Honoured Visit by British Council’s Regional Director to Aawaz II in Sheikhupura
Sungi Development Foundation had the honour of welcoming Ms. Helen Silvester, Regional Director for South Asia at the British Council, to the Aawaz II Programme in Sheikhupura. She was accompanied by Dr. Yasmin Zaidi, Team Lead Aawaz II, Mr. Arshad Mahmood, Deputy Team Lead, and other senior members of the British Council delegation.
The purpose of the visit was to witness first-hand the impact of the Aawaz II Programme in promoting inclusion, strengthening grassroots structures, and ensuring access to services for marginalized and vulnerable communities. During their visit, the British Council representatives held in-depth and interactive discussions with members of the Aawaz District Forum (DF), Village Foras (VFs), Aawaz Aagahi Centre (AAC) Resource Persons, and Aawaz Change Agents (ACAs), who shared how the programme has transformed local communities and contributed to social awareness, peacebuilding, and behavior change.
A representative from the Social Welfare Department shared that Aawaz II has effectively built a bridge between communities and the department, resulting in a significant increase in Disability Board meetings. This increase is a direct outcome of the demand created by the community mobilization efforts under the programme. The representative from the Police Tahafuz Centre highlighted the improved accessibility for vulnerable groups, especially women and transgender persons, who now feel more confident in reaching out to protection services because of the awareness generated by Aawaz. Similarly, a representative from the Meesaq Centre shared that the collaboration between their team and the Early Warning and Response Mechanism (EWRM) focal persons of the Village Foras has enabled timely interventions to prevent and resolve community-level conflicts.
The visit also featured testimonies from Village Fora members, AAC Resource Persons, and Aawaz Change Agents, who reflected on the ongoing work around preventing child marriage, addressing gender-based violence (GBV), and promoting social cohesion. They also acknowledged the capacity-building support and the Safeguarding Reporting Mechanism introduced by the British Council, which has strengthened their ability to respond to community needs more effectively and responsibly.
Later in the day, the British Council team visited The Salvation Army Church in Village Forum Ghangh, where they held an engaging discussion with women from both Muslim and Christian communities. These women shared their experiences regarding social cohesion, interfaith harmony, and the behavioural change initiatives that have taken place under the programme at the village level.
The team concluded the visit with a stop at the Aawaz Aagahi Centre in Ghangh, where they observed awareness-raising and community engagement efforts in action.
The visit served as a testament to the strong partnership between Sungi Development Foundation, British Council, and the Aawaz II Programme in fostering inclusive, peaceful, and empowered communities. It also reaffirmed the commitment to supporting community-led efforts that promote justice, equality, and sustainable development at the grassroots level.
