Lahore, September 01, 2023 (PPI-OT): One of the leading lights of the School of Integrated Social Sciences (SISS), Danish Tariq is committed to youth empowerment more than ever. As a scholarship-winning student of the Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer School at Charles University, Prague, Danish grabbed an opportunity to add academic rigor to his passion for youth advocacy.
Social change is a buzzword that quite often makes the rounds in the mainstream discourse on societal issues. That said, not many people fathom the indispensability of change in a society and, regrettably, there are only a few who truly aspire to work on it. Mr Danish Tariq (8th Semester, Social Sciences-Governance and Public Policy student) is certainly one of them. His dedication to societal change made him study Governance and Public Policy at The University of Lahore (UOL).
Befitting to his excellent progress as a well-rounded student and youth advocate, he won a $3,000 scholarship to attend the Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer School at Charles University, Prague. Through this opportunity, he was able to study with young leaders from over 20 countries, with his being the only one selected from Pakistan.
Danish studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), Conflict Management, and Political Economy in Prague. He gained much-needed knowledge, exposure, and experience, which according to him, he can apply to his work on youth development and policymaking in Pakistan and South Asia going forward. The Summer School provided Danish with a chance to network with foreign peers, making his viewpoint more nuanced and thoughts more refined. All this, according to him, will be critical to adding diversity into his work on influencing youth and community policy development.
Moreover, the interdisciplinary approach offered by the University broadened his prism to tackle complex societal issues. He linked his learning outcomes with his earlier work on family planning by saying: “The knowledge and experience that I gained during the Summer School will help me propose evidence-based family planning methods to decision-makers. My training in conflict resolution can help me work with various key stakeholders in and related to the policy community.”
What does it take to win scholarships?
According to Danish, thorough research is required to identify scholarships that align with one’s academic and career goals. Demonstrating academic excellence, having the right skills, and maintaining a strong CGPA can significantly enhance one’s chances of success. Engaging in extracurricular activities, internships, or volunteer work in related fields can strengthen a student’s application. If one is able to demonstrate practical experience in, and a commitment to, the chosen domain, the prospect of success gets brighter. With determination and preparation, students can increase their chances of securing scholarships that provide invaluable on-field knowledge and open doors to a world full of opportunities.
An impressive profile
This is not the first time Danish has made it big. If anything, it is remarkable to note that Danish has been prolific in doing what he is passionate about. He was selected as the first FP2030 Youth Focal Point from Pakistan. During his tenure, he provided evidence-based solutions to drive high-level outcomes of family planning indicators in Pakistan and particularly focused on the role of youth in major decision-making processes. During the Country Engagement Working Group Meetings (CEWG), he contributed his expertise and insights on family planning mechanisms in Pakistan. Additionally, he led young people at Youth and CSOs meetings, Sindh Youth Engagement Mechanism (SYEM) for FP2030, and therefore was invited by the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, to attend the International Donors Conference on Population Dynamics and Family Planning.
To discuss advocacy work and the importance of investing in youth-led initiatives, he was invited to the Turnaround Pakistan Conference by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. “I also engaged with local communities through radio shows, community interactive theatres, and campaigns to spread awareness,” he added.
Mentioning his future plans, Danish said he will work as a youth development practitioner to empower the young people of Pakistan and support them to join decision-making bodies and become part of their processes. “I believe in passing on the learning and leadership advice to the upcoming generations. By providing guidance and creating opportunities, I aim to inspire the youth to realise its full potential, with a view to fostering a more inclusive and representative society,” he contended.
Key to Continued Success
To Danish, the following five points are key to success. First, avoid drawing comparisons with anyone else’s careers and paths Everybody is different, and therefore has a different pace of growth. Second, continuously try to find new opportunities. Third, ask the right people for advice. Fourth, avoid interacting with people who radiate bad, negative energy. Last but not least, have patience, and always prioritise the tasks at hand, to finish them on time, and delivering the best.
For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.uol.edu.pk