As a continuation of CDA’s efforts for promoting Peace, Interfaith harmony, Intercultural dialogue, Democracy, Education, Human rights and Meaningful youth participation, CDA envisaged conducting “5^th National Youth Peace Festival 2014” on 24^th – 27^th September 2014.

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Like last year, the focus of this year’s NYPF, will also be to bridge the gaps between the young people living in far-flung areas with the mainstream national decision-making processes and providing them with the means to make change at their individual capacity in their respective communities. In this regard, CDA envisaged bringing more young people from conflict-affected areas, representatives of youth/women/minority-led civil society organizations, and inviting more law-makers from federal and provincial Governments so that these young people can voice their issues and present their recommendations concerning peace, democracy, education and their participation in decision-making processes.

For the very first time, a special emphasis has been given to the Education following the enactment of “Education Emergency” in some of the provinces and advocating for the same in other provinces.

The NYPF’14 will also provide the young people a platform to celebrate cultural and religious diversity, empower them with skills and tools needed to respect and recognize diversity, human rights, and promote education, entrepreneurship, and national integrity to make young people part of mainstream society as responsible and active citizens, playing their pivotal role for making Pakistan a democratic, educated, harmonized and peaceful place to live.

Before the 5^th National Youth Peace Festival 2014, Chanan Development Association (CDA) will be organizing Provincial Youth Summits, i.e. I Am Karachi – Youth Peace Summit (Karachi from 12^th – 14^th August 2014), Baluchistan Youth Summit (Quetta – September 2014), FATA/KP Youth Summit (Peshawar – September 2014) and South Punjab Youth Summit (Multan – September 2014).

Themes

The overall theme of the 5^th National Youth Peace Festival (NYPF) 2014 will be “PAKISTAN VOWS FOR DEMOCRACY, EDUCATION & PEACE!”, while the sub-themes of the NYPF’14 will be;

• Day 1: Democracy – The Answer to Pakistan’s Miseries
• Day 2: Education – Building The Nation’s Future
• Day 3: Diversity – Celebrating Pluralism for National Integrity
• Day 4: Way Forward to Peace – Youth Competence and Empowerment

Objectives

There are five major objectives of the 5^th NYPF 2014, i.e. to

• Provide the young people of Pakistan with a platform to discuss national challenges towards Democracy, Education, Peace & Harmony and advocate for meaningful youth participation in decision/policy-making & accountability processes
• Experience an intercultural dialogue to promote national integrity and to celebrate the vast cultural and religious diversity for bringing the youth spirit and festivity
• Empower the youth with skills and tools to synthesize innovative, principled and practical means to be active and responsible citizens of their society.
• To develop and collect the recommendations of young people from across country to achieve a consensus by identifying key actions for promoting democracy, education, peace and harmony
• Acknowledge the contribution of young leaders, and civil society organizations for youth development, democracy, education, human rights, peace and harmony in the country