Sungi Development Foundation is actively engaged in promoting an inclusive, tolerant, and peaceful Pakistan while addressing issues of exploitation and exclusion through the implementation of ‘Aawaz programme’. Working closely with local communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab provinces, SUNGI aims to advocate for the rights of children, women, youth, transgender and other marginalized groups.The organization’s community engagement component focuses on pathways for change, specifically targeting the areas of child marriage, gender-based violence, and social cohesion. Two major pathways include:
- Changing awareness, attitudes, and behaviors towards discrimination, intolerance, exploitation, and harmful practices.
- Facilitating referrals and citizen engagement on the thematic areas and issues related to exclusion and exploitation.
Sungi serves as a bridge between key stakeholders, including duty bearers and the community, to drive behavior change initiatives. In line with this objective, Sungi Development Foundation recently initiated the formation process of the Aawaz District level forums in Abbottabad and Sheikhupura districts. It is worth mention that Sungi has already formed district level citizens groups in several districts which are fully functional and contributing significantly in districts’ development. Many of such forums have already been recognized and notified by the district authorities in the past.
The district level forums comprise a diverse range of major stakeholders from the government and non-government sectors, Civil Society Organizations, journalists, lawyers, representatives from minority groups, transgender persons, and people with disabilities (PWDs). These stakeholders actively participated in the formation process and are now integral members of the forum.
Key stakeholders at the district level forums include:
- ADC Relief & Human Rights
- Incharge Darul Aman
- District Social Welfare Officer
- Child Protection Officer
- Deputy Director Special Education
- ECP officials
- Lawyers
- Civil Society representatives
- PWDs
- Minority representatives
- Transgender persons
- Journalists
- Provincial partners
During the forum formation process, participants were provided with a comprehensive overview of the program and the role of District Forum members. Furthermore, three-member committees were established in accordance with the shared Terms of Reference (TORs). The efforts and initiatives for a peaceful Pakistan were highly appreciated by all participants.
Government officials and duty bearers have expressed their commitment to fully cooperate and support the success Sungi’ initiatives in district Abbottabad and Sheikhupura, both in their personal and professional capacities. It is expected that having such citizen’s forums at the districts level would help strengthen government-citizen relationships by restoring mutual trust and accountability. Further, it will be useful in mainstreaming citizens’ voices into the government policies and their implementation.
