Pakistan is Chosen to Pilot RVOY

I am very pleased to inform you that Pakistan has been chosen as one of the countries where the new UNICEF Rural Voices of Youth Model will be piloted. Participatory Action Research (PAR) model is one which involves a collaborative approach to inquiry and action that emerges from the interests or problems of a specific group or community- this model will provide adolescents the environment and process through which they can deepen an understanding of their circumstances and take action to help resolve them.

This model will be piloted in three countries (Ghana, Cameroon and Pakistan) before it is introduced to all the other 33 countries within the UNICEF RVOY Network. Some seed funding will be provided for the implementation of this pilot so it is great honor for our country to be awarded.

To set the foundation for a smooth implementation of the new RVOY model in Pakistan, we are in the process to choose one rural community from any part of Pakistan. If you are interested in this initiative, we would like you to send us a proposal which should answer briefly the following questions:

1. Identify a rural community where you would want this initiative piloted. Note that the rural community should be one that is listed as a rural community in Pakistan.

2. Provide a brief situation analysis on the rural community chosen such as: Education, Health, Housing, Population, Employment/Occupation, Water supply and sanitation, Transportation etc.

3. Identify and develop a database of adolescent groups, youth associations/clubs etc in the rural community chosen.

4. Why you think this initiative is best to be implemented in the chosen community?

Our target audiences for the new RVOY model are adolescents, male and female between 10-19years of age. The full implementation of the pilot should start as soon as the concept note is finalized and resources allocated.

Kindly spread the word and get back by email to: rvoypakistan@gmail.com latest by 5 May 2011.

Note: At the moment there is one rural community we can focus so those who do not hear from us, please apply next time and we appreciate your interest in this initiative.

Thank you very much as we look forward to your proposals.

Bilal Masood

National Focal Point Pakistan

UNICEF Rural Voices of Youth