Youth

Youth of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, face many challenges. Lack of access to quality education is a critical one, and lack of access to job opportunities comes in close behind. Many young graduates of district Mirpur prefer emigration to developed countries, preferably Britain, to enhance opportunities for their personal development. Those who stay within the country have little opportunities for economic survival.

These days the internet has opened many freelance opportunities, expanded available markets, and has contributed to service sector growth in many economies. Offshore outsourcing, online outsourcing and crowd sourcing are heavily reliant on the internet to provide economical access to remote workers, and frequently leverage technology to manage workflow to and from the employer. Much computer freelance work is being outsourced to developing countries from the developed world. Online freelance marketplaces are websites that match buyers and sellers of services provided via the internet. Buyers bid on services at a fixed price or at an hourly rate. These marketplaces allow people to sign up remotely for freelance assignments and get paid through a merchant account. Freelance employment has been common in the areas of writing, editing, translation, indexing, software development, website design, advertising, open innovations, informationtechnology, and business process outsourcing.

The STEPS is our youth career initiative which offers six week training covering all kinds of freelance outsourcing activities like; Graphics Designing, Website Designing, Software Development, Online Marketing, SEO Marketing, Article Writing, Data Entry, Logo Designing, Mobile app, 2D/ 3D Animation Designing, Software Testing/ Quality Assurance, Photography / Video Production, and Search Engine Optimization. The purpose is to empower young participants to make informed career choices and realize the options available to them, enabling them to improve their employability and enhance their long-term social and economic opportunities. After receiving necessary training, the youth is able to do online business while at their homes by utilizing their skills and expertise. More than 300 young people have got trainings in different fields and working as freelancer in local and international market. We hope this innovative initiative will provide sustainable opportunities for economic survival to unemployed youth of this area.