Programme:
Health and Wellbeing Youth Innovation Challenge 2022 and Initiative are Nisa Kahaniyan with Baithak, Co-founders; Sila Shahid, Samra Maqbool, and Amna Salim
Brief Profile:
Launched in 2022, Nisa Kahaniyan by Baithak is an innovative initiative from Karachi aimed at addressing the cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. The team behind this project—Sila Shahid, Samra Maqbool, and Amna Salim—developed a culturally sensitive comic book series that educates young girls and their parents about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Recognizing that periods are often a hush-hush topic in many communities, this comic book series serves as a tool to initiate much-needed conversations, targeting both pre-menstrual girls and their guardians. Nisa Kahaniyan was awarded seed funding of PKR75,000 as one of the top three winners of the challenge, along with two months of mentorship. Following the grant, the team launched their interactive comic book, which they are now distributing in underserved communities. The project has opened up critical conversations about menstrual health, and their goal for the future is to expand the comic book series and introduce educational workshops in schools.
Programme:
Health and Wellbeing Youth Innovation Challenge 2022 and initiative She-Guard, Grant Winners are Co-founders; Nayab Raza, Mehreen Raza, and Safina Bibi
Brief Profile:
She-Guard, launched in 2022 by Nayab Raza, Mehreen Raza, and Safina Bibi from Hyderabad, is an eco-friendly innovation addressing menstrual hygiene issues in underserved communities. The project focuses on providing women and girls with biodegradable sanitary pads made from natural herbs and sustainable materials. The product aims to reduce both the environmental impact of single-use sanitary pads and the health risks associated with unhygienic menstrual practices. She-Guard was one of the three grant winners, receiving seed money of PKR75,000 and mentorship for two months. With this support, the team began production of their biodegradable pads, which are now being distributed in rural areas of Hyderabad. Their future plans include scaling up production, raising awareness about menstrual hygiene, and making the product available nationwide to improve access to affordable and sustainable sanitary products.
Programme:
Health and Wellbeing Youth Innovation Challenge 2022 and initiative Saheli Radio, Grant Winners are Co-founders; Bhoora Lal, Vinesh Kumar, and Meeran
Grant and Outcome:
Saheli Radio, founded by Bhoora Lal, Vinesh Kumar, and Meeran in Umerkot, Sindh, launched in 2022 with a groundbreaking solution to improve access to reproductive health information in rural and underprivileged communities. The project distributes MP3 devices loaded with pre-recorded episodes in the local language, Thatki, containing vital information on reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and life skills-based education. This initiative breaks down linguistic and cultural barriers that often prevent women from accessing critical health information.
Brief Profile:
As one of the top three winners, Saheli Radio received a grant of PKR75,000 and two months of mentorship. Since then, they have distributed MP3 devices to women in rural Umerkot and are working on expanding their reach through partnerships with local radio stations. In the future, the team plans to collaborate with schools and other organizations to further promote reproductive health education in local communities and potentially scale the model to other underserved regions