MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name

Youth Actions for Improving Human& Environmental Health

One-line solution summary.

The project is aimed to improve physical mental health of human and environmental health through youth led awareness campaigns that will reach 800 young people on waste management in Hyderabad.

Elevator pitch

What is your solution?

The project will engage young people to lead awareness campaigns and advocate waste management at community and local authority level in their respective areas to improve physical and mental health of the people and also to improve environmental health. Pakistan is the 6th largest populated country in the world having 64% of people of 30 years and 29% between 15 and 29 years but the interventions for their constrictive activities are lacking by government and NGO sides. Poor waste management has multiplied air pollution affecting human and environmental health. Therefore, youth led activism and advocacy to improve environmental health for mental health of young people. To engage youth 04 Days long TOT on Environmental Sustainability, Mental and Advocacy skills using social media -documentary skills for 30 male female young people from 6 under resource settings will be conducted. This training will result to design social action project by each group to implement around mental health, waste management. 6 social actions projects will be implemented by 6 youth groups. 40 youth assemblies /consultations will be conducted for 800 young people face to face (20 in each session) on waste management

What specific problem are you trying to solve?

Hyderabad is the second largest urban area of Sindh province with an estimated population of1.7 million. Increased rural to urban migration has rapidly increased urbanization and has shadowed the effective environmental management from government institution as well public in general. Various public health issues are witnessed due to improper waste management including various physical and mental health.The city has only 10% urban vegetation which is one of the factors for rise in temperature. During summer, temperature goes up to 48 Centigrade due to which many people under stress. Neither any curriculum in schools nor government responses covers the environmental degradation and its impact on mental health. Similarly, poor waste management is degrading environment increasing various public health issues such as various diseases, mental stress, conflict in community. Besides, physically activities remained closed due to Covid19 restriction which also degraded mental health status. Uncollected waste blocks drains, causes water logging and spills over on to roads, often resulting in increased traffic congestion. These problems are acute during the rainy season especially in poor neighbourhoods which are frequently located in relatively low lying areas and have narrow alleys through which municipal trucks cannot pass. This poor waste management effects badly on environmental and human mental heath . Youth can play very vital role in this regard to improve environment and human health. The Interventions he interventions for their constrictive activities are lacking by government and NGO sides. This in intervention will engage young people in constructive and innovative ways on waste management.

Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Results

• 800 youth from 6 locations of Hyderabad city are well aware on intersectional of environmental and mental health

• Youth engagement is increased by leading social actions projects thus appropriate waste management process initiated in 6 locations of Hyderabad

• Network Youth for environment and health is established with increased involvement of young people in environmental and health issues.

Long Term impact

•3000 Community members / young people practiced proper waste management applying their knowledge gained from awareness campaigns • Government stakeholders allocated budget for the waste management in the community • Environment condition of the locality is improved • Decreased the airborne and water borne diseases in the community • Improved the health condition of the community

What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?

SCF has conducted baseline survey through FGDs with young people and Community members and identified the poor waste management as an environmental issues in Hyderabad which also impacted badly the human health and mental health of young people.

Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Other: Addressing an unmet social, environmental, or economic need not covered in the four dimensions above

What is the unmet need that your solution tried to address? Why is it important?

Pakistan is the 6th largest populated country in the world having 64% of people of 30 years and 29% between 15 and 29 years. More than half of the population of the country is young people which is the active or productive age group. However they are not involved in any development processes and are neglected by the government in urban context . Poor waste management has multiplied air pollution affecting human and environmental health. Therefore, youth led activism and advocacy to improve environmental health for mental health of young people.

Young people belong to urban slums /under resource settings in urban areas of Hyderabad are not engaged in constructive activities to address the environmental management issues. Poor waste management has become very emerging issue and not being managed properly by the government. Community participation is missing. This also leaves worst impact on human health in general and mental health. The young people's mental health already not well due to various social and economic reasons and if the environment also looks worst reflects worst mental health of young people. The Human and environmental health need to be addressed simultaneously. This create a good space for young people to create awareness among young on waste management as well mental health through various advocacy tools including digital platforms . The project will leave positive results:

3000 Community members / young people practiced proper waste management applying their knowledge gained from awareness campaigns

• Environment and health conditions of the locality is improved

Our solution's stage of development:

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution—in other words, what have you accomplished to date?

I have mobilized 20 youth of the targeted areas and formed a Network Youth for Environmental Health -these 20 youth have replicated awareness among 500 people in their locality . The pilot will be tested in 6 under-resource locations of Qasimabad -urban area of Hyderabad city.

The targets of pilot :

• 800 youth from 6 locations of Hyderabad city are well aware on intersectional of environmental and mental health

• Youth engagement is increased by leading social actions projects thus appropriate waste management process initiated in 6 locations of Hyderabad

• Network Youth for environment and health is established with increased involvement of young people in environmental and health issues

Outputs

• 30 youth male female are trained on waste management and environment sustainability in Hyderabad

• 06 Social Actions are developed and implemented for appropriate waste management in 6 locations of Hyderabad

• 800 young people in 6 under-resource settings are aware on mental health and environment aspects

• Network Youth for environment and health is formed with 800 young people

• 2000 community people visited art gallery on site and virtual

• Digital platform of advocacy environment and health is initiated by youth network

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Hyderabad, Pakistan

Team Lead:

Ms. Ramsha Kalhoro