Last month, the Social Entrepreneurship Forum For Youths (SEFFY), was held to promote social entrepreneurship among youths. The event comprised of talks by successful and young social enterpreneurs from around the world and a carnival of local social enterprises.

The following is an interview with Mr Ali Raza Khan, a speaker at SEFFY, who shares his experiences running the Youth Engagement Services (YES) network in Pakistan. Khan is the Founder and Director of YES Network Pakistan and is also an Ashoka Fellow.

SEforum:  What does YES (Youth Engagement Services) Network Pakistan do?

Khan: “There is a Youthquake in Pakistan with 70% of the population being under 29. They are half-educated, disengaged and socially excluded. Without any hope or desire and thus falling into disaster’s way. There are enormous about of positive energy wasted as these young people are left behind. Instead of treating youths as another social problem to be rectified, we think youths can be mobilised and empowered to solve developmental needs, which is another problem in my country.

Hence, YES was set up. It pioneered the concept of youth service and youth social entrepreneurship in the country, in which youths are trained to lead service projects and micro social enterprises. YES provides an effective channel to reintegrate youths into the society as active citizenry.”

SEforum: How is this program unique?

Khan: “Let me run a quick comparison between existing institutions vs YES.

• Serves youths VS Youth serves
• Aims as problems of youths VS Aims at Fully prepared youths
• Single Domain VS Multiple domain
• High cost programs VS Low cost programs
• Donor driven (Top Down) VS Youth-driven (Bottom Up)
• Charity VS Self-reliance

SEforum: What are the tangible outcomes of this program?

Khan: “At the individual level, it provides youths with knowledge, skill sets, self-esteem, hope, a role to play.  It also changes their their negative attitudes to a positive one.

At the community level, it creates a positive image of youths in communities, reduces crime rate and gender discrimination.

At the institutional level, it creates new enabling policies and practices that effect the system change.”

SEforum: What are the lessons that you have learned and your advice for youths?

Khan: “I have learned that…

• Problem free is good, but being fully prepared is much better
• Our programs must be desired and not simply capacity based
• The first essential part of success is to begin. Once started, all that is within and without will follow
• When people are not looked down upon, positive change will impact the lives of everyone

And my advice…

• The risks, problems and costs involved in starting a social enterprise are far less than the cost and outcomes of comfortable inaction
• Remember everything you need is inside you and no one can know more about your path and purpose than you do
• Passion and patience are key to success
• Our expectations from young people must be high and clear. Preventing high risk behavior is not the same as preparation for the future, family future and community future”

I would like to share with everyone a quote. I like how Mohammad Ali (world renowned, champion boxer) puts it, ‘A champion must be able to take a good punch‘. To succeed in Life, we must be able to take failures in stride.”

Check out the other SEFFY presentations under Insight:

Ms Reese Fernandez, Founder and President of Rags-2-Riches in Philippines
Rags to Riches  and What Youths Can Do?

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, Founder and Creative Director of School of Thought
7 Things to Consider before Embarking on Social Entrepreneurship

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