By: Shehneela Mazhar
Shawana Shah, our IVLP Alumni 2017, is working as a Program Manager at Da Hawwa Lur, a non-profit organization, working for the rights and protection of women, girls, and transgender persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan. She has recently organized a three days Master Training for Youth to end Violence against women in reflection of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence under her Mission Initiated Grant (MIASG) titled “Youth United for Women Rights: Ending The Violence Epidemic”, supported by U.S. mission in Pakistan in partnership with Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network. 35 young people from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the training and were awarded with the certificates of participation. The training was focused on countering gender-based violence, pro women legislations, advocacy and communication skills for gender equality and role of youth in promoting women empowerment.
Umar Khan, one of the workshop participants shared his feedback in the following words: “The training was very much impactful as it helped us learn about the scenarios in which men and boys can act as agents of gender equality and women empowerment in their own local communities”. Another participant Laiba Khan from workshop mentioned that being a student of journalism, she believes that it is very important that we as youth learn about the strategies to counter violence against women and girls and pro women legislations to sensitize local communities specially women and girls.
Our grantee Shawana has also initiated a storytelling competition for youth to involve them in reflecting upon the ideas of gender equality and women empowerment through various art forms to observe 16 days of activism against gender-based violence which played a vital role in mobilizing youth across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
