Youth’s Assembly for Afghanistan Rehabilitation (YAAR) is a Non- Governmental, Not-for-profit and Non-Political organization established in 1994 in Afghanistan with the aim to put its efforts in the emergency relief, rehabilitation and development of Afghanistan.YAAR works in partnership with communities, humanitarian and development organizations through a participatory approach for the marginalized communities with special focus on women, children and youth in Afghanistan.
Since several decades, Afghanistan has suffered continuous and brutal civil wars, military conflicts and natural disasters that has impacted intense poverty, protection issues especially for women and children, forced IDPs and other severe problems. It still suffers from direct and indirect damages in both the economic and social aspects of life.
Soon after the at that time Soviet Union withdrawal from Afghanistan and the internal fights, civil war by Mujahideen, Taliban emerged and controlled the country in 1996. The poor and helpless people were suffering and the only channel that was providing humanitarian assistance to these needy and vulnerable people was the NGO community. The International organization, UN Agencies and other peace-loving people of the world were providing humanitarian assistance to Afghans through local NGOs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Established in 1994 by a few educated Afghan social workers, YAAR has managed during the war state to persist, as a constant reliable source for reconstruction, rehabilitation and provision of emergency relief announced by international donors especially Un Agencies.
Since its inception, YAAR was able to put its share of efforts in the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of Afghanistan by implementing various projects in many sectors like protection, WASH, Health, Education, Youth and Women development and Empowerment and child protection as well as provision of emergency relief assistance to the needy and vulnerable Afghans in the country.
In 2001, and with the commitment of the international community and UN Agencies to rebuild, rehabilitate and develop Afghanistan, YAAR renewed its efforts and was strive to build partnerships with the INGOs, NNGOs and UN agencies to help the needy people of the country. YAAR was a reliable partner of UN Agencies especially of UNWFP. s
After the Policy Change for the NGOs by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, YAAR was able to re-register with the Ministry of Economy, NGOs Department in 2005.
After 2009, the funding for NGOs got decreased by the donors and they were directly supporting the government and the ministries that resulted in loss of qualified technical staff for NOGs. YAAR was also affected and faced lack of technical staff and qualified leadership. As a result, its activities decreased due to lack of funds.
Even during that period, YAAR was committed to its humanitarian cause and was supporting the Qalam Education Center for children especially street children, IDPs etc. and Qalam Radio broadcasting health, education, agriculture, women empowerment and youth development programs in the eastern provinces. YAAR has been supporting these activities from its core fund and other local arrangements.