UNDP estimates Pakistan’s youth population as one of the highest in history with 68% below the age of thirty and 27% aged between the 15 – 29 years. This calls for participation of young people in civic and political life, economic empowerment and role as resilience builders. 

SPARC has been engaged in working for promotion of positive discourse among youth through initiatives to counter violent narratives (VE). SPARC forms Youth Rights Clubs in various universities and creates awareness among the youth about their rights and responsibilities via leadership and blogging trainings, guest lectures on better citizenry and exposure visits to worship places for peaceful coexistence. Where required, it ensures involvement of local change agents, scholars, academia and civil society representatives. SPARC also orient teenagers in vulnerable locations on harms of VE and need for co-existence.

SPARC reaches out to incarcerated youth through rehabilitative measures including psychosocial counselling and provision of skill training. Efforts are ongoing to reduce stigmatization through counseling sessions with immediate families and communities and urging private sector to consider possibilities of work placement for youth after liberation.

Livelihood and Inclusion of Young Women in the Job Market
SPARC trains young women on digital skills as e-commerce, marketable skills for employment and livelihoods. We cater to disadvantaged girls and women victimized by early and forced marriage through skill provision and technology based learning and conduct life skills based sessions with this beneficiary group to make them self-reliant.