KARACHI: The British Council of Pakistan in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched on Tuesday the Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) and Digital Learning Portal to support the Green Youth Movement (GYM) project.
According to a statement on Tuesday, PYLI, an integral component of the GYM project supported by the British Council, aims to empower young women and men across Pakistan with the necessary skills and knowledge to combat climate action. Through this initiative, the British Council will oversee the execution of capacity-building programmes.
Under this initiative, an impressive cohort of 290,000 youth from universities and communities will be trained for the Climate Action curriculum. Among them, 60,000 young individuals will undergo specialized training under the Prime Minister’s Green Youth Movement.
These trained youth will then take their knowledge and skills back to their communities, spearheading Youth Led Climate Actions (YLAs), engaging in policy dialogue and advocacy, participating in national and international climate events, and showcasing their successful projects.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, graced the launching ceremony as chief guest. Other distinguished guests included Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Dr. Paul Thomson of the British Council, Mr. James Hampson, Country Director Pakistan, British Council, Mr. Abdulla Faraj Al-Abdulla, Executive Director of Reach Out to Asia, and Mr. George Kerisa Tavola, Engagement Manager of Reach Out to Asia’s, Green Youth Movement Club, among others from academia and beyond.
In his address, Dr. Mukhtar emphasized HEC’s commitment to youth development and climate action under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, highlighting the significance of initiatives like PYLI in fostering leadership and addressing climate-related challenges.
Dr. Paul Thomson underscored the urgency of addressing climate crises, stressing the need for immediate action to mitigate the impact of climate change. He commended Pakistan’s youth for their proactive engagement in climate action and expressed optimism about the project’s potential to catalyze positive change.
Dr Ali, Deputy Secretary, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme said that “under this project, we are embarking on a transformative journey. We aim to develop a cutting-edge Learning Management System, a digital platform, and a curriculum that focuses on leadership and climate resilience. Our commitment extends to building capacity through an intensive Train the Trainer program.”