parts of the world. At least 2,400 youth will be targeted as direct beneficiaries (girls and boys aged between14 to 25) in 60 urban and rural communities. Each group will share their education input with 10 communities; bringing the total number of beneficiaries reached directly and indirectly by the project to 26,400. The project will promote young women and men to actively participate in democracy building, development processes, and the sustainable peace and solidarity in the country.
Activities:
The main activities included:
- Selecting communities and providing training to youth coordinators.
- Conducting participatory Youth Situational Assessment surveys and workshops.
- Training boys and girls to support their Community Development Councils (CDCs), and to take an active part in the planning and advancement of their community.
- Promoting education, arts and sports through the civic education project.
- On-the-project training will be provided to officers of Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY).
Results:
The results achieved were:
- Directly benefited more than 2,580 youth through seven training courses.
- Developed 120 Youth Development Plans. Established 120 local youth development councils.
- Implemented about 130 self-initiated projects in six provinces ( Balkh, Bamyan, Farah, Kabul, Kandahar, and Nangarhar), benefiting 34,925 people (approximately 2,698 males and 32,437 females).
- Promoted capacity-building of the Municipality of Information and Culture, and
- The Office of the Deputy Ministry of Youth to develop sound policies and implement effective programmes for the youth.
