Tuesday, 19 May 2025 – PODA organized a series of impactful life skills-based education sessions at Government Girls High School, Saroki, District Gujrat, engaging over 100 girl students. The sessions aimed to empower girls to protect their constitutional right to education and promote their personal development and health awareness.
One of the core activities was a session on menstrual hygiene management, anemia, and nutrition, where the PODA team addressed common misconceptions about menstruation and emphasized the importance of personal hygiene. Girls were guided on how to manage periods confidently, with advice on increasing fluid intake and incorporating vegetables into their diet to support healthy menstrual cycles. A Health Club was also formed to help students improve hygiene and cleanliness practices, especially in cases of unexpected periods during school hours.
As part of the initiative to inspire students and break gender stereotypes, a Role Model session was conducted featuring a young female finance expert. She shared her journey and encouraged the students to pursue education in science and mathematics-related subjects, urging them to face challenges with confidence and believe in their potential for success in STEM fields.
To engage students creatively and reinforce the themes discussed, PODA also held a poster drawing competition. The competition covered a broad range of topics including health, education, empowerment, and gender equality, allowing students to express their understanding and aspirations through art.
The school in-charge praised PODA for introducing these much-needed sessions, noting that this was the first time menstrual health, nutrition, and female empowerment through STEM education had been discussed at the school. She highlighted that the initiative is especially valuable for girls from lower-middle-class backgrounds, who have limited access to such awareness and resources.
These activities were conducted under PODA’s ongoing project, “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality”, supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad. The project integrates life skills with formal education, aiming to foster economic independence, safeguard fundamental rights, and support the holistic development of young girls.
