Collaboration with the Young Afghan Professional Alliance (YAPA)

Overview

The Farkhunda Foundation is pleased to collaborate with the Young Afghan Professional Alliance (YAPA), an initiative of the Youth Center for Development and Peace (YCDP). This global partnership connects Afghan youth from around the world, empowering them to actively participate in peacebuilding and community leadership initiatives. Through this collaboration, the Farkhunda Foundation contributes expertise, guidance, and support to YAPA’s activities, helping young Afghans develop leadership skills, engage in meaningful dialogue, and create positive change in their communities.

Impact

By partnering with YAPA, the Farkhunda Foundation helps create spaces where Afghan youth can build confidence, articulate their visions for the future, and contribute to inclusive peacebuilding. Young women and men from across the Afghan diaspora are encouraged to step into leadership roles—designing projects, facilitating discussions, and organizing initiatives that respond to local needs while remaining connected to a global network. This collaboration strengthens intergenerational and cross-border ties: experienced practitioners from the Farkhunda Foundation share lessons from education, advocacy, and community work, while youth bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and lived experience. Together, they amplify Afghan voices in international conversations about peace, human rights, and the role of youth leadership. Over time, this alliance contributes to a growing ecosystem of young Afghan professionals who are ready to serve their communities wherever they live.

Methodology

The collaboration with YAPA is built around co-created activities rather than one-way support. Joint planning sessions bring together Farkhunda Foundation staff, YCDP leaders, and youth representatives to identify priorities, design workshops, and agree on roles and responsibilities. The partnership focuses on practical leadership development—such as facilitation skills, project design, communication, and advocacy—so that young participants can translate ideas into concrete initiatives. Programming combines online and in-person formats, allowing participation from Afghan youth inside Afghanistan and across the diaspora. Sessions include dialogue circles on peace and justice, thematic webinars, mentoring conversations, and collaborative planning meetings for community projects. Throughout, the Farkhunda Foundation emphasizes inclusive, gender-responsive and trauma-aware approaches, ensuring that young women and marginalized voices can participate fully and safely. Feedback from youth participants is used to continually refine the collaboration so it remains relevant and accountable to their needs.

Key Achievements

• Launched a global collaboration between the Farkhunda Foundation and the Young Afghan Professional Alliance (YAPA)
• Connected Afghan youth from multiple regions to engage in dialogue on peacebuilding and community leadership
• Provided expertise and mentoring to support youth-led initiatives and local community projects
• Strengthened leadership, communication, and project design skills among young Afghan professionals
• Created a platform where Afghan youth voices contribute to international conversations on peace and human rights
• Helped build a growing network of Afghan youth and women committed to learning, leading, and thriving worldwide

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