Islamabad : The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) Pakistan has launched the Building Resilience among Adolescents for Climate Action and Emergency Preparedness (BRACE) program in Pakistan.
With a shared commitment to address climate change and increase community resilience, UNFPA and SoLF Pakistan have partnered to launch BRACE, a 3-month comprehensive initiative to empower adolescents for a resilient future with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This program focuses on the key themes of climate change, building resilience and emergency preparedness. The initiative aims to equip adolescents with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to manage the challenges posed by climate change and emergencies in Pakistan.
The BRACE program recognizes the critical role adolescents play in driving sustainable change and building resilience in their communities. BRACE hopes to harness the energy and creativity of teenagers. It seeks to develop a generation of well-informed and empowered young leaders focused on how to address the challenges of climate change and mitigate the impacts of natural disaster emergencies.
The BRACE program will actively engage adolescents aged 14-19 years from various areas across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Mianwali, Quetta, Hairpur, Swabi, Nowshera and Peshawar. The program will prioritize marginalized communities and Afghan refugees through targeted community meetings to ensure inclusivity and representation.
The training will take place over three days with a focus on life skills-based education. It will include a range of interactive and engaging activities to improve learning outcomes.
Through these sessions, participants will not only gain knowledge but also be equipped with tools to help them understand climate change and respond effectively to emergencies. After the training, participants will have the opportunity to implement small climate projects in their communities and schools. This hands-on approach will enable them to creatively spread the message and contribute to building resilience in their localities.
The climate crisis is a major global challenge that requires multiple efforts at the previous level and changes in behavior and skills. Young generations are both victims and potential fighters to tackle climate change; this is why UNFPA has made efforts to equip our adolescents with the skills to remain resilient in the face of climate-related emergencies. Adolescents are adversely affected by climate change and are most vulnerable to it because they are at a critical age of physical, mental and emotional development. Climate change not only negatively affects their health and well-being, but the resulting consequences, such as forced displacement, also threaten their educational and employment opportunities. I urge the Government of Pakistan and all stakeholders to pay more attention to supporting adolescents and youth to be agents of change.
Adolescents and youth as rights holders deserve an eco-social contract that meets their needs and addresses the climate-related issues they face. – said Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA representative.
The first phase of the BRACE program has been launched and focuses on training facilitators who will play a key role in delivering effective sessions during the subsequent phase, training adolescents and young people. The facilitators selected for the BRACE program have undergone specialized training, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to lead engaging and impactful sessions on climate action and emergency preparedness.
“By investing in facilitator capacity, we aim to ensure that BRACE sessions are delivered at a high standard and that participants receive the support and guidance they need to become
Through a series of intensive workshops and hands-on training, facilitators received instruction on a wide range of topics, including climatology, emergency preparedness, community resilience building, youth engagement strategies, and effective communication techniques. The training was designed to improve facilitators’ understanding of key concepts related to climate change and emergency response, as well as their ability to engage and empower adolescents during the sessions.
The BRACE program represents a significant step forward in mobilizing teen-led action to address the climate crisis and build resilient communities in Pakistan. Through this partnership, UNFPA Pakistan and SoLF aspire to develop the potential of adolescents to create a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
