Shamandora volunteers held a vibrant community event, showcasing the power of music and song to advocate for family planning on March 7. Hosted at the Imbaba Population Awareness Club, this event was a part of a larger project funded by the Embassy of Canada to Egypt, dedicated to advancing reproductive health and rights. The event was attended by young people from Imbaba.

The volunteers led an engaging session featuring an original song, crafted by their own creativity, inspiring insightful discussions among attendees about its lyrics that focused on family planning. Throughout the session, participants joined in collective singing, a method designed to enhance memorization and ensure the message resonates.

The Shamandora initiative, established by UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Etijah, and the ZAD Art team, aims to empower youth by fostering meaningful dialogue on social, health, and population issues. Leveraging the universal language of music, young people can creatively express themselves, forging connections, and solidarity within their communities. Moreover, songs serve as powerful vessels for conveying complex messages in a memorable and impactful manner, catalyzing positive change and inspiring action among youth and communities alike.

Population Awareness Clubs are nestled within youth centers and serve as vibrant hubs for empowering young people and fostering awareness among community members about critical issues in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. Embracing inclusivity, these clubs actively engage young men and women, seeking to nurture their leadership capabilities and promote positive community development.

To date, there are 431 PACs across all 27 governorates of Egypt. To effectively reach and empower these young individuals, UNFPA employs diverse innovative techniques and approaches tailored to their interests including edutainment and cultural interventions, such as interactive theater, music, and filmmaking.