Dr. Luay A. Shabaneh, UNFPA Pakistan’s Country Representative, inaugurated the Aghaz Adolescent & Youth Friendly Space at the Social Work Department of the University of Peshawar. The new facility is conceived as a dedicated hub on campus where students and young people from surrounding communities can access information and support in a welcoming environment.
The Youth Friendly Space aims to create a favourable and inclusive setting that enables young people to make informed decisions about their health, well-being and future. Programming at the space will focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health awareness, prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), and measures that promote social inclusion for marginalised youth.
The initiative was established by UNFPA Pakistan in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Pakistan and implemented in collaboration with the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP). The University of Peshawar and UNFPA reaffirmed their commitment to safe, supportive learning opportunities that respond to the specific needs of young people across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The presence of this Youth Friendly Space on a major provincial campus is expected to strengthen linkages between students and essential services, encourage peer support, and provide a platform for awareness and skills-building that respects young people’s rights and aspirations.
