17th Young Leaders Conference announced

In a grand event held at hotel on Wednesday, the team of the School of Leadership announced this year’s Young Leaders Conference (YLC), marking the 17th year of the conference with the primary objective of changing the lives of youngsters by connecting them with opportunities for the future.

Making the announcement at the event, Azhar Hamza of the Young Leaders Conference shared the theme for this year’s pioneering youth leadership event, said a press release. He commented: “This year we have decided IT’S TIME. It is time to channel energies, broaden the horizon of our vision, raise questions and shatter egos to come together, ready to take charge and change the trajectory of this country.”

The Young Leaders Conference is a six-day, five-night event where 300 urban and rural promising young leaders live and learn together from the wisdom of 50 top business, social, political and art leaders as well as from the engagement of the country’s foremost facilitators.

“YLC’18 will be a fusion of innovation and inspiration which will urge the participants to look at future possibilities and will activate a sense of social responsibility through post-conference social action projects. School of Leadership is keen to train and facilitate youth of Pakistan gathering at the platform,” said the press release.

The School of Leadership’s chief executive officer, Hammad Saeed, while addressing the media, said that with approximately 60 per cent of Pakistan’s 207 million population comprising individuals who were under 30, the potential for growth was great. “Our challenge is equipping these young minds with the right skills, values and resources that will ensure they fulfil their goals and passions and live up to their true potential. The task is tremendous but it is one School of Leadership (SoL) is proud to have taken up for the past 16 years at our Flagship Young Leaders Conference.”

Since its start back in 2002, the Young Leaders Conference has been supported by key partners across Pakistan. Representing English Biscuit Manufacturers (Private) Limited, Ayesha Janjua, head of marketing, commented, “Since the last 15 years, EBM and SoL have been close partners in promoting this pioneering youth platform. We have great faith in SoL’s development program for the youth and it has proved itself by achieving greater heights over the last one and a half decade. There is no dearth of talent in this country and all they need is direction, and initiatives like YLC help in bridging that gap.”

The conference this year is returning to Lahore and will be held from July 1 to July 6. The first three days of the conference will take place in a local hotel in Lahore while for the remaining three days the conference will be shifted to Chand Bagh.

Maalik Khaskhely, executive director of School of Leadership, said: “YLC aims to deliver the most during its six days, thus leading to a comprehensive and thorough learning journey. This year the conference will cover the following themes: Civic & Political Engagement, Sustainable Development and Research, Interfaith Dialogue, Business Management and Innovation, Art & Culture, Philanthropy and Social Action and Celebrating Being Young.”

Since 2002, the YLC has contributed over 4,700 graduates to our local and global landscape spread over 150 cities and villages across Pakistan and some abroad creating a vast Alumni Network. Many have contributed back to their campuses, communities and companies in extraordinary ways.

Over 105 youth-led organizations have emerged across Pakistan as a result of YLC’s Social Action Projects giving hope, putting themselves out there, sensitising their society about global and local challenges and redefining their own lives in social action. School of Leadership does not stand alone in this powerful initiative and is partnered by visionary private and social sector organisations over the years.