Association for Behavior and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT)

Press Release – Three Days Staff Orientation Workshop – Jamhori Maidan Project – II

Islamabad

Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT) organized a three days “Project Orientation Workshop” for its JMP-II staff members of Malakand, Peshawar and Islamabad regions. The orientation workshop was organized from 28^th to 30^th June 2015 at Islamabad.

The purpose of the workshop was to provide an insight of JMP-II to the staff members along with sharing organizational policies such as Communication, HR, Finance and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Ms. Shad Begum, Executive Director ABKT along with Project management team based at Islamabad facilitated the workshop. During the workshop the project team of JMP-II was briefed on project objectives, deliverables and intended results.

Since 1994, ABKT has come up with indigenous approaches in sustainable development for social, economic and political empowerment of marginalized groups and communities in the northwestern part of Pakistan. In continuation of its efforts for political empowerment of women and youth, it has launched the Second Phase of its “Jamhori Maidan Programme (JMP)” in 10 selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa i.e. Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Buner, Shangla and 7 Agencies of FATA i.e. South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber, Kurram, Momand, Bajaur, Orakzai.

Call for Young Emerging Leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA

Islamabad

Democracy, peace and the protection of human rights are fundamental prerequisite to institute and ensure a peaceful, progressive and just society. The basic set of human rights as defined by the United Nations Charter on Human Rights which includes economic, social and political rights is are natural and innate. No boundaries can limit human dignity and equal respect. The desire for freedom, democracy and security is universal and collective.

Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT)is a national non-profit development organization striving to improve the socio, economic and political empowerment of communities in the under-served areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA through capacity development, political empowerment and leadership development. Women, youth and marginalized groups are the main focus of ABKT programs and projects.

ABKT is currently implementing “Jamhori Maidan Project” in KPK and FATA. The objective of the project is to ‘Strengthened democratic system; inclusive of women & youth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA’. Under this project ABKT is announcing a “Call for Young Emerging Leaders”from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.The Young Emerging Leaders would be provided a training on ‘Peace,Democracy, Human Rights & social work’ to act as a Leaders of Change.

Pakistani Youth of 18 to 30 living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Upper Dir & Lower Dir) and FATA (all agencies) are eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria:

• Youth from all section of society irrespective of sex, race, religion and language are encouraged to apply.
• Must be between the age of 18-35years
• Must be from these areas:

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Shangla, Buner,      Malakand, Upper Dir & Lower Dir)
• FATA (all agencies)
• The candidates will be shortlisted based on their training requirement, experience (activism passion) & gender equality for trainings.

Applicants should apply till Tuesday 20^th July 2015.

Note: ABKT is an equal opportunity organization. Only shortlisted candidates would be informed about the interview.

Interested candidates should send a copy of their CNIC along with the answers to the Questions below on abkt.pakistan@gmail.com

Registration Form for Young Emerging Leaders (YEL)

1. Name: ____________________________
2. Age: ______________________________
3. CNIC: _____________________________
4. Education: _________________________
5. Gender: ___________________________
6. Area/location: ______________________
7. Phone number: _____________________
8. Email: _____________________________
9. How do you define peace and democracy in your own words? (Word limit 200 words)
10. What are the main problems related to peace democracy and human rights in your area? (limit 250 words)
11. What do you expect from this training? How can it help you?
12. Have you ever participated in the social youth forums (any)?
13. No
14. Yes, (If yes, Please mention the name) 
15. How will you use the skills and techniques acquire from this training for improving the ground situation in your area?

Press Release – Launching Ceremony of Jamhori Maidan Program (JMP) – Phase II

Islamabad

Association of Behavior and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT) launched its Jamhori Maidan Program (JMP) – Phase – II on 8^th of July 2015 in Islamabad. ABKT, led by woman social entrepreneur, is a non-profit development organization. The work focus of ABKT is socio-economic and political empowerment of the marginalized communities in the under-served areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) with a special focus on women, youth and minorities groups.

JMP Phase – II has been initiated with a focus of “Strengthened democratic system; inclusive of women & youth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA”. JMP Phase – II aims at the capacity building of elected women and youth councilors by familiarizing them with council’s rules of business and bylaws for improved services delivery, sensitizing selected journalists on gender issues to highlight women and youth concerns in KP and FATA and mobilizing citizen oversight forums (COF) for enhanced accountability of government line departments.

Distinguished political activists, political analysts and political leaders attended Launching ceremony of JMP Phase – II. MS. Shad Begum, social activist and Executive Director of ABKT shed light on women political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. She said ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­that the current situation of women in the region is no different than what it was in the past. They are still unable to find due space in the political process, decision making and policy formation levels. With this thought it is believed that women should be part of the process at all levels in local government setup right from casting a vote to contesting for any position and from planning to resource allocation, utilization and evaluation. In her opinion, women of deprived regions should be made part of decision and policy making at all levels. She further said that she has firsthand experience of being Tehsil councilor during 2001 to 2004. While sharing her experience of a tehsil councilors she told that women were not even allowed to participate in Tehsil council meetings and to sit next to men during that time. With these experiences she feels that its high time for us to promote these newly elected women councilors as agents of change and to make their voice heard at all levels.

Ms. Shaheen Begum a political activist from lower Dir described the struggle of women political empowerment in Malakand Division and shared that ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­there are a lot of social and cultural hurdles for women in the region to become part of active politics. . One of the most important issues is of freely exercise of political rights of women. Majority of the Women in our areas are mostly not allowed to use their political right with their free will.  While sharing the contribution ABKT made under the JMP Phase – I she shared that women in the region had no information about the Election Commission of Pakistan, its powers and functions before. With this Jamhori Maidan Program women not only learnt the roles and responsibilities of government department but it also helped them in developing their skills and capacities as well.

Mr. Amjad Hussain a young emerging leader and manager of talented youth forum from Lower Dir spoke regarding the challenges and opportunities for youth in Malakand Division (PATA). He said that yet political parties and leader have not utilized the skills and capacities of youth.

Ms. Saira Shams, District Councilor Malakand talked about challenges faced by women with disabilities in politics. She said that women are more than half of the population of the country. There is a significant number of women with disabilities in our country but still there are no supportive mechanisms available to them. She said that people with disability face problems in accessing to the facilities. She said that in our society, people with disability also face general public’s negative attitudes and social discrimination. She urged the audience to convey problems of people with disability to parliament so that their problem should get solved.

Ms. Mehreen Afridi chairperson of FATA Youth Forum highlighted the issues of youth especially the women in FATA. She while elaborating the status of women in FATA said that they are deprived off their all-social, political and economic rights. Despite the fact that they are deprived of all the basic rights even though we can witness them making effort in every walk of life. . Women do not get chance to seek for education in FATA. Women from our region should be given equal chance to play role in federal and provincial level legislature as the men have. She also highlighted the need for establishing “FATA Commission on Status of Women”.

Ms. Marvi Sirmed a renowned journalist and social activist threw light on the issue of lack of space for women in politics in KP and FATA. She shared that problems of women and youth are similar yet different in this very region. She explained that their problems are similar in the sense that both are kept away from opportunities but the women are kept disenfranchised from the mainstream of development process. Women in FATA lack representation at decision-making levels in all walks of life. She further added that political parties need to put a dent on patriarchy in FATA. Women in FATA need to form political wings of parties and hold them accountable by organizing themselves on local level.   

Ms. Miraj Humyun Member Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and member of Provincial Women Caucus shared the role of Provincial Women Caucus (PWC) for political empowerment of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. She shed light on the roles and responsibility of Provincial women caucus. She said that in recent times significant women joined the political domain but overall not a big difference has been made over the years. PWC should gather women in legislative institutions and link itself with women movement in province and at national level. It should also support women who are interested to participate and progress in politics. PWC is aimed at building the capacity of women in house and even outside it to mainstream their role in the development process.

All the distinguished speakers appreciated ABKT efforts for women and youth political empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.