Introduction

Peace by Youth (PY), committed to fostering equitable and just societies, is at the forefront of addressing Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in Jacobabad through the Youth-led Actions to End CEFM initiative. This groundbreaking project empowers young people to advocate for systemic change, build awareness, and drive meaningful community action.

Project Overview

The Youth-led Actions to End CEFM project is a collaborative initiative implemented by Peace by Youth (PY) with support from Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO). Spanning six months (November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025), the project focuses on empowering youth as agents of change in combating CEFM through advocacy, awareness campaigns, capacity building, and creative engagement in Jacobabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Objectives

• Empower youth to lead advocacy campaigns against CEFM.
• Create awareness on issues surrounding child marriage, education, and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).
• Foster inclusive and equitable community engagement.
• Strengthen collaboration between youth and policymakers for systemic reforms.

Key Activities

1. Identification and Mobilization of Youth Champions

• Selection of CEFM Champions: 150 youth (75 boys and 75 girls) from five union councils were identified to act as ambassadors of the project.
• Formation of Youth Committees: Separate boys’ and girls’ committees (10 total) were created, with defined roles and responsibilities outlined in Terms of Reference (ToRs).

2. Co-Creation and Participatory Workshops

• Co-Creation Workshops: Youth participated in two workshops per union council to identify challenges and design actionable solutions to prevent child marriages.
• Strategies Development Workshops: Two rounds of participatory sessions were conducted, enabling youth to collaboratively develop practical strategies.

3. Networking and Collaboration

• Fortnightly Team-Building Sessions: Designed to strengthen bonds and group cohesiveness between boys and girls.
• Networking Activities: Youth committees engaged in networking sessions to share experiences and form alliances across union councils.

4. Advocacy and Campaigns

• Youth-Led Mass Advocacy Campaigns: Focused on themes such as access to education, SRHR, and prevention of child marriage.
• Digital and Social Media Campaigns: Leveraged social media platforms to amplify youth voices and advocacy messages.

5. Capacity-Building and Training

• Orientation of Youth Committees: Focused on familiarizing youth with project goals and effective engagement techniques.
• Leadership Development: Exposure visits, networking activities, and dialogues with government officials equipped youth with leadership skills.

6. Inclusive and Equitable Engagement

• Involvement of Excluded Groups: Actively included persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized groups.
• Gender Equality Focus: Ensured equal representation of boys and girls in all activities, with gender-segregated sessions to address unique challenges.

7. Creative and Cultural Engagement

• Theater Performances and Puppet Shows: Employed culturally relevant methods to spread awareness and engage communities.
• Sports Events: Organized to promote teamwork and subtly embed anti-CEFM messages.

8. Advocacy through Youth-Government Collaboration

• Youth-Government Dialogue Meetings: Facilitated interactions between youth and policymakers to discuss challenges and propose actionable solutions.
• Provincial-Level Visibility Events: Highlighted youth-led initiatives and advocated for systemic change.

9. Dissemination of Messages

• Youth disseminated key messages on child rights, birth registration, and marriage registration through Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, campaigns, and interactive community events.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced awareness and capacity among youth to challenge and prevent child marriage.
• Increased advocacy for education, SRHR, and gender equality.
• Stronger youth-government collaboration to drive systemic reforms.
• Community mobilization to foster supportive environments for youth-led actions against CEFM.

Future Outlook

The Youth-led Actions to End CEFM project is a pivotal step in empowering young individuals to address the pressing issue of child marriage. By fostering advocacy, building capacity, and creating collaborative networks, Peace by Youth (PY) is laying the groundwork for sustainable change. The initiative’s impact will continue to inspire efforts to end CEFM and promote a just, equitable future for all youth in Jacobabad.