WHAT IS NEW ABOUT THE YES CHALLENGES AND YOUTH-LED CHANGEMAKING?
The paradigm shift established by the work of YES Network is a direct turnaround in comparison to existing programs:
- In the new paradigm, the Youth serves vs. Old paradigm in which Youth is being served
- The old paradigm puts focus on problems of Youth, vs. the New Paradigm focuses on Youth engagement
- New paradigm is focused on low cost programs or programs with a direct positive return on investment vs. existing expensive programs
- The YES Network method has long term effects from its programs, whereas many programs are short lived with no or small long term results
- Many programs focus on academics and skill development of Youth, whereas the YES method focuses on All-Round Development of Youth
- Most existing player focus on designing reactive programs, whereas the YES methodology is focusing on designing pro-active programs
Compare here, how the YES Network model is different from existing programs HERE .
OUR VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
Our vision is that every young person gets the opportunity to experience what it means to create and add value and be a ChangeMaker. In an everyone a ChangeMaker world, there is more equality by design because the power to effect change is democratized and wide-spread. It will be a world of active ChangeMaker-citizens and not passive bystanders, a world of solution seekers, instead of problem creators.
We also aspire to open up the powerful tool of self-inquiry to more young people. It works like a razor sharp blade in inquiring into limiting and self-defeating beliefs and coming out on the other side with a clearer mind that sees a kinder world, a world of hope and possibility instead of a world of limitations.
Since our vision builds on the vision of our partner YES Network Pakistan, please find our partners vision HERE.
Our Mission is to spread awareness about the Youth Engagement Model innovated by Ali Raza Khan and help scale the method within but also beyond Pakistan. It is the most cost effective, simple and successful approach we are currently aware of to facilitate a changemaking experience to tens of thousands of young people within a short time. It is also the only approach we are aware of that has such high success rates for the startup of ventures.
In addition to sharing awareness about the YES Youth Engagement Model, we document and share inspiring stories of young changemakers and teach and share a tool of self-inquiry, as taught by Byron Katie, with young people, that is the most powerful approach we are aware of to work through limiting beliefs and stressful thoughts, leaving the mind more balanced, clear and in a state from which positive and intelligent action can arise.
Our Values at the YES Founders Foundation are:
- Honesty & Transparency
- Seeing Potential in every human being
- Caring
- Focus on Youth Driven programs
- Sustainability
- Responsibility
We measure our actions against them and use them for decision making and program design.
THE SUPPORT TEAM
THE FACILITATORS
BACKGROUND
YES Network Pakistan, founded by Ali Raza Khan has innovated a unique trust-based model to turn young people into changemakers. He has tested this model with 16000 young people from almost every walk of life.
Thomas Jakel, inspired by the work of Ali Raza, decided to visit Pakistan to see his Youth-led Changemaking model himself in action. This was in 2017. After spending two weeks in the field with Ali and interacting with several hundred young people and faculty members of vocational and educational institutions, Thomas ended-up firmly dedicating himself to share Ali’s model as an ambassador and supported Ali in documenting his work by co-authering the book YES! Youth-led Changemaking with him.
Ali and Thomas believe that the idea and method should be shared with teachers, parents, policy makers, social workers and young people. The idea has the potential to revolutionize the youth development field and educational practices.
It is worth mentioning that YES Network Pakistan’s model of Youth-led Changemaking has now been featured in more than 30 countries. International organizations such as Ashoka, Jeanne Sauvé Foundation, British Council, Innovations in Civic Participation, United States Institute of Peace, USAID, GIZ, Global Knowledge Partnership, International Association for National Youth Service and Agha Khan Rural Support Program have endorsed the work of YES Network Pakistan.
With the YES-Challenge program, we want to further spread this model and make it available to even more young people.