Faryal Najeeb is a youth development and NGO management professional. She works to improve  economic empowerment and community engagement of Pakistani young people. She currently works with Lincoln Corners Pakistan to develop and execute programs on STEM education, gender-based violence, Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), employability skills, and civic education. Faryal also works with organizations that empower underprivileged teenagers through communications and capacity building workshops.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Hey Say Huqooq - Right to Know

The project title is a combination of the Urdu letter 'hey' and the Urdu word 'huqooq', which means 'right.' Her project aims to educate young people on the fundamental rights bestowed upon them by Pakistan's constitution and human rights declaration and instill a civic sense in the community by creating interactive digital content and organizing workshops in English and Urdu. Four  workshops for 100 community members educated participants on critical thinking, active and participatory citizenship, community building, and civic skills. Four videos were created focused on themes such as the right to information, women's property rights, the right to life and food in the age of climate change, and the freedom of religion.

"I hope to build a generation of youth with constitutional knowledge for [an] active and responsible citizenship throughout Pakistan." - Faryal Najeeb

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Faryal participated in the IVLP Project Young Leaders: NGOs and Civic Activism organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center in partnership with Gulf Coast Diplomacy, Global Ties Kalamazoo, Michigan Council for Citizen Diplomacy and International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles.

Faryal's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "At Michigan State University I met the Executive Director of [the] Michigan Center for Civic Education, Ellen Zwarensteyn. Her insightful session, answers to my queries, and especially her work with the schools in the state for civic education became one of the biggest reasons [I created my] IVLP Impact Award Project."

U.S. Communities Visited

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Pensacola, FL; East Lansing, MI; Kalamazoo, MI

Country: Pakistan

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