September - 2013
ACTIVE CITIZENS PROGRAM
Globally Connected - Locally Engaged In Collaboration with
Sudhaar Society
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Globally Connected; Locally Engaged
Background: Active Citizens Program (ACP) is the chapter of British Council’s International Dialogue & Global Citizenship Program with a guiding principle “globally connected - locally engaged”. It aims to contribute for global citizenship with sustainable development through positive social change within communities. It is establishing global network of such leaders who have influence within their communities and can dialogue to address local issues of global concern. This newsletter contains information about Sudhaar’s interventions for activating youth under this project. The readers’ feedback would be valuable to us. Newsletter Drafted By: GULNAZ SAEED Program Coordinator Edited By: MUHAMMAD AKRAM M.E & Research Officer
This issue includes: 1– Sudhaar making youth active. 2– Capacity building for active citizens. 3– Social action projects. 4– Capacity building of facilitators. 5– Recognition of active citizens. 6– Annual youth summit. 7– Policy dialogue. 8– Cross cultural exchange visits. 9– Endless efforts. 10– Sudhaar brief.
Up to Now, 729 Active Citizens Engaged in Social Action Project.
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Sudhaar Making Youth Active: Since October 2011, Sudhaar is implementing an ‘active citizens program’ in three districts of Punjab, i.e. Narowal, Sialkot and Kasur with the financial and technical support of FAFEN (Free & Fair Election Network) and the British Council. This program is comprised two phases; phase-I was implemented under the umbrella of FAFEN and phase-II is being implemented with the support of British Council. The program design of both phases is same - building capacity of youth for making them active citizens of society.
Regarding youth, the visions of the Active Citizens Program and Sudhaar resembles as Sudhaar is also committed to empower youth in order to sensitize them for taking social responsibility and decision making power so that they can effectively address issues in their concerned communities. Sudhaar is committed to engage youth in social development practices through volunteer services, which will enhance their knowledge, and skills ultimately. This is also contributing in social networking of youth as well. These practices will help to develop a society which would be capable of voicing their needs, advocating their rights and campaigning for reforms and change ultimately. Therefore, this program is of great significance in Sudhaar’s strategic plan also.
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Globally Connected; Locally Engaged
Capacity Building for Active Citizens: Facilitators adopt and deliver the learning through workshops to groups of youth (16-30 years) either students of college/university or young professionals, identified by concerned department’s administration by applying the following criteria: a) Having a strong sense of their own identity and culture. b) Established local social, professional & religious, etc.). c) To be an able communicator. e) interest in learning and broadening horizons. Selected youth attended four days workshop which covered modules one to four of the learning journey. On the whole, ACP was implemented in two phases. In phase I (2011-12) overall 18 ACW(6 sessions in each district) were conducted and trained 540 male & female youth under Trust for Democratic Education & Accountability (TDEA) & Free & Fair Election Network (FAFEN) partnership. In phase II 2012-13 Sudhaar Society signed & implemented ACP with British Council directly and conducted 12 workshops (4 in each district) and trained 291(163 male & 128 female) youth. ACs got various skills including cross-cultural communication and inter cultural dialogue & its effective role in community action through promoting civic engagement & volunteering globally.
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Social Action Projects: Active Citizens worked with facilitators to design and implement social action projects in their respective communities. Having trained 540 active citizens in phase I, monitored 1080 govt girls/ boys primary schools(360 schools in each district) in their respective districts as per given format to identify problems. Then advocacy campaigns were launched to engage public institutions and civil society for effective responsiveness of education department. While in phase II 189 active citizens addressed their unique local priorities through social action projects to help their communities. More than 33 SAPs covering health (mass awareness about dengue and TB) ,education (enrollment campaign, child rights, human rights & gender and youth empowerment have been launched by active citizens with support of mentors in order to create comfortable and enabling environment in the society. This exercise encourages these young leaders to play a bigger role in their local communities by engaging thought influencers & through civic engagement with community.
Capacity Building of Facilitators: Through capacity building component facilitators' young graduates & with the age group of 18-35 years were being selected through an interview process conducted by BC team for TOFs. Sudhaar has a strong and competent team of facilitators in its respective districts. Up till now 15 facilitators(11 male and 4 female) have been trained on using a globally standardized curriculum including a wide range of skills in leadership. Trained facilitators are experts in the art of training and capacity building who not only facilitate Active Citizens’ in SAP but also advise how to engage local communities for problems solution.
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Recognition of Active Citizens:
Community Events were organized in targeted districts in order to SAP showcasing and certification ceremony for the Active Citizens engaged in implementing social action projects in their concerned areas. Director/principal colleges, DO–CD and elective representative participated as chief guests in these events. Over all 532 youth male & female participated and got inspiration from the initiatives taken by active citizens for community development. Chief guests admired British Council’s initiative to engage youth in healthy activities. Further certificates were distributed in the recognition of the working of active citizens.
Globally Connected; Locally Engaged
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Annual Youth Summit: Active Citizens' participated in annual youth summit 2012 titled “Social Action Project Awards” and presented their SAP on establishment of TB centre in District Narowal. About ten active citizens participated in the said project and achieved their desired goal having sensitized and mobilized health department. BC team selected the most impactful projects for award consideration. So, SAP on establishment of TB center was one of them. Mr. Faisal Kareem (former Deputy Speaker, National Assembly) visited the center and was briefed about its process and appreciated this project and expressed his views that good health is the state responsibility On the next day of the said summit, Mr. Faisal Kareem Kundi (former Deputy Speaker, National Assembly), Shazia Murri (MNA), and Dr. Dunyal Aziz (MNA) were invited in a question-answer session in which participants asked various questions regarding the political situation and involvement of youth in this process. Active Citizens from Sudhaar Society participated in every session and shared their experiences of social action projects implemented in their concerned areas which was greatly acknowledged by visitors. This event had a great impact on forming youth trends in order to identify and solve community issues.
More than 831 Active Citizens have attended ACP workshops.
Faisal Karim Kundi (Deputy Speaker) at Stall of Sudhaar
Policy Dialogue: A Policy dialogue was conducted, titled “Role of Youth to Strengthen Democratic Process" chaired by Assistant Election Commissioner, political parities’ representatives with active citizens in order to enhance youth participation for strengthening democratic process. About 175(80 female 95 male) students and active Citizens from government & private colleges/universities participated in this event. Active Citizens and students asked many questions from the panel such as why education has not been treated on priority basis as youth considered it a core reason for the failure of democracy in Pakistan. An active citizen asked a very critical question that according to statistics 14.5 million youth is unemployed in Pakistan so what type of initiative would be taken in the coming democratic government to manage a huge no of unemployed? Overall it was a healthy exercise to build youth opinion as well as to sensitize elected bodies to take measures for youth development
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Globally Connected; Locally Engaged
Cross-Cultural Exchange Visits: Two Active Citizens' (male) belonging to District Narowal were selected for cross cultural exchange by British Council in which various aspects of active citizens were discussed. Said visit was planned for seven days that covered many knowledgeable and learning exposures. They visited Islamia University of Bhalwalpur and had a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, and President of High Court Bar Association. Visit of central library and local NGOs was also very memorable and meaningful and momentous. Baghdad campus of Islamia University and visit of DARAWAR fort, enhanced knowledge about history of Pakistan. This visit promoted cultural relations through sharing of knowledge and ideas between peoples of different cultures.
532 Students /Active Citizens Participated in Policy Dialogue and Community Events.
“Sudhaar Has Trained Fifteen (15) Facilitators in Three Districts for Learning Journey Modules�
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Endless Efforts:
Having attended four days Active citizens’ workshop a group of youth comprising 4 members (male) decided a social action project on T.B awareness to sensitize concerned department for the establishment of TB center at district level. The active citizens opted for this issue as 1200 TB cases were reported in the last four months, but no serious effort has been seen from department to overcome this issue. So they conducted sessions with community to create awareness about TB disease and to mobilize them to consult with Specialist doctors rather to treat by the quacks. Through these sessions almost 200 men and women were made aware to overcome this widely spreading disease and mobilized them to raise their voices for the establishment of TB center at district level because a district have 1900,000 population but no facility to cure such wide spreaded disease. In next step Active Citizens further conducted a meeting with EDO-Health to present community demand for establishment of TB center. EDO-Health realized this issue and stated some financial constraints to execute this demand abruptly and assured to make said public demand for upcoming budget approval. So this initiative can be considered a great effort made by active citizens along with the involvement of mentors and influential persons.
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Globally Connected; Locally Engaged
A Development Agenda for Change
Sudhaar was founded in 1994 in Lahore by a group of eight social and human rights activists, and registered in 1995 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Sudhaar initially focused on child protection and the improvement of quality education in formal and non-formal sectors. It started its activities from Kasur and by the year 2003, the work had been expanded
to
Sialkot,
Gujranwala,
Toba
Tek
Singh,
Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. From 2005 onwards, Sudhaar began to diversify its range of intervening sectors. The scope of work began to expand in sectors like labour, women and human rights; gender issues and later civic and civil rights of citizens. Sudhaar began to offer relief and post emergency relief support in various districts of Punjab. Currently, Sudhaar is working in five districts of Punjab. The interventions include youth development, child protection, education, post emergency rehabilitation, civil and voter rights, elections monitoring and bridging the gaps between legislators and their electorates for equitable social and economic development.
HEAD OFFICE 563-C Government Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Phase-I Peco Road, Lahore - 54660 Contact: +92(0)23 515 1244 Email: info@sudhaar.org.pk
www.sudhaar.org.pk