A Consultation Meeting, Advocacy, and SOP-roll-out to MSTF-CBSS members and Sector Heads by the RENEW Team

The RENEW team, led by the Executive Director, embarked on an Eastern Tour and arrived in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag to conduct a Consultation Meeting, Advocacy, and SOP-roll-out to MSTF-CBSS members and Sector Heads in the Dzongkhag on May 10th, 2024.

On May 11th, 2024, they conducted a day advocacy program for RENEW members, Gups, and  Secotr Heads in PemaGatshel Dzongkhag.  Thirty-two participants attended the morning session, including Gups, Mangmis, GAOs, youth volunteers, RBP representatives, Dungkhag CBSS focal, and CBSS members. In the evening session, Sector heads, CMO, and Dzongrab attended the advocacy program.

As the day coincided with the birth anniversary of Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, it started with offerings of butter lamps, longevity prayers, and a cake-cutting ceremony dedicated to Her Majesty's long life. 

After the opening ceremony, a team comprising the Executive Director, Dzongrab, the Land Record Officer, and the MSTF-CBSS member secretary visited the identified RENEW center land at Shalining in Khar Village, under Khar Gewog. Later in the afternoon, the team visited the old residence for Dasho Dzongdag to see the feasibility of establishing an interim RENEW shelter home for Pemagatshel Dzongkhag.

During the advocacy, the main agenda covered the importance and benefits of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as vital components of gender mainstreaming and combating Gender-based Violence (GBV), the high growth potential of community workers (MSTF-CBSS), emphasizing the value they bring to individuals and societies at large, and fostering community engagement and mobilization efforts to create supportive environments prioritizing CSE and a Gender Transformative Approach to end all forms of GBV through collaboration with local government, community front liners, and volunteers. 

In the evening session, the advocacy team presented the introduction of MSTF, the way forward of MSTF-CBSS, and the roll-out of operational guidelines to CBSS-DAISAN.

Further, the advocacy team presented the importance of a community-based support system SOP to ensure consistency, safety, efficiency, and accountability in delivering services to the community. Such a system fosters a sense of trust and collaboration within the community.

The advocacy program concluded with a strong emphasis on having a vibrant MSTF-CBSS team giving social services to communities in the Dzongkhag.