The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the meeting room. Nervous energy crackled in the air as 60 elected representatives from Khyber and Peshawar districts shuffled into their seats. Haris Shinwari, a passionate alumnus of the English Works program, stood at the front, a determined glint in his eyes. It was not just any training session – it was the culmination of Haris’s Alumni Small Grant project, “Localizing the Democracy,” aimed at empowering local leaders at the very heart of Pakistani society.

Haris, with the backing of PUAN’s ASG program, had transformed the conference room into a vibrant hub of learning. Armed with knowledge, his training participants and newly elected representatives were no longer strangers to the intricacies of the Local Government Act or the rules of conducting council sessions.

The story doesn’t end there. Haris, through his ASG project, also recreated a mock assembly session, bringing the theory to life. Participants learned about calling a council session, proposing resolutions, asking questions, crafting budgets – the nitty-gritty of local governance. This wasn’t just passive learning; it was about equipping them with the tools to navigate the system with confidence.

As the mock session wrapped up, a sense of purpose solidified on the participants’ faces. They weren’t just representatives anymore – they were empowered individuals, ready to serve their communities with newfound knowledge and a commitment to good governance.

Haris’s story is a testament to the impact PUAN’s ASG program can have. It’s not just about grants; it’s about inspiring alumni like him to become agents of change, one local leader at a time. The fight for a stronger democracy starts from the ground up, and with projects like “Localizing the Democracy,” the seeds of a more informed and engaged citizenry are being sown.

Stay tuned for future updates, where we’ll share the video and pictures from the training session, offering you a front-row seat to this inspiring event.