Aahung Annual Report 2019-20

Having been successful in advoca�ng for the inclusion of
the LSBE program in the secondary school curricula in
Sindh, Aahung subsequently trained 442 Master Trainers
(MTs), from all over Sindh on the content in 2018. A�er
the integra�on of LSBE in secondary textbooks, Aahung
in collabora�on with SELD strategized to conduct
refresher trainings with MTs who were to eventually roll
out this training with secondary school teachers all over
Sindh.

46

23 RAISING AWARENESS
THROUGH STREET THEATRE

We, at Aahung, believe that drama is one of the most powerful ways to raise awareness
on social issues. Street theatre is an inexpensive form of entertainment that focuses on
the common man’s life and problems. In the past, many small theatre groups have been
engaged by Aahung to raise awareness on SRHR, especially in the rural districts.

This year again, under the Naya Qadam project, a theatre troupe was engaged
to perform in six project districts (Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah, Rawalpindi,
Okara and Pakpa�an) and was able to reach 1300 people in these districts.
Ten interac�ve theatres were performed in the span of two weeks to sensi�ze
people about the following issues:

• The importance of gender inclusivity
• Health benefits of marriage at the appropriate age
• The importance of family planning and post pregnancy family planning

47

The performances were interac�ve in nature and the The play was well-received within the communi�es.
audience could completely immerse themselves in the People accepted the fact that girls and boys should be
experience, dancing along to the rhythm of the dhol treated equally and also reflected on the importance of
towards the end. The actors posed ques�ons to the marrying children at the appropriate age in order to
audience amidst the performance, encouraging empathy prevent them from the complica�ons related to child
and making them one with the situa�ons the characters early marriage and ensuing pregnancy. Most people in
faced. the audience vouched for the importance of family
planning as well as post- pregnancy family planning.

48

49

24 EVALUATING AAHUNG’S MODULE
ON MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
MANAGEMENT (MHM)

In Pakistan, the topic of menstrual health is highly
s�gma�zed, and studies have shown that there is a
general dearth of knowledge amongst adolescent girls
regarding menstrual hygiene and young girls are anxious
about the onset of menstrua�on (Boosey et al, 2014).
Cultural taboos and norms of maintaining secrecy about
menstrua�on further aggravate this situa�on as young
girls are o�en afraid or ashamed to discuss the
distresses they face during menstrua�on with their
mothers or another trusted adult (Ibid, 2014). The lack
of access to menstrual materials, Water Sanita�on, and
Hygiene (WASH) facili�es, and informa�on required for
effec�ve MHM o�en result in school absenteeism or
dropout (Ibid, 2014). Moreover, girls who are able to
a�end schools during menstrua�on struggle to ac�vely
par�cipate in school ac�vi�es due to the fear of leakage
and staining (Ibid, 2014). A study conducted in urban
se�ngs of Karachi, Pakistan, suggests a correla�on
between girls’ absenteeism from schools, and the use of
unhygienic menstrual material and a lack of facili�es to
change and wash themselves (T.S. Ali & S.N. Rizvi, 2010).

To counter this, Aahung uses a comprehensive sub-
module on MHM within the LSBE module. However, the
module’s effec�veness has not been quan�ta�vely
evaluated, therefore, Aahung’s RME team implemented
a quasi-experimental trial to test the effec�veness of
this module. Ethical approval for the study was obtained
from Na�onal Bioethics Commi�ee (NBC) Pakistan. The
implementa�on began in October 2020 in 12 schools in
two districts of Karachi and Khairpur; six schools were
allocated in the control arm and six schools were
allocated in the interven�on arm. The baseline survey
began in October 2020 a�er obtaining consent from all
par�cipa�ng girls’ parents. Data were collected from
513 par�cipants from 11 schools by January 2020.
Owing to administra�ve issues and COVID-19, data could
not be collected from the twel�h school. To understand
girls’ menstrual experiences, we u�lized the Integrated
Framework of Menstrual Experience (Hennegan et al.,
2019).

50

The findings demonstrated the nega�ve experience that young girls have to go through in Pakistan with 93%
girls experiencing high levels of s�gma and 84% girls experiencing high distress due to the cultural
environment around menstrua�on. Overall, 73% girls reported having an overall nega�ve menstrual
experience with no respondent repor�ng having a posi�ve experience.

Since LSBE implementa�ons are routed through the teachers, there was an evalua�on at the teachers’ end
as well whereby their knowledge and awareness around MHM was assessed before and a�er the trainings.
Pre- and post-training evalua�on was conducted in three trainings with a total of 48 teachers. Before the
training, 17% teachers had unfavourable percep�ons around MHM, 79% had moderate percep�ons, and
only 4% had favourable percep�ons. A�er the training, no teacher reported having unfavourable percep-
�ons with 65% having moderate percep�ons, and 35% had outright favourable percep�ons. Their average
score on the construct also improved from 78% at pre-test to 85% at post-test.

51

25 GENDER-SENSITIVE MEDIA REPORTING

There is hardly any doubt that media has a huge
influence on our percep�ons and ideas about the role of
girls and women in society. Pakistani media, however,
has mostly perpetuated gender inequality. Women are
frequently portrayed in stereotypical and hyper-
sexualised roles in adver�sing and the film industry,
which has long-term social consequences. By
crea�ng gender-sensi�ve and gender-transforma�ve
content and breaking gender stereotypes, the media can
play a hugely transforma�ve role.

With this aim, two media sensi�za�on workshops- one
in Karachi and one in Islamabad- were organized under
the Naya Qadam project. These two workshops invited
media (reporters, editors, camera crew, bloggers, and
local press club veterans) from three districts of Sindh
i.e. Karachi, Larkana and Nawabshah and three districts
of Punjab i.e. Okara, Pakpa�an and Rawalpindi. The aim
of these workshops was capacity-building on AYSRH
issues in Pakistan, with a focus on gender-based
violence, unmet need of family planning, the
importance of family planning and the role of media in
normalizing and des�gma�zing discussions around

52

A total of 59 par�cipants were trained from Sindh and
Punjab, respec�vely. Media has significant outreach to
popula�on via different sources that include shows,
documentaries, news, and public service messages. The
sessions were divided into two main parts. The first half
aimed at sensi�zing media personnel on AYSRH issues
and the la�er session highlighted the role of media in
addressing these issues.

53

The major discussion centred on how one should use
ra�onale and quote facts to address the queries arising
during behaviour change processes, and that the role of
empathy, examining alternate values and recognizing
barriers to change, all play a significant role in altering
percep�ons. Keeping in mind that a major chunk of the
popula�on is not aware of family planning methods and
its benefits, par�cipants from the workshops accepted
individual responsibility and pledged to advocate and
spread accurate and adequate SRH informa�on
through ongoing collabora�on with Aahung.

54

26 YOUNG PEOPLE NEGOTIATING
THEIR WAY THROUGH
TOUGH SITUATIONS

Over the years Aahung has developed a wide range of
informa�onal communica�ons material to inform and
educate young people on family planning amongst other
AYSRH issues. This �me, a slightly different approach
was taken. Instead of depic�ng helplessness and dismay,
Aahung chose to depict empowered characters, who
displayed strong personality traits and powerful
communica�on skills to nego�ate their way out of
challenging life situa�ons. Four 2-D animated videos
were developed, with engaging scripts that portrayed
young people who faced child early marriage, young-age
successive pregnancies, familial and societal pressure to
procreate, and sexual abuse. The characters were
carefully cra�ed to depict average Pakistani young men
and women facing real-life scenarios with the aim to
showcase posi�ve responsive ideas and a�tudes, that
would help audiences connect.

The major thema�c areas were inter-spousal
communica�on, CSA, CEFM, and family planning. These
animated videos were developed under the Naya
Qadam pla�orm, with the objec�ve to target local
communi�es and enhance their understanding
regarding AYSRH issues and how to overcome barriers

55

Aahung realizes the unmet need of family planning, as
well as child abuse (including CEFM and CSA). Therefore,
the need was felt to create animated content so that
messages are delivered across the country in way that is
easy to understand and relate to. These videos are also
embedded with sign language and sub�tles for young
people who are differently abled. These videos cater to
all young Pakistanis, regardless of any differences
between gender, ethnicity, race, and community
dynamics. They were disseminated via social media and
will be used as audio-visual aids in upcoming
capacity-building sessions.

56

27 GUIDELINES ON FAMILY
PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH (FPRH)

Reduced mobility because of the post-COVID lockdown
and physical distancing measures significantly hindered
access to FPRH facili�es. As a result, the Government of
Sindh along with the Department of Health (DoH) and
Popula�on Welfare Department (PWD) took proac�ve
measures and introduced a Guideline which would
address the needs and demands of women with respect
to reproduc�ve health and family planning.

Because COVID 19 came with a lot of financial and social
consequences, it became more crucial that couples plan
their children and family size based on their resources
and opportuni�es. Therefore, with all the unmet need of
family planning, COVID-19 contributed to an increase in
demand and requirement for family planning methods.
In addi�on, it was important to deal with antenatal
pa�ents with care and comfort and provide them with
safe delivery op�ons as well.

57

This FPRH Guideline created by the GoS in collabora�on
with DoH and PWD, was also translated by Aahung into
Urdu and Sindhi. To further increase outreach and
access, Aahung also developed a 2D animated video of
the Guideline itself. The areas covered in the Guideline
include the service delivery and centers open for
women, reproduc�ve health services and delivery for
women at quaran�ne centers, supply of commodi�es,
maintenance of records and the collabora�on of
different stakeholders for making FPRH facili�es
available for couples of all ages under all circumstances.

58

28 AAHUNG GOES GREEN

The mo�va�on to go green has not only increasingly
become part of many organiza�ons’ social
responsibili�es but also is an aspect of remaining
relevant in the future business environment.
Organiza�ons are therefore seeking more innova�ve
methods of promo�ng eco-friendly environments by
integra�ng green prac�ces in their everyday func�ons.

There is a significant link between SRHR and climate
change. Countries in the developing world least
responsible for the growing emissions are likely to
experience the heaviest impact of climate change, with
women bearing the greatest toll. In tandem with other
factors, rapid popula�on growth in these regions
increases the scale of vulnerability to the consequences
of climate change, for example, food and water scarcity,
environmental degrada�on, and human displacement.

1
59

Aahung realizes the posi�ve impact of adop�ng a few
eco-friendly sound prac�ces. Some immediate
organiza�on-wide measures were taken with a buy-in
from all employees. These are small steps but have a
significant impact in the long run:

• Reusing notepads and other sta�onery during trainings
• Significantly reduced printed copies of Aahung materials
• E-dissemina�on of training material where possible
• Reduced use of single-use plas�c
• Switch to e-forms for administra�ve processes

Though Aahung is a rela�vely small organiza�on which
does not have a significant carbon footprint, it is the
switch to green thinking - following prac�ces that can
lead to ac�ons and lifestyles to be more environmentally
friendly- that will hopefully posi�vely impact future and
current genera�ons.

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Address: G-18/6, Sasi Homes, Block-8, Kehkashan, Cli�on, Karachi
Phone: (+92 21) 3582 1654, 35870244, 35838114
Website: www.aahung.org
Facebook: aahungngo
Twi�er: aahungngo
Instagram: aahungngo
YouTube: Aahung NGO

Designed by:
Aymen Qureshi
Imaara Zulfiqar Ali
(Students at Habib University)

Copyright ©Aahung 2020

Reproduc�on, adapta�on and transla�on is authorized worldwide for non-profit educa�onal
purposes and publica�ons, provided that prior permission is obtained and due credit is given to
Aahung.