A reflection on stories that made news recently.
SOC Films, spearheaded by two-time Oscar winner and journalist/filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, is not just about commercial endeavours like the 3 Bahadur franchise. Even as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is among directors who will helm the upcoming (and prominent) Marvel Studio’ solo series, Ms. Marvel featuring a Muslim Pakistani-American superhero called Kamala Khan, the notion to create community-engaging ideas hasn’t been sidelined by the production house.
Almost always trying to educate an alienated population about its rights by going into rural vicinities and creating awareness, SOC Films has released Siyani Sahelian - Advancing Action of Adolescent Girls documentary on YouTube.
According to a press statement, “The documentary highlights SOC Films’ collaborative flagship program with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) focusing on girls’ education in South Punjab.”
Since launching in March (2018), Siyani Sahelian has “empowered 36,000+ out of school adolescent girls in South Punjab through post primary opportunities for learning gains, TVET [Technical and Vocational Education and Training], livelihoods and life skills”.
“With this program, we have had a chance to work closely with young girls who face severe socio-economic challenges. In a span of just three years, we have been able to enable, and empower these girls by teaching them life skills so they have the ability to stand on their own two feet. Our documentary chronicles this journey and highlights the impact Siyani Sahelian has made in their lives. I still believe that these girls, if educated and empowered, can be the backbone of Pakistan’s economy,” said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
There is a lot more to this initiative that has been worked upon diligently which includes working on creating opportunities for vulnerable girls and minorities groups - among others.
“The program also raises awareness about the rights of women through a mobile cinema, workshop and documentary films in partnership with SOC Films and Girls Rising,” said a press statement.
Having reached out to over 60 towns and villages, apart from the newest documentary, Siyani Sahelian, the animated short film, Civil Society and the role of Women, also by SOC Films, has also being released online.
“Siyani Sahelian is a Second Chance Program for Girls/Women’s empowerment through education, life skills, edTech, and livelihoods in Pakistan demonstrating 100 per cent outcomes where girls were trained to film their own pathways to empowerment with the help of SOC Films who developed impactful animations on transformative themes and program videos on SS. SS is ready to scale up through partners in government and industry; there could be no better innovation for the country! Let’s Collaborate for Learning in Pakistan!” said Baela Raza Jamil, CEO Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA).