“I took part in the summer 2019 research program at YCR. I decided so because I was really impressed by the organisation’s ideology which was to instill in youth, the passion to conduct research on diverse topics. The organisation was able to implement this ideology to a great extent and this was seen especially when all the participants gathered to share their research. This way, not only was i able to explore the research area assigned to me but, I learned about a wide range of topics in a brief amount of time.While there are energy draining factors in our lives and countless distractions, such organisations are needed to bring together all those who want to make an impact but are just in need of a little push, encouragement, and proper guidance.”

“Youth Centre for Research’s Summer Program 2019 was a novel attempt to bring change through student-lead research on very important issues of the developing world. The mixture of volunteers and the selection of research topics was perfectly well-balanced. Overall, from all the stages of planning to evaluation were efficiently handled by YCR. It was an honor for me to be an advisor for the volunteers – and in the process know the brilliant ideas which stem in today’s youth. Such programs give us hope that through research in the most relevant areas, we can happily be a part of an equal and just world. Good luck to Youth Centre for Research for their upcoming endeavors!“

YCR taught me the value of inter-disciplinary collaboration on approaching a subject; by assembling a diverse group of researchers, we manage to create a project all parties could be proud of. It also represented a great space for networking, and it gave me a better understanding of the subjects I'm keenly interested in, mainly aspects related to peace building matters.

My time with the Youth Centre for Research was right at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the world adjust to a series of 'new normals' during those 'unprecedented times'. While that was the case, the summer fellowship allowed me to interact with new people, new ways of thinking and new challenges which continue to impact my personal and professional life. Through rigorous training and collaborative research deliverables, my inter and intra-personal skills were challenged and upscaled. I am a proud YCR Alumnus. Asante YCR.

YCR is a great initiative to engage young people in research and it is a great opportunity for us to learn and implement research skills. My name is Tashifa Aziz and I am a final year BS Social Sciences student at IBA. I applied for YCR because I personally believed in this cause and I wanted to use my education and skills for something purposeful.

Through this program, I found out that there is so much more for me to learn. Along with research skills, I learned efficient group work, time management, working around deadlines and a lot of interpersonal skills. I got to learn so much from my team and our Supervisor, Nazneen from Bangladesh, was very helpful and she encouraged us to think and work through the challenges we faced. The skills that I learned from YCR were very helpful for my later projects as well and it really helped me with my final year thesis.

I am proud to say that I was among the firsts to be part of YCR and  I hope this program will be successful in achieving its goals.”

“I’m a Junior at Habib University, majoring in social development and policy. In the summers of 2019, I worked as a Young Researcher at the Youth Centre for Research (YCR) for a period of 6 weeks under the thematic area of Sustainable Energy & Development. During this time I worked on a research paper that evaluated the inclusion of sustainability within the higher education curriculum in Pakistani universities. With this internship, I was able to further refine my research skills since the research paper required us to utilize both qualitative and quantitative methods. Moreover, as an aspiring policy developer with an interest in sustainable urban development, the research project gave a lot of insight into the ground realities of how ‘sustainability’ is viewed in Pakistan.

While most the work was done remotely, the few sessions with my advisor and group mates were an interesting experience and I was able to work on my ‘people’ skills too which I feel have really helped me. Lastly, I, along with my groupmates, also presented our Research in the Public Assembly on ‘Discourse on Sustainability Mindset for Sustainable Development’ held in Habib University in January’20. This opportunity to present my research in front of an audience has really helped me boost my confidence and I’m thankful to YCR for that.“

My experience with YCR during the Summer Research Program (SRP) 2022 has reignited my passion for contributing to inclusive and sustainable development and allowed me to value networking more. The lectures, talks, and discussions with guest speakers, research advisors, and facilitators were enlightening and exceptional. Meeting brilliant and passionate people from diverse backgrounds was also a highlight for me as it enriches the discussion more.

My experience with YCR in 2019 allowed me to express my dedication to improving the environment surrounding us. It allowed me to learn more about the issues and challenges faced by Pakistan and what our youth thinks can be done to resolve these. Given everything I learnt, I worked on challenges such as Women Empowerment and Financial Inclusion for people of all backgrounds in Pakistan. In the UK, I am working towards Youth Empowerment, Women Empowerment and Sustainability as part of the Social Value team and as the Social Ambition Ambassador. Overall, this is an organization I would recommend all youth to try and join and learn from. Not only will it give you an opportunity to network internationally, but it will also boost your knowledge and allow you to find your call.

Being a researcher at Youth Center for Research at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the best investments I made towards pursuing my career goal of being a development expert and policy analyst. The research experience I got from the position was helpful in my master's program in Germany and the opportunity I had to co-host a session for the former Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Nigeria was a memorable moment for me. Finally, interacting with the best brains and like-minds during the position contributed to the development of my soft skills which are paying off today.

As a researcher in the refugee crises, human rights and peace-building team, I had the opportunity to draft a policy paper in the spheres of conflict, identity and the law. In retrospect, my experience in this thematic area gave me insight into potential lacunae and areas that I am now pursuing. Working with a team of differing nationalities allowed me to hone my time-management skills, my interpersonal communication and broaden my perspective beyond domestic values by incorporating differing experiences. The Centre’s coordination with experts provided rare accessibility to authorities in their respective field providing me with a networking basis which I now find useful when I search for jobs during my master’s Program at the international fora. I would recommend the YCR program as I joined as a researcher and left with a sense of community, gaining international exposure and opening me to avenues I had not previously considered.

The Youth Center for Research Summer Research Program is the first research training program I have ever participated in outside the academic environment. The program was spectacular and particularly important for expanding my horizon on different aspects of research activities. Through the Summer Research program, I have grown my curiosity to dig out information for communication and problem-solving which I currently use at my workplace. It has given me excellent skills in writing research articles, data analysis, and networking. It was a process of learning and unlearning previously known concepts of research. I experienced a paradigm shift in my mind which has improved my thinking, research skills, and my network. In diversity, I immersed myself with potential researchers and academicians, and social entrepreneurs to collectively solve global problems through joint research. Judging from my experience with YCR-Summer Research Program, it’s a home of problem solvers and real change makers.

I was always interested in a research career and my dream to work on the projects in the developing countries. YCR helped me to expand my expertise and to understand which areas are the most interesting for my future development as a professional. It is one of the most important lines in my CV, which led me to the job opportunities and my master’s degree. I also found a wonderful community of passionate young researchers, who taught me a lot and helped me along my way.

YCR has provided a wonderful platform for youths to meet like-minded individuals from all over the world to participate in research for a common topic of concern! This has heightened my undergraduate research experiences previously during the pandemic when I studied from home for close to three years, providing personal mentorships and small group discussions that would otherwise have been difficult to implement on a schoolwide basis for me. The chance to participate in research has also increased my understanding of this field and the powers of academia, while networking with speakers and mentors were inspiring and meaningful!

My time with the Youth Centre for Research was right at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the world adjust to a series of 'new normals' during those 'unprecedented times'. While that was the case, the summer fellowship allowed me to interact with new people, new ways of thinking and new challenges which continue to impact my personal and professional life. Through rigorous training and collaborative research deliverables, my inter and intra-personal skills were challenged and upscaled. I am a proud YCR Alumnus. Asante YCR.