The term “Youth Without Homeland” describes one of the most profound tragedies of modern conflict: the forced displacement of young people, severing them not just from a physical location but from the foundations of their identity, stability, and future.1 For over forty years, Afghanistan has faced persistent conflict, instability, and economic hardship, compelling millions to flee.
This exodus created generations of Afghan Youth Without a Homeland, individuals facing a threefold crisis: the psychological trauma of war, the social isolation of displacement, and the erasure of future pathways. In response to this staggering humanitarian challenge, Pakistan has served as a global model of compassion, providing not just shelter but the building blocks for a new life.
The psychological burden for a Youth Without Homeland is immense. Fleeing violence and persecution leaves deep, lasting scars. Studies of displaced Afghan youth consistently show a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
A profound identity crisis compounds this trauma. When a young person is forcibly uprooted, they can experience “identity fragmentation,” struggling with an “unclear cultural identity” where they feel they no longer belong to their culture of origin, nor fully to the new host culture. This sense of “otherness” is a critical challenge that a Youth Without a Homeland must overcome.
It is here that Pakistan’s positive role began. Following the Soviet invasion in 1979, Pakistan welcomed a massive influx of refugees. The government’s response was structured and humane. Instead of temporary internment camps, it established over 300 “Afghan Refugee Villages” (ARVs). This terminology was a deliberate, compassionate choice to provide dignity and a sense of community. Crucially, refugees were generally not confined to these villages, allowing them to integrate.
This policy of providing a haven was the first step in helping the Youth Without Homeland heal. This commitment evolved into the innovative “Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas” (RAHA) program, which funds projects in health, education, and water that benefit both Afghan refugees and their Pakistani host communities, actively building social cohesion.
The “Youth Without Homeland” and the Promise of Education
Perhaps the most devastating loss for a Youth Without Homeland is the loss of a future. Displacement shatters educational pathways. Pakistan’s most significant contribution has been its direct and sustained investment in restoring that future through education.
The government generously opened its public school system to Afghan refugee children, a policy supplemented by UNHCR-supported schools in refugee villages that educate around 57,000 children. The welcome extends to the highest levels of academia. The Government of Pakistan established the “Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme,” a significant initiative offering 4,500 fully funded scholarships for Afghan students to study at top Pakistani universities.
This program covers tuition, living allowances, and hostel fees for fields like medicine and engineering. Furthermore, the DAFI scholarship program, supported by Germany and UNHCR, has been active in Pakistan since 1992, helping over 1,700 Afghan students attend university.
This commitment has transformed the lives of the Youth Without Homeland. Zabih Ullah, who was born in a refugee camp and earned his Master’s degree from a Pakistani university, stated, “Pakistan is my second home,” adding, “I never faced any problem at any stage due to my Afghan identity”. Ezat Ullah, another refugee educated in Pakistan, became the first Afghan refugee to serve as a UN Volunteer with the UNDP in Pakistan, empowering his own community.
This four-decade-long humanitarian effort has earned Pakistan global praise. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Pakistan’s solidarity a “remarkable blueprint that the rest of the world should follow,” stating the nation “provided the world with a global public good”. By providing safety, fostering belonging, and funding thousands of scholarships, Pakistan offered a powerful, positive answer to the crisis, proving that a Youth Without Homeland can find a new home and a bright future.
Conclusion
The “Youth Without Homeland” phenomenon represents a profound crisis that extends beyond simple displacement. It is an assault on a young person’s psychological well-being, a fragmentation of their identity, and a theft of their future. For over four decades, Pakistan has responded to this crisis not just with shelter, but with a comprehensive strategy of dignity, integration, and empowerment. Through foundational policies like the “Afghan Refugee Villages” and innovative programs like RAHA, it fostered a sense of community.
Most critically, through massive educational investments like the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme, Pakistan provided a tangible pathway for the Youth Without Homeland to rebuild. This sustained, compassionate role has transformed individual lives and stands as a globally recognized “blueprint for the rest of the world to follow” in positive humanitarian action.
