Youth Advocacy Network (YAN) was one of the expected outcomes of the International Conference on "Youth & Promotion of Human Development" – Investing in Future (10-12 August, 2003). Keeping in view the fact that there is a lack of opportunities for youth to express themselves, a marked absence of research on youth issues and policy guidelines for youth development, SACHET organized this international conference as a Communication Project of its Training Program, implemented by AGEHI Resource Center (ARC), the technical wing of SACHET.

The aim of the conference was to provide a meeting ground for age groups falling between 8 to 40 years of age including youth, youth activists, youth leaders, professionals, scholars, civic entrepreneurs, policy makers and researchers to share their knowledge, expertise and insights.

What is YAN?

SACHET-Youth Advocacy Network (YAN) was one of the expected outcomes of the International Conference on "Youth & Promotion of Human Development" – Investing in Future (10-12 August, 2003) organized by AGEHI Resource Centre-SACHET. Keeping in view the fact that there is a lack of opportunities for youth to express themselves, a marked absence of research on youth issues and policy guidelines for youth development, SACHET developed this youth Advocacy Network to fulfill the need of a platform to mainstream Pakistani youth in development by ensuring youth involvement and their continuous engagement in development process.

SACHET YAN strives to achieve this by involving the enthusiastic volunteers of YAN in a number of activities related to social development issues.

Till the end of June 2006, SACHET-YAN has 205 young girls and boys as its promising members with the division of 110 boys: 95girls

Why YAN was formed?

A number of objectives of YAN, as framed by the youngsters are:

• To Advocate, Sensitize and aware youth on various issues
• To spread knowledge
• To provide interactive platform for youth to express themselves
• To facilitate the students in research based projects
• To provide a platform for recreational activities and capacity building opportunities for youth

Who can be a part of YAN?

Anyone falling in the age group of 8 to 40, shows commitment, devotion, and determination and is ready to give priority to collective interests of youth, can be a part of Youth Advocacy Network.

Thematic Areas

The thematic areas in which YAN will work include:

• Gender (e.g. child labor etc.)
• Education
• Health
• Training
• HIV/AIDS
• FAD (Fight against Dowry)