Meena: The Girl Child - South Asia

Film/Video Objective:

To promote the status of the girl child in South Asia.

Description:

Meena is the enchanting heroine of an animated film series produced by UNICEF in South Asia. The films are part of a package of communication materials promoting the status of the girl child in this region. The stories about Meena are full of adventure and comedy, but at their heart lie the real-life problems faced by female children. They show how girls and their families can transform their lives, developing problem solving and communication skills. As Meena becomes more widely known and loved, she becomes a symbol for the girl child in South Asia. She represents a role model for female children and a powerful advocate for their cause.

Hanna-Barbera productions, the world-famous creators of cartoon characters like Tom and Jerry and the Flintstones, are providing technical support to the project.

The film series will initially consist of 13 episodes of 12 minutes each. Two episodes are completed and each has been shown at least twice on the national television stations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The films are fully animated, with music, sound effects and a dialogue track in English, Bangla, Hindi, Nepali and Urdu. In addition, educational materials and a range of promotional products are being developed to popularize the image of Meena.

The project is a joint initiative between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, countries where the situation of the girl child is most acute. A team of communication and media specialists, artists and animators from these countries have worked together to evolve the regional design. The film series will be distributed through: national television networks, cinema chains, mobile film units, commercial video networks, NGO networks, and formal and non-formal education channels.

Location:

Bangladesh/South Asia Region

Dates:

1992-present

Project Cost:

Approximately $2 million (with an additional $45 million currently being requested for project-related activities over the next 5 years)

Agencies Involved:

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Hanna-Barbera Productions

Media Used:

• 13 12-minute episodes of Meena, available in U-matic, VHS, 35mm and 16mm formats
• Educational materials, such as comic books, posters, facilitator's guidelines for groups and child-to-child activities, and a radio series co-produced by the BBC World Service
• Commercial products, including song cassettes, cups and plates, T-shirts, stickers, stationery sets, Meena dolls and games