Premier of Shahana Cartoon Series-III in Bangladesh: Igniting Learning on Health, Well-being and Dignity for Young Adolescent Girls and Boys through Digital Content

Date: 24 March, 2024
Venue: Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), in support of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), has initiated the Shahana cartoon education series aimed at disseminating crucial information to the adolescents of Bangladesh on various pertinent issues in their lives.

The Shahana Animation Series, initiated in 2015 in Bangladesh, aims to equip very young adolescents with knowledge, skills, and values that empower them to realize their health, well-being, and dignity, develop respectful social and intimate relationships, recognize how their choices affect their well-being and that of others, and understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives. It was centered around crucial themes of adolescence, relationships, emotions, diversity, and addressing child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. Importantly, this cartoon series contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, with a specific focus on SDG 4: Gender Equality and SDG 5: Good Health and Well-Being.

To continue to support the momentum of the show, UNFPA has produced series III of the ‘Shahana’ animation, which will be made available for all UNFPA-supported interventions and beyond. The series III of the ‘Shahana’ cartoon is based on the success of the first two series of ‘Shahana’. The development of the Shahana cartoon has been approved by the DSHE at every stage, from scriptwriting, character design, background design, voice-over, and animation. The valuable feedback from DSHE has played a pivotal role in significantly enhancing the overall quality of Shahana.

The Premiere of Shahana Cartoon (session-III) was brought out with a great inaugural event on 24 March 2024 at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The event was organized by Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD) with the technical and financial support of the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA). A total of 200 participants attended the program, in which 10 officials took part from CWFD.

The series aims to facilitate two fundamental changes

• Empowering adolescent girls by providing information, skills, assets, and support networks through the series, enabling them to make informed choices and express themselves.
• Addressing harmful social and gender norms that limit girls’ agency and cultivating positive masculinity among adolescent boys.

Brief of the Event: The Premiere of the Shahana cartoon (Series-III) began at 1:15 PM with a warm welcome and registration. The official session started at 2:00 PM with recitations from the Holy Quran and Gita, followed by a video showcasing the journey and evolution of the Shahana cartoon series in Bangladesh. Mr. Abdul Matin, Additional Secretary (Planning) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education, delivered the inaugural speech. Students and teachers from invited schools shared their experiences with the Shahana cartoon, highlighting its usefulness and impact on daily life. Kristine Blokhus, the UNFPA representative, spoke next, discussing the background, partnership with DSHE, the impact on adolescents, and UNFPA’s future goals.

Speeches followed from Suleman Khan, Secretary of the Secondary & Higher Education Division, and Keya Khan, Director General of the Department of Women Affairs, who emphasized the significance of the event. The Honorable Chief Guest, Mr. Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury (MP), Minister of Education, delivered a valuable speech, acknowledging the efforts of all involved and highlighting the importance of Shahana cartoons as educational tools aligned with the National Curriculum. He also announced plans to develop a version of the cartoon for boys.

The Premiere of Shahana Cartoon Series III was then officially inaugurated by the Chief Guest, accompanied by a photo session. The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks from Professor Nehal Ahmed, Director General of DSHE, who expressed gratitude to UNFPA for their support in producing this timely and relevant cartoon series for Bangladesh.

After the speech, the Premiere of Shahana cartoon series III was inaugurated by the chief guest Mr. Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury (MP), Honorable Minister, Ministry of Education, and a photo session was conducted during the moment.

Conclusion

The Shahana Cartoon has been well-received by both school-going and out-of-school adolescents in UNFPA-supported interventions. Consequently, the DSHE, in collaboration with the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), has decided to integrate the “Shahana” cartoon as a teaching aid in relevant subjects across all secondary schools in Bangladesh. Additionally, DSHE has distributed 30,000 CDs and USBs containing the episodes to all 33,000 schools. The series aims to equip very young adolescents with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to understand their health, well-being, and dignity, develop respectful social and intimate relationships, recognize the impact of their choices, and protect their rights throughout their lives.