At K2P, we believe in harnessing the potential of young people to drive evidence-informed solutions to societal challenges. The Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Program places youth at the center of research and decision-making processes. Designed for young people aged 14 to 24, the program empowers youth to lead transformative change in their communities.
The YPAR Program immerses youth in a hands-on research journey, guiding them through the entire research cycle—problem identification, data collection, analysis, knowledge mobilization—culminating in actionable advocacy campaigns and policy recommendations.
What sets this program apart is its emphasis on fostering youth-driven collaboration with policy-makers, community stakeholders, and formal institutions to address local challenges in a structured and sustainable manner. Through mentorship and capacity-building, participants develop research proposals, conduct field research, and craft evidence-based solutions that create a tangible impact on their communities.
The YPAR Program is more than a learning experience; it is a movement to amplify youth voices in their communities and foster meaningful, long-term change. By equipping young people with the skills to research, innovate, and lead, the program paves the way for a brighter and more equitable future.
This initiative exemplifies K2P's unwavering commitment to empowering Lebanon's youth as change-makers and leaders, inspiring a generation dedicated to creating sustainable progress.
The YPAR Program aims to:
- Empower Youth: Enhance the leadership, critical thinking, research, policy and advocacy skills of young people, enabling them to actively address challenges within their communities.
- Promote Youth-Led Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Advocacy: Equip youth with tools and methodologies to conduct participatory action research, generate actionable insights for policy and practice, and implement advocacy strategies to influence decision-makers and promote sustainable change in their communities.
- Enhance Stakeholder Collaboration: Build robust networks between youth, community stakeholders, and formal institutions to foster collaborative solutions to societal challenges affecting the youth.
- Encourage Sustainable Development: Support the implementation of youth-led initiatives that contribute to long-term social progress and community resilience.
The 2025 YPAR Cohort
K2P implemented the 2025 YPAR Program in collaboration with UNICEF Lebanon, marking a significant milestone in our shared mission to empower Lebanon's youth as leaders of change and innovation. This first cohort included 21 youth researchers and 4 youth coordinators, all aged between 14 and 24.
The 2025 cohort focused on addressing pressing issues relevant to Lebanon through hands-on research and capacity-building. Key questions explored by the participants included:
- What impact do armed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies have on the mental health and psychological well-being of youth?
- What are the key barriers and opportunities for youth in accessing education and transitioning from learning to earning?
- What are the perceptions and experiences of youth regarding their safety and protection, and how do these factors influence their sense of well-being and security during emergencies?
- How can promoting youth volunteering, civic engagement, and social inclusion contribute to improving the quality of life and sustainable development for local communities?
Youth conducted field visits across different regions in Lebanon (e.g., Beirut Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon (Saida and Nabatiyeh), Beqaa, and North (Tripoli) and implemented different data collection tools (e.g., surveys, rich picture, tree analysis, interviews, focus-group discussions) with youth participants to gather contextual insights on the different topics explored.
This cohort reflects a commitment to fostering evidence-based insights and actionable solutions led by Lebanon's youth to address the challenges shaping their lives and communities.