Association for Water, Applied Education & Renewable Energy- AWARE is an indigenous NGO (non-government organization) registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 and is working in arid and semi-arid areas of District Tharparker and Umerkot in Sindh province since 2003.AWARE is ever cautious and keeps a hawkish eye over the all-emerging issues, concerns, problems and difficulties.
By: Shewa Ram Suthar
AWARE is currently implementing the project with the support of Terre Dess Hommes- TDH “Fighting poverty in drought-affected communities by improving education, health, and promoting site-appropriate agriculture through the use of renewable energy’’.
In line with the said project AWARE Tharparkar Team celebrated International Youth Day 2021 under the theme “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” by conducting a community event on 12th of August 2021. The event aimed to give Thari youth a voice and proper understanding to raise their concerns around innovation in organic food preservation for better health.
The objective of celebrating the said day, was to give youth a platform to raise their voice and share their ideas and techniques to utilize their expertise in production and consumption related to the better transformation of the food system.
This day also created a space for good health and wellbeing and preservation of organic food and introduced livelihood opportunities to reduce poverty in the Thar region.
There is an absence of a proper policy or strategy to engage youth and utilize their skill and abilities for the betterment of Thar. The biggest hurdle for our youth is frustration because of lack of opportunities. There is wide spread unemployment even of well educated youth. Because of this, the cases of suicide are increasing. Tharparkar is the only district in Sindh with the highest number of suicides.
Thari youth face a number of challenges – climate change, loss of earning, youth unemployment, suicide, and growing conflict due to frustration- it is important that policymakers develop and implement effective policies in the interest of youth, sustainable development, and future opportunities, were some of the opinions of the speakers while addressing the event in village Wahar Bheel of Taluka Chachro, District Tharpakar.
On the occasion of Youth Day, different ideas and views have been collected through different speeches of youth, social activists and the community. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production for good food system in Thar area.