Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment (Shehri-CBE) organized the final presentation of the Voices of Democracy – A Civic Media Fellowship on 12 October 2026 at Sarwar Nasim Hall, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi. The event was held under Component 2 of the Youth Empowerment for Engaged Citizenship project and provided a platform for participating students to present the findings of their research into civic, environmental, and urban challenges.
The fellowship aimed to strengthen young people’s capacity to investigate public issues, engage with communities and stakeholders, and use media as a tool for civic participation. Throughout the programme, student teams researched local challenges, explored community-led solutions, and applied their learning in media literacy, civic journalism, and digital advocacy.
The event commenced with an opening address by Mrs. Amra Javed, Executive Member, Shehri-CBE. This was followed by an introduction to the project by Farhan Anwar, Project Manager, Shehri-CBE, and Hawwa Fazal, Project Consultant, Shehri-CBE. Dr. Saadia Mehmood, Chairperson, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, and Dr. Samina Qureshi, Professor, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, also addressed the gathering.
The student presentations covered several pressing civic issues. These included school-based learning approaches to promote sustainable waste management, the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of urban degradation associated with mismanaged infrastructure development, and advocacy for improved infrastructure through a case study of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on University Road, Karachi.
Other presentations explored community-driven collaboration for restoring and managing neighbourhood parks, neighbourhood-based circular economy practices for sustainable waste management, and fire safety vulnerabilities in urban markets, with Hyderi Market serving as a case study. Through their research, students examined local challenges and considered approaches to community engagement, public awareness, and civic advocacy.
A question-and-answer session followed the presentations, allowing participants to discuss the issues raised and exchange perspectives. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates, recognizing the participating students’ engagement in the fellowship.
The final presentation marked an important milestone in the students’ journey from learning about civic issues to investigating them through research and presenting their findings. It reflected the fellowship’s emphasis on equipping young people with the knowledge and practical skills to contribute to informed public dialogue, community engagement, and democratic participation.
