SOC Films, spearheaded by two-time Academy Award winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, joined hands with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) for a collaborative flagship program. Recently, the 6-month long initiative, titled Advancing Action of Adolescent Girls (Siyani Sahelian), which focused on girls’ education, came to an end with a series of film screenings in South Punjab.
The main aim behind the project was to tackle gender inequality for disadvantaged, out of school adolescent girls – between the ages of 9 to 19. During the 6-month program, SOC Films conducted various storytelling and film workshops in three districts of South Punjab, including Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan [ITA hubs]. Five short animated films were produced specifically for the initiative, highlighting issues of hygiene during menstruation, financial literacy, nutrition and importance of education for girls.
According to the press statement, the five films were taken to over 60 towns and villages including ITA hubs on a fully equipped Mobile Cinema where films on child abuse, bonded labor, child marriage, diversity and tolerance and civic responsibility were also screened.
“It is extremely important to empower girls who are unable to complete their education with life skills so that they have the ability to stand on their own two feet,” noted Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in a press statement.
Talking about the collaboration with ITA, Sharmeen added, “We were able to reach more than fifteen hundred girls. Using films, we provided them critical information about nutrition, health and self-awareness, teaching them how to be economically and socially responsible. These girls are often forgotten but if educated and empowered they can be the backbone of Pakistan’s economy.”
During the program, SOC Films team taught the students how to create films on mobile phones. For the first time, many of the young women were able to articulate what their lives were like focusing on their hopes and dreams for their villages, towns and for Pakistan. Over thirty-five short films were created out of the workshops and later exhibited in ITA hubs.
