Youth and Sports

Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan (AKYSBP) is pleased to announce a call for submissions for online series of Heritage Discovery Programme in Pakistan. The theme of this year’s discovery is “Food Culture”. Food Culture is an important part of cultural heritage that creates a connection between ethnicity, attitudes, beliefs, and practices surrounding food production and consumption. Food can also help us make friends and help us communicate with others within and outside the communities.

Youth camps are generally known for promoting collaborative and experiential learning environments. However, in 2020, youth camps at the national and international level had to be modified to adapt to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, which necessitated social distance and isolation. During the pandemic, some virtual camps were arranged to fill a much-needed gap in youth engagement. However, virtual platforms have limitations, particularly due to the restrained engagement between participants and the lack of reliable internet connectivity in most regions of Pakistan.

The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan (AKYSBP) organised the first Virtual Scout Camporee on the 27th and 28th of June, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on large gatherings and programmes that require physical presence have been enforced across the country. Utilising technology, this barrier was easily overcome, and Boy Scouts from throughout Pakistan had the opportunity to participate in a National Camporee. AKYSBP Chairman, Mr. Hassan Somani shared, “A Virtual Camporee during the challenging times of COVID-19 not only engaged youngsters from across the country in learning intervention but also enabled all of them to share best practices of the scouting movement.”

The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan is bringing yet another exiting and intriguing new programme for the youth to showcase their talents through diverse expressions. Ismaili youth, between the ages of 12 and 19, may participate in one of the following three categories:

Seven days, two cities, 62 Ismaili youth from all over Pakistan and a plethora of emotions, memories and lifelong friendships. This sums up the flagship programme, Broadening Horizon Youth Camp (BHYC), of the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for Pakistan (AKYSBP) held in Lahore and Islamabad from the 24th of December through the 30th of December, 2019. Continuing its legacy, this year the BHYC used a multidisciplinary approach to ensure that Ismaili youth develop the tenacity and drive to make positive, informed choices in addressing contemporary challenges, take pride in their identity and are able to enhance their leadership skills to become ambassadors of the community.