Markhor is Pakistan’s First Wilderness Based Conference

Markhor is Pakistan’s first wilderness based youth leadership conference, powered by Youth Impact. The latter is a non-profit organization devoted to building leadership aptitude among the Pakistani youth.

This was an idea of a team of 6 enthusiasts who brought their heads together on the sunset of June 26, 2013 and came up with “Markhor”. On an interview with the CEO of Youth Impact, Abdul Samad Khan, he said,

We left the meeting room of Headstart School, Islamabad with faith that something greater is on its way.

Youth Impact have since then re-shaped the lives of 20,000 youth across Pakistan.

Hearing the word “conference” might make you relive the boring old lectures that you usually face in colleges or universities where majority of the students are usually snoozing over during these seminars.

So, what makes “Markhor” any different from the rest of these conferences?

Youth Impact’s mission is to create, innovate and teach. How do they do that? Each year Markhor is organized in the northern regions of Pakistan like Mushkpuri top, Nathia Gali.

They don’t just give you a lecture, oh no, they train you by assigning risk-taking, adventurous challenges that involve quick decision-making, leading your team right, creating trust and faith amongst the leader and team members and most importantly, it teaches you that “achieving your goals is right on the edge of the word Impossible”.

When asked the CEO about the why they named it Markhor and the inspiration behind it, here is what he said,

Markhor is named after Pakistan’s national animal. Markhor being an endangered species lives at high altitudes, where the rocky terrain, steep climbs, shortage of food and getting chased by hunters are some of the factors adding to the worries of this graceful animal. Resilience, patience and adaptability are developed as innate qualities as an outcome of this challenging life style.

This year Markhor went global at Siri and Paye lakes near Shogran. Bringing in speakers and delegates from Australia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Yemen and Finland.

Markhor didn’t just change the lives of the youth but also portrayed a positive image of our beloved country. Foreign speakers and delegates integrating with the youth of Pakistan cleared the negative image created by the foreign media.

Upon an interview with a local news channel, Bernie Kelly a guest speaker from Australia, said,

One of the world’s greatest problems is our western media and the way it uses to paint a negative image of different countries. Because my experience in Pakistan has been one of enormous and generous hospitality, beautiful people, and one’s with a great spirituality and openness. I can hardly speak enough of my experience here in Pakistan.

Being A Part of Markhor?

Youth impact now is opening up their programs to the regional youth from South Asia, Middle East and South East Asian countries.

“We aim to reach out to the large majority of Pakistani youth by 2025 through a network of 10,000 young social leaders from 155 districts of Pakistan. Simultaneously, we are engaging global youth as well for taking this impact beyond the borders”, says Abdul Samad Khan.

Other significant programs by Youth Impact include:

• Outdoors Karachi
• Smart Tajir
• Soul Freedom
• Alim Impact
• Chasing Snow Leopard
• Be Your Best
• Camp Action

This is what some of the Youth Impacters have to say about their experiences:

“It made me realize there’s a lot more to people than what meets the eye and there’s hope yet for our generation”- Najmus Sehar Shoaib ~ Head Shepherd @Markhor’17

“It made me learn that things that seemed impossible to do in the world can actually be achieved, you just have to try one more time.” – Sara Ahmed ~ Delegate @Markhor’16

“Markhor made me realize my own power. Reminded me that there is no hero standing in the gates but only us looking at ourselves in a mirror!” -Aakif Azeem, a survivor of the APS Attack 2014 ~ Delegate @Markhor’15

“It was a privilege to be able to lecture those 86 delegates over the Mukshpuri peaks, the fact that youth impact not only encourages young delegates but young speakers like me, is truly exceptional. it was a once in a lifetime experience I’d never trade for the world”. – Alishba Khan ~Motivational Guest Speaker @Markhor’16

“It made me realize the true purpose of my life”. -Usman Laghari ~ Delegate @Markhor’16

“A life changing experience, excellent Platform for leadership development, where everyone is given equal opportunity to participate, eradicating cultural differences by connecting youth from all over Pakistan.” -Babar Khan ~ Delegate @Markhor’14

Good luck to the future Markhors. So whose signing up for Markhor’18. I know I am.

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