Muhammad Umair Samad is a 24-year-old youth leader and resident of Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, Punjab. Umair has trained and facilitated 150+ Aawaz Change Agents dedicated youth volunteers from diverse groups, including religious minorities, persons with disabilities, transgenders, women, and youth. Under his guidance, they planned and executed 22 Social Action Projects targeting the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriages, while fostering social cohesion. Umair also established inclusive village forums and manages Aawaz Aagahi Centres as vital information hubs, delivering impactful trainings that spark lasting behaviour change for strengthening leadership and social status of women and other vulnerable groups.
Baithak
The session highlights achievements of community led behavioural change initiatives for addressing GBV and child marriage. Aawaz II communities share messages on the negative consequences of GBV and child marriage such as physical and psychological harm on women and girls. Community volunteers, from diverse groups will highlight best practices which worked for attitudinal shift in local communities against GBV and child marriage. Youth volunteers from KP and Punjab will share how their voluntary awareness raising sessions resulted changing social norms for redressal of GBV and child marriage issues.
