Speakers on Friday emphasised on the implementation of laws for the protection of girls' right, importance of their education and economic empowerment. Early marriages deprive the girls of their basic rights like protection and development, they said while addressing the concluding ceremony of Rutgers WPF educational project "Aaghaee say Aagay" under which 19,000 adolescent girls in Sanghar and Gujranwala were educated that teaches other young girls about personal and social development.
"Aaghaee say Aagay" project has educated adolescent girls of life skills, developing leadership qualities and basic livelihood skills, promoting human rights and gender equality. The learning forum was held to analyse the lessons learnt along with major outcomes of the project where key stakeholders were members of civil society, project implementing partners, donors along with students and teachers of Aaghaee Say Aagay.
"Aaghaee say Aagay" has reached to more than 150,000 out of school girls, in addition to school going girls, as well as teachers and parents on girls' right to education and health in Sanghar and Gujranwala districts. The learning forum shared the achievements, opportunities and lessons learned from the 3 years of project duration to enhance the quality of information and knowledge that should be provided to enable adolescent girls to lead a healthy life. While highlighting some of the major achievements, Ayesha Ali, Programme Manager-SRHR, shared that the project has successfully achieved its objective of developing life skills and leadership qualities of adolescent girls to deal with Sexual and Reproductive Health issues and for their empowerment as well. Project interventions were implemented in 55 schools of both districts with the help of implementing partners, Bargad in Gujranwala and SAFCOW in Sanghar. Innovative and interactive teaching methods were employed by using a workbook titled 'Khawab se Tabeer tak' (from dreams to reality) and an empowerment toolkit in the form of a board game called 'Bano Chotay Ustaad' (be the little master) to capture the students' attention and learn in a leisurely way.
Dr Yasmeen Sami Kazi from David Lucile Packard Foundation said that the initiative was taken to create awareness amongst young girls about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. She also emphasised on the implementation of related legislation for the protection of girls rights in the country.
Sander Jannsen from Netherlands Embassy emphasised on the importance of girls education and their economic empowerment. Early marriages deprive them of their basic rights of protection and development, he said. Shahnaz Kapadia from Empowerment through Creative Integration while explaining the process of developing curriculum for the project shared that this module was developed following the required need assessment process. Teachers have also played an important role in creating awareness amongst girls about their due rights, she said.
During the panel discussion, teachers and students also shared their experiences. Students are now more confident and optimistic about continuing their education, said one of the teacher of Aaghaee say Aagey. "My parents have realised the importance of girl's education and their empowerment and now I am allowed to continue my education", a student of Aaghaee Say Aagey said. Dr Ayesha Khan from Research and Development Solution shared the findings of end evaluation study and highlighted leadership, economic and social empowerment as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health information as the major outcomes of the project.