The Hashoo Foundation has celebrated the graduation of 30 youth leaders as “Agents of Change” under the Partnerships for Change Project in Swat. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a social innovation and leadership program aimed at empowering youth to promote peace, resilience, and inclusive development in their communities.
As part of the initiative, six youth-led social enterprises were incubated at the Social Lab. These projects addressed community challenges with a special focus on climate action. Their solutions included biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, food preservation, clean water access, and sustainable livelihoods. The efforts transformed the village of Gullibagh into a functional SMaRT Village.
At the event, graduates received essential goods to support their projects. The program has now prepared for Cohort II, while winners of the Pitch Fest move into advanced mentorship and capacity-building. This pipeline is designed to accelerate social enterprises and expand youth-led impact across communities.
The ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including Assistant Commissioner Charbagh, Munir Khan Halimzai; Additional Director General KPCVE, Kashif Irshad; Vice Chancellor of the University of Swat, Prof. Dr. Hassan Sher; and CEO of Hashoo Foundation, Haris Qayyum Khan.
Speaking at the event, Haris Qayyum Khan stressed the importance of youth participation in the economy and highlighted pathways for young people to create self-sustaining enterprises. Other speakers, including Kashif Irshad and Munir Khan Halimzai, emphasized the role of youth in building community resilience and promoting positive peace.
The project is part of the EU-funded Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP) initiative. It is executed by UNODC and NACTA and implemented by Hashoo Foundation. The program builds on the foundation’s Social Lab and award-winning SMaRT Village model, offering participants technical and soft skills under the Education 4.0 framework.
By combining innovation, mentorship, and international support, the Partnerships for Change project is helping Swat’s youth become catalysts for social impact and community transformation.
In other news read more about: Govt Jobs in Pakistan: Guide to Opportunities and Career Growth
