Afghanistan Youth Empowerment and Peace-building Organization (AYEPO)

 
 

youth visionaries and peace leaders


The Afghanistan Youth Empowerment and Peace-building Organization (AYEPO) is an Afghan youth-led nonprofit organization that aims to equip Afghan youth to lead social change and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. AYEPO is committed to supporting youth, particularly women and girls, in developing knowledge, skills, confidence, and vision to become leaders of change in their communities. 

AYEPO’s vision is multifold. Growing up through decades of political turmoil and violence, the Founder had the vision of a new reality; a reality defined and built by youth, a reality that embodied the values of equality, inclusion, compassion, and social responsibility, a reality in which the diversity of Afghanistan flourished and coexisted. As the AYEPO team formed, the vision of what is possible when youth step into leadership expanded and deepened. Their collective vision for peace in Afghanistan has shaped AYEPO’s growth and offerings, and has made it the inspiring model they lead today.

Filtered photo of the AYEPO team.

Every organization or social movement begins with an idea - a vision sparked in someone’s mind. But through the collective efforts of a team, the idea flourishes, takes off and a new future is imagined. This is true when speaking about AYEPO. Whatever AYEPO has accomplished isn’t the result of one person, but the whole AYEPO Team, as well as the help of our friends and supporters both inside and outside of the country. The AYEPO team has always been incredible and supportive of the organization. Their tireless dedication and the passion to serve others despite the challenges we faced has been a true inspiration to me!

AYEPO FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

the next generation of peace leadership

AYEPO works towards their mission through peace and capacity building programs on leadership, conflict transformation, and creative project development. AYEPO has led numerous programs across Afghanistan that have sparked personal transformation for youth and activated them to be conscious, multicultural leaders committed to breaking cycles of violence and facilitating change in their country. AYEPO has designed and led virtual and in-person peace camps, peace leadership training, and more for the youth of Afghanistan. Their programming covers four categories:

  • Soft/Interpersonal Skills Training: Weekly sessions for high school students with guest speakers and trainers on topics such as communication skills, team work, and problem solving.

  • Peace Leadership Training: Six-week long peace leadership training sessions. These focus on inner/personal, interpersonal, and community peace processes as the means to cultivate and encourage inter-ethnic and inter-cultural dialogues.

  • Peace Camp: Week-long peace camps that bring together culturally active university students and youth from different backgrounds and communities to empower them with tools for peacemaking, personal transformation, and healing.

  • Dialogue for Peace Training: Virtual dialogue for peace training for university students on topics such as understanding identity, perceptions, conflict, and peacebuilding, as well as dialogue and the role of a facilitator.

 

Filtered photo of an AYEPO training.

 

leading with hope

Even amongst immense recent upheaval and crisis, the AYEPO team does not give up hope. Their vision remains as strong as ever, and deepens as a vision of hope for the future of Afghanistan. The AYEPO team commits to safely continuing their operations. Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, AYEPO has successfully run three hybrid virtual/in-person trainings for youth, and will continue to provide even more. Their commitment to sustainable peace in Afghanistan is profound and awe-inspiring, and they are fully in it together. 

The AYEPO Founder shares, “August 15 altered the lives of Afghans, specifically the lives of the new generation of boys and girls, hundreds of whom AYEPO proudly worked with over the past two years. We at AYEPO were devastated by the swift changes in the country that shattered the dreams, hope, and vision of the Afghan youth. We were also forced to halt our programming due to these new developments and reality. Nevertheless, our mission to serve and empower the youth remains intact. While considering the ground realities and challenges, we believe that peacebuilding organizations like AYEPO are essential platforms to preserve if there is to be a chance for peace in our country. Therefore, we are committed to serving youth in Afghanistan with skill training, connections, and community support that will equip and empower them in this time for the future of Afghanistan.

With the power of technology, we have managed to facilitate several peace leadership and soft-skills training for young people since the take over of Kabul. We believe personal transformation is an important element of capacity-building for young people, hence, we will continue to utilize a peace leadership model to empower them with tools for peacemaking as well as personal transformation and healing. Due to the fact that the AYEPO team are safe, AYEPO can continue its work in an even greater capacity than had we not evacuated. Now, our impact can be even more significant inside Afghanistan because of the dire need for peace training and to provide hope for those still there.”

AYEPO represents everything in a peace builder that is so needed in our world today. AYEPO inspires with their moral courage, integrity, diligence, humility, perseverance, creativity, and resilient willingness to promote peace leadership. Their stamina and determination to educate and support a new generation of peace builders will offer a more harmonious and sustainable life for those inside and outside Afghanistan.

Rebecca Hoskyn, Euphrates Board Member

from the ayepo team

 
 

call to action

The call for peace in Afghanistan is urgent and profound. We all have a role to play to support Afghans through the current humanitarian crisis and in the pursuit of peace practice across the country. The AYEPO team offers the following pathways for action and support:

  • Donate to support the AYEPO team in providing peace and skill building programs for Afghan youth. You can contribute through Euphrates, and when making your contribution please be sure to click ‘Afghan support’ on the ‘Select a Campaign’ dropdown menu.

  • Send an email to the AYEPO team to be included in future communications to receive updates about AYEPO’s work.

  • Follow AYEPO on social media.

Learn more

If you’re looking to understand more about what is happening in Afghanistan and the movement for peace, please explore the following links to learn more.

For the security of the AYEPO team, much of their online presence has been deactivated.