January 12, 2012 The Honorable Secretary Youth Development,Sports, Culture & Tourism Govt of KPK Subject: Sir,

With reference to telephonic discussion of Mr. Hussain Ahmed Youth Development Officer AKRSP Chitral with Mr. Zahoor Ahmad Doorani & Hayat Ali Shah, I wish to jot down a brief introduction of our project and hope that AKRSP Chitral will be taken as partner in the implementation of youth development initiatives. The Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRPS) is a pioneering integrated rural support program established in 1982 by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The overall goal is to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the rural people in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (GBC). AKRSP helped the rural communities in mobilization and undertaking self-help projects, which they can initiate and manage themselves. Over 4000 Village and Women Organizations (V/WOs) and over 50 Local Support Organizations (LSOs) are working across GBC as partners in development. The government of Canada through CIDA (Candadian International Development Agency) and Aga Khan Foundation Canada has been the longstanding partner of AKRSP and the communities since day first. The AKRSP has currently started implementation of a six year CIDA- funded youth development program (2011-2017), called Enhancing Employability and Leadership for Youth (EELY) in GilgitBaltistan and district Chitral of KPK. The primary goal of the project is to improve the social and economic conditions of young men and women in GBC. The two-fold objectives are: i) to increase employability (employment and self-employment) of female and male youth in GBC; ii) to strengthen the engagement of youth leaders, in partnership with state and civil society in support of programs and policies that improve the conditions of youth in GBC. The ultimate outcome of the project is increased engagement of youth as productive and full members of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral society. The project has been designed on the basis of lessons learnt over the last three decades of interventions by AKRSP and AKDN agencies in the region. It was felt that there was a need for increased and equitable employability and engagement of young men and women in market systems and in community institutions as leaders. Besides, there was a need to prepare the labour markets, public and community institutions to work for youth and in turn preparing youth for community engagement and for the labor markets. The limited participation of youth in civil society and their role in decision making are attracting the attention of community organization, development practitioners and government in Pakistan and particularly in GBC. The level of participation and representation of youth is low in all civic organization. Similarly mobilizing youth around sports, recreational and political awareness and engagement in civic activities are the vital aspect of youth development.

REQUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP

As reflected from the name of the project Enhancing employability and leadership for youth (EELY) the project focus on youth participation in all sphere of life through intensive mobilization and sensitization programme and there is immense need of collaborative efforts by GO/NGOs and civil society organization to ensure the involvement of youth in civic and govt institutions. Therefore I approach you with a request that AKRSP should be taken as partner for initiating joint venture in the immense interest of young man and women. Regards Yours sincerely

Sardar Ayub Regional Programme Manager AKRSP Chitral Phone : 0943 412727-412720-412979 Cell No.03025949314 Fax: 0943 412516 Email: sardar.ayub@akrsp.org.pk Email: sardarayub@hotmail.com