Engagement of Organization for Conducting Youth Dialogues, Sports, and Cultural Events

  • Project Timeline:

    September 2023 – February 2025

  • Area of Implementation:

    Kurram

  • Sector:

    Youth Engagement / Social Cohesion / Peacebuilding / Cultural Development

Funded By:
UNDP

Project Brief

The Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), successfully implemented the project “Engagement of Organization for Conducting Youth Dialogues, Sports, and Cultural Events” in the tribal districts of Orakzai and Kurram.

The project was designed to strengthen social cohesion, promote youth leadership, and create inclusive community spaces in post-conflict settings. Implemented in collaboration with the Directorate of Youth Affairs and District Administrations, the initiative ensured broad accessibility and meaningful participation of youth, women, community elders, and local authorities.

A strong emphasis was placed on women’s inclusion, enabling their active participation in cultural exhibitions, sports activities, and leadership platforms—areas where women’s visibility has traditionally been limited.

Objective

To foster social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in post-conflict districts by promoting inclusive youth dialogue, cultural expression, sports-based engagement, and women’s leadership in community spaces.

Summary of Achievements

Youth Dialogues and Civic Engagement:

  • Eight youth dialogues were conducted (four in each district), with separate sessions for men and women.
  • Dialogues facilitated structured discussions on climate change, women’s education, governance, and community development, strengthening youth awareness and civic engagement.

National-Level Youth Representation:

  • Two grand dialogues, held in Peshawar and Islamabad, brought together 30 young leaders (50% women) from Orakzai and Kurram.
  • These dialogues enabled direct interaction with political representatives and decision-makers, amplifying youth voices in national-level discourse.

Sports and Cultural Integration:

  • Ten sports and cultural eventspromoted inter-tribal harmony, teamwork, and positive youth engagement.
  • Events showcased local talent and celebrated cultural diversity, contributing to trust-building across communities.

Women-Focused Cultural and Leadership Platforms:

  • Six women-focused cultural and social events, including handicraft exhibitions, cultural festivals, and leadership sessions, enhanced women’s visibility, confidence and economic participation.
  • These activities supported women’s engagement in public life and community leadership roles.

Impact

The project significantly strengthened community cohesion and youth participation in Orakzai and Kurram by creating safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue, cultural expression, and collective action. Youth voices—particularly those of young women—were elevated in local and national decision-making processes, while sports and cultural initiatives fostered trust and integration in districts emerging from prolonged instability. The initiative concluded successfully, leaving behind strengthened youth networks, improved community engagement mechanisms, and an enabling environment for sustained dialogue, leadership, and cultural exchange.

Project gallery