As part of the Pathy Foundation Fellowship, I have founded Aawaaz, a program dedicated to serving under-served communities in Pakistan, focusing on suicide prevention training and mental health first aid. Aawaaz's core mission is to provide vital mental health education to youth across Pakistan. After a successful cycle utilizing the arts as a tool for teaching life-saving mental health first aid, Aawaaz is now turning to sports as a means to break barriers and build resilience, particularly among young women in a male-dominated society. The camaraderie and competition associated with ringette will be our conduit.

Ringette is not solely about physical health; it serves as a platform for enhancing mental well-being, fostering confidence, collaboration, and leadership among young people. We are actively mobilizing resources and developing training programs to integrate sports training, mental health education, and creativity-based practices into a holistic ringette program in Ghulkin, Gojal, a small mountainous village that has emerged as a leader in ice sports in Pakistan.

Ghulkin, like many other villages in the Gilgit-Baltistan provinces, grapples with the significant impact of climate change. Nestled in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges, the region is witnessing glacial retreat and unpredictable weather patterns, leading to increased risks of landslides, floods, and reduced water availability. These challenges pose a direct threat to the region's agriculture, a primary source of livelihood, and place the rich biodiversity in jeopardy.

Simultaneously, mental health issues and suicide rates in Gilgit-Baltistan have become a concern, particularly among the youth who face unique challenges including environmental instability, limited access to mental healthcare, the isolating effects of harsh mountainous terrains, cultural stigmas surrounding mental health challenges, and strict patriarchal norms. These factors contribute to heightened feelings of despair and isolation among young people. Aawaaz aims to provide outlets of hope and train local facilitators who can respond to crises. While we recognize that holistic mental health education, which values and builds upon the strengths of individuals, is not a one-stop solution, it is a vital start. Aawaaz is immensely grateful for the support shown by the village community of Ghulkin.

All funds received will be dedicated to purchasing equipment for youth training under experienced ringette players and participating in full-day programs focused on resilience, empathy-building, creativity, and crisis management. We invite you to be a part of this pivotal movement by contributing to our sports initiative. Your support can act as a catalyst for change, providing young people with the opportunity to experience the excitement of ice sports and equipping them with the tools to identify and respond to crises.

#Empowerment #GenderEquality #SportsForChange #MentalHealth #YouthDevelopment #NonProfit #Ringette #Partnership #MakeAnImpact