Project Period: National Alapon from 2015 and Rohingya Alapon from 2020 – Ongoing
Reporting Period: July 2023– June 2024
Project Location: All over Bangladesh and Rohingya communities
Financial Partner: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Project Staff: Total Staff: 18 (Female-14, Male-4)
Target Beneficiaries: Adolescent & Youths aged 10-24 years
Goal
The goal of the project is to address adolescents and young boys and girls with the aim of grooming them into responsible, non-violent, healthy, and happy adults, as future partners, fathers, mothers, and caregivers with gender-equitable attitudes and practices.
Two Wings of Alapon Helpline: National Alapon (09678-609-609) and Rohingya Alapon (09678-383-838)
Major Activities
- During the period, a total of 12 Radio Alapon live sessions were broadcasted through Radio Naf.
- Quiz events were organized for live sessions. Participants enjoyed and winners were given various tokens of appreciation.
- Alapon Helpline Counselors conducted sessions for Youth volunteers, Institutional Heads, and on Social and Behavior Change Communication, Menstrual Health Management, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Gender Equality Movement in Schools, Comprehensive Life Skill Education and so on.
- 16,789 calls (F-11,791) attended through National and 3,486 calls attended (F-2,498) through Rohingya Alapon.
Major Achievements
- 16,789 clients received counselling services from National Alapon helpline and 3,486 clients received counselling services from Rohingya Alapon helpline during the reporting period
- MHPSS Training for police (Police Special Help Desk)
- Course Design Workshop: Orientation for Institution Head on GEMS & ASRHR
- TOT on Comprehensive Life Skills Education for Facilitator
- Orientation on MHM kits distribution for youth volunteers
- Workshop on “Empowering Adolescents and Youth: Enhancing Knowledge through Online Platforms”
- Training on GEMS- 2nd Year, Orientation to Institution Heads
- Teachers training on GEMS (Gender Equity Movement in Schools)
- Exposure visits and IP orientation in Rohingya camp
- Coordination meeting and Prize distribution to winners of Radio live quiz competition
- Participated in SRHR Knowledge Fair arranged by Share-Net Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Center
- Training on GBV & SRHR in humanitarian settings for Psychosocial Counsellors of Alapon Helpline
Major Events
Training on ASRHR and First Aid in Emergency: Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) organized a four-day long training on “ASRHR and First Aid in Emergency for Adolescent Leaders and Youth Platform members.” The training was scheduled during 17-20 December, 2023.
Celebration of Menstrual Health Management Day: On June 4, 2024, with support from UNFPA under the project “Urgent Support to Women and Girls in Noakhali District and Bhasan Char (Island): Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Service,” CWFD organized a one-day celebration for International Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Day. This year’s theme was “Together for a Period-Friendly World.”
Soft launching of Amaze Video with 25 NGO/On line Platform/Youth Lead Organizations members: June 3rd, 2024, CWFD organized the soft launch of the AMAZE videos and the dissemination of Shahana Cartoon Series III. This milestone event was organized under the project “Urgent Support to Women and Girls in Noakhali District and Bhasan Char (Island): Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Services,” with technical support from UNFPA.
A Significant Successful Case
“Nitu” (pseudonym) was a 14-year-old unmarried girl who said that her mother did not give her fish, meat, and eggs to eat during menstruation, as her mother believes that if she eats these foods, there will be a bad effect on her health. She wanted to know whether there is any limitation to eating these foods during menstruation. The counsellor explained to the caller that there is no limitation on eating fish, eggs, or meat during menstruation. The counsellor also emphasized that adolescence is a time of physical growth, so it is necessary to eat nutritious and iron-rich foods for physical development. The counsellor provided information on the best sources of iron that our body easily absorbs, including meat and fish, leafy greens, dried beans, peas, etc. These foods have no negative impact on menstruation or health. After receiving this information, the caller felt very relieved and said that she had received valuable information which she would share with her mother, family members, and friends. She also mentioned that this helpline is very necessary for providing essential information to raise awareness and thanked the counsellor.
