October 2, 2018, Islamabad--Over 130 young members of YESPeace Pakistan came together in Islamabad on 2nd of October to launch the International Youth Campaign on Kindness for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The launch took place at the Hill View Hotel wherein the youth shared their kindness stories with each other and video connected with the launch events in New Delhi, Cape Town and Monterrey (Mexico). The event was organised and managed by YESPeace Pakistan, a collective of youth organisations in Pakistan that included HIVE and College of Youth Activism and Development (CYAAD). The programme was supported actively by volunteers and facilitators from the International Federation of Red Crescent (IFRC) Pakistan.

As part of the ceremony 5 young ambassadors were selected to present their stories of kindness in action to the entire audience. Aisha Mughal (first transgender university lecturer in Pakistan), Vishal Anand (interfaith harmony), Kalemullah (tourism in conflict areas) and others shared their stories to much applause by an audience which consisted not only young men and women but also transgenders.

The launch was followed by a 2 day capacity building programme of young people on a variety of issues including identity, multiculturalism, inter faith harmony, civic imagination and values. All these issues were addressed using a range of capacity building techniques including interactive and simulative exercises, creative expressions, theatre, panel discussion and films.

The two day programme was inaugurated by Ms Vibeke Jensen, Director UNESCO, Pakistan and by the Assistant Secretary General of National Commission of UNESCO, Pakistan. Ms Jensen reiterated the commitment of UNESCO Pakistan to achievement of SDGs using youth as active agents

The event got into a festive mode when young people took to the stage for cultural performances from their respective provinces. Young people performed songs and dances from all the four provinces of Pakistan i.e Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other autonomous and federal territories.

YESPeace Pakistan is now in the process of creating a grand plan whereby the kindness campaign will reach thousands of young people across Pakistan, collecting kindness stories and sharing them with the world.

To submit  your story of kindness:  https://bit.ly/2x2tFPx
To submit a story of someone else's act of kindness:  https://bit.ly/2NG3Pv8

For more information: 
Website: http://mgiep.unesco.org/kindness
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNESCO_MGIEP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1593782783994879/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unesco_mgiep

For images of the launch: https://bit.ly/2C7qD0S

 
Contact the team:
Mr. Abel Caine: a.caine@unesco.org  (India Launch)
Ms. Deepika Joon: d.joon@unesco.org (South Africa Launch)
Mr. Shankar Musafir: s.musafir@unesco.org (Pakistan Launch)
Mr. Adithya Pillai:  a.pillai@unesco.org (India Launch)

For  media requests:
Ms. Radhika Bhatnagar: r.bhatnagar@unesco.org