arda Iqbal started volunteering many years ago, in Rahwali, a town near Gujranwala. No one could have imagined then she would one day lead a major financial institution. Today, she is the chief operating officer of JWS Pakistan. She manages 1,400 employees across 142 branches in 28 districts of the Punjab, with a budget exceeding Rs 8 billion. Her journey shows that youth volunteering can reshape futures, families and communities.

Over the last three decades, I and my colleagues have watched countless volunteers step forward, roll up their sleeves and change the course of their lives. When people ask me about our achievements, I remember their faces and their journeys. I recall thousands of young volunteers who stepped into action, learned through doing and transformed their lives.

One of those stories is about Warda’s sister, Muqadas Iqbal. She joined the same youth organisation as a volunteer at age 15. In ten years, she rose to the position of finance and operations manager. She had had no formal education in finance or accounting, yet she developed the expertise through hands-on experience. She went on to work with major donor INGOs, led organisational audits, developed budgets and handled financial reporting for the UN and other international organisations. Today, she lives in Germany and works as a financial expert with a large German organisation.

We share these stories because the United Nations has proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. This declaration puts the spotlight on the essential role volunteers play in advancing global goals, building resilience and driving collective progress. This year demands that governments, organisations and communities recognise volunteers, create safe and inclusive environments and integrate volunteering into national policies.

Pakistan has already taken a step in this direction through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. The prime minister recently announced that 100,000 young people will receive training. This initiative comes at a critical moment. The National Volunteer Corps is a key initiative of the PMYP. The Digital Youth Hub mobilises youth for community service, disaster response and nation-building. It offers training in entrepreneurship, education and climate resilience. Youth can register through the central digital platform at nvc.pmyp.gov.pk/register. The National Information Technology Board developed the digital platform for volunteer management, coordinating with NGOs such as Bargad and Voluntary Service Overseas.

In the early 2000s, mobilising girls in Rahwali-Gujranwala was extremely challenging. The concept of girls’ mobilisation, group formation, study circles, girls’ trips or girls travelling independently was new. My family stepped in to support this effort. My younger sisters, Salma Butt and Sidrah Butt, then in their teens, brought their friends Irum Iqbal and Maryam to attend a study circle. Irum later brought her younger sister Sitara, along with Warda and Muqadas. Maryam brought many girls from among her friends. They all began volunteering with Bargad.

This year demands that governments,organisations and communities recognise volunteers, create safe and inclusive environments and integrate volunteering into national policies.

Rahwali sits along the GT Road. It falls under Gujranwala Cantonment. Though most locals now refer to it simply as Rahwali, its original name was Talwandi Rahwali. Most of the residents have lived here for centuries. However, some families migrated in 1947. The area borders villages such as Lambawala and Talwandi Khajoor Wali. Many people migrated here because of its strategic location. Rahwali enjoys some privileges as a cantonment area. However, it also faces certain disadvantages. The bazaar areas and the DHA present a different landscape, with benefits that Rahwali residents do not share. In the 1970s and 1980s, the people of Rahwali chose to remain part of the cantonment rather than join the Gujranwala Municipal Committee.

Tragedy struck the young volunteers early. Warda and Irum’s father died while working in Saudi Arabia, forcing Irum to take a job to support the family. Warda, Sitara and Muqadas remained connected with the organisation as volunteers. Warda stood out for her intelligence, wisdom and commitment. She excelled in action research, data collection and analysis.

She joined a research study on street harassment, working alongside other youth volunteers. The data collection process opened the young volunteers’ eyes. Through group discussions, survey forms and in-depth interviews, they learned how “small jokes” by boys severely restrict girls’ mobility and disrupt their education and work. Their work led to the first study titled Street Harassment in Gujranwala. Through this experience, Warda gained confidence, developed research skills and learnt public speaking. She later said that the training and volunteer experience helped her grow quickly in her workplace and reach managerial positions.

When their mother passed away, the girls faced new responsibilities. Warda took the lead. During her research and fieldwork, she connected with a microfinance organisation and received a job offer. She worked hard, continued to learn and stayed determined. She advanced within the organisation and soon became its HR manager. She built strong linkages between her parent organisation and the microfinance company. She also hired trained youth—both girls and boys—from Rahwali, providing employment to dozens of young people.

Today, Warda serves is the COO of a microfinance company-cum-bank with millions of borrowers and equity valued in billions of rupees. Hers is a success story from Rahwali, showing how social responsibility and professional success can go hand in hand. Her journey shows that investing in girls’ leadership transforms not just individuals, but entire communities.

In 2026, as the UN marks the Year of Volunteers, Pakistan has the chance to scale these stories across the country. We must recognise youth volunteers, support their training and build systems that enable them to serve and lead. When we do, we do not just support volunteers; we also help build the future of the nation.

The writer, as executive director of Bargad, has contributed to pioneering provincial youth policies in Pakistan. She can be reached on Instagram at@pherountal