SonjaBe.com International Relations – Be Here | Be You | Be True

The Young Women for Change is an independent grassroots organization in Afghanistan encouraging youth to fight for gender inequality and empower women to stand up against violation and abuse. The organization was founded by 20 year old Noorjahan Akbar and Anita Haidary, in April 2011. In less than one year, they have over 50 volunteers in three different provinces of Afghanistan. Haidary and Akbar believe that young women and men of Afghanistan have the potential to bring change in the mentalities of people about women and all they need is a little push. With that belief, they started the YWC. I got a chance to interview the incredibly inspiring Noorjahan Akbar: Read More »

Who is the PYA? Pakistan Youth Alliance is a youth based activist group. We started in November 2007 when General Musharraf proclaimed emergency in Pakistan. With time, we broadened our scope of work and incorporated social development alongside rallying — for democracy, against extremism and for peace. We decided to “try to matter” and raise our concerns as citizens of Pakistan. A potent civil society, we believe can keep a check on various centers of power within Pakistan and we envision it as a pressure group to ensure basic principles of human rights, democracy & pluralism are allowed to take roots in our society. Read More »

Often it has been the ideas and works of one man that has changed our world. The might of one man or woman has been enough to spark hope and courage. The unconventional methods and acts of these individuals have challenged the minds of many to rethink and question the status quo. Complacency is tossed and the innate ambition to desire freedom and change is introduced. Read More »