{"id":55138,"date":"2025-08-28T10:23:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T02:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/asia-pacific\/?p=55138"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:56:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:56:58","slug":"empowering-her-one-cycle-at-a-time-my-journeyas-a-young-woman-leading-change-in-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/asia-pacific\/general\/changetheface\/empowering-her-one-cycle-at-a-time-my-journeyas-a-young-woman-leading-change-in-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Her, One Cycle at a Time: My Journey as a Young Woman Leading Change in Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Muntaha Asim<\/strong>
Co-founder and Lead, Marketing and Growth at Aangan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For as long as I can remember, curiosity has been my constant companion. I spent countless hours lost in novels about distant civilizations, places where customs, values, and conversations were far more alien than the ones I saw around me. Whether I was in the refined drawing rooms of Emma by Jane Austen or exploring the deeply traditional landscapes of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, these stories swept me into entirely different worlds. Their vivid complexity challenged my understanding, prompting me to look at my own culture with sharper, often puzzled eyes. I started to notice the quiet boundaries of what we discussed, and the equally telling boundaries of what remained unsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up in a family of doctors meant being surrounded by people who understood the human body in depth. Yet, even in this world of science and knowledge, menstrual health was rarely mentioned. It wasn\u2019t shamed or forbidden; it simply didn\u2019t come up. That silence became impossible for me to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When girls experience their first period, they often couldn\u2019t fully comprehend what was happening to their body. The occasional fever before the cycle, the bloating, the nausea\u2014it all felt strange for someone who, until then, had felt like just a normal kid. Driven by curiosity, we would turn to the internet, only to misdiagnose themselves with whatever Google suggested. What we all truly needed was reliable education about our body, not pieced-together answers from scattered search results. This was especially true since it wasn\u2019t something we could openly discuss at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I grew older, I watched women around me silently endure menstrual cramps, mood swings, infertility struggles, and the emotional toll these brought. I saw them quietly adjust wedding dates, religious travel, and fasting in Ramadan based on their cycles. These observations led me to realise that not all change comes from confronting loud resistance. Sometimes, it begins by noticing what has quietly gone unquestioned for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Idea to Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I always wanted to work on something like Aangan, though I assumed it would happen after earning my data science degree. In February 2025, a friend suggested we pitch an idea at Parwaaz-e-Takhayul, a flagship ideathon for women organized by GDG FAST Islamabad. I teamed up with two friends and together we created a pitch deck for Aangan, treating it as just another competition entry. We entered the room determined to spark an important conversation\u2014and won first prize. More than the award, it was the unexpected warmth from both women and men in the audience that truly mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convincing people to talk about menstrual health in a mixed audience was no easy task. There were fears of threats, backlash, and concerns about challenging traditions that had stood for centuries. Many questioned the need for an app like this. To shift perspectives, I shared stories close to home: women dealing with PCOS, infertility, and the silent toll of hormonal health issues. I spoke as a student juggling deadlines, mood swings, and physical discomfort\u2014the everyday challenges that impact not just our health, but also our productivity, relationships, and self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To connect with athletes, I explained how tracking their cycles could help them train more effectively. Gradually, skepticism gave way to curiosity, and curiosity blossomed into support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading Through Resistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The struggle didn\u2019t stop with the initial success. We received DMs accusing us of spreading behayai (spreading immodesty) and damaging our families\u2019 reputations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was made clear that our mission is none other than supporting and educating women. It was about basic human wellbeing. We set out to build something culturally rooted, respectful, and safe\u2014a space where women could learn about and manage their health within the framework of their values. Again, it is a space for women, by women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Validation came from the women themselves. One woman cried when she heard about Aangan, sharing that she had suffered three miscarriages in five years due to societal pressure to bear children, compounded by untreated PCOS. She told me our app and community could be the outlet she needed, a safe space to plan her health while staying true to her cultural and religious values. Another night, a batchmate called unexpectedly to say that, in a sea of male-led startups on LinkedIn, seeing a woman-led initiative like Aangan felt like a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech-Driven, Trust-First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aangan is not just a menstrual tracker\u2014it\u2019s a culturally aware health companion. Our backend uses AI to forecast cycle irregularities based on user symptoms and history. We are also experimenting with ensemble machine learning models (LightGBM, XGBoost, Neural Networks) to personalize predictions, especially for women with PCOS or hormonal imbalances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To build digital trust, we prioritize:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • On-device data processing for privacy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Optional anonymous community posting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Transparent AI predictions with user control over their data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    By combining local knowledge with inclusive AI, we\u2019re ensuring that women aren\u2019t just users\u2014they are co-creators of the tools they use. This approach helps foster digital trust, especially in communities that have long been wary of invasive tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Representation, Bias, and the Gender Gap in AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Only 22% of the global AI workforce is made up of women. Aangan was built by three Pakistani women, and now includes 20+ team members, most of whom are women. We believe that when women shape the data, design, and dialogue behind digital tools, the technology naturally becomes more inclusive. Our mission is to ensure that the AI powering women\u2019s health in South Asia reflects their realities, not just abstract datasets from another continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We train our models on diverse, culturally relevant data and actively audit for gender bias in model outputs. This isn\u2019t just ethical\u2014it\u2019s necessary. In the context of healthcare, especially, a one-size-fits-all approach is not just ineffective\u2014it\u2019s dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scaling Forward with Ethical AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Looking ahead, we plan to integrate a symptom-to-remedy AI assistant rooted in local context\u2014merging traditional wisdom with scientific evidence. We also intend to release explainable AI features so users understand how predictions are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our ultimate vision is to create an ethical, decentralized platform where women own their health data and have full agency over their digital health identities. We want to ensure that every recommendation is not only medically sound but also culturally appropriate and emotionally empathetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What started with three co-founders has grown into a team of 20 in just six months. We received over 1,600 internship applications in under 24 hours, many from people willing to work for free just to be part of the mission. The National Incubation Center (NICAT) welcomed us in April, and we joined the MMBL WIN Cohort 2 in May. Our first community mixer was a success, and our community continues to grow, with over 600 members on LinkedIn and more than 200 across WhatsApp and Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Aangan isn\u2019t just an app\u2014it\u2019s a lifeline for women, especially in rural and underserved communities across Pakistan. The platform offers accessible menstrual health education tailored to the local context, featuring easy-to-understand guides in local languages, myth-busting content, and practical advice that respects cultural sensitivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of our standout features is the inclusion of desi totkay\u2014locally sourced remedies and tips that blend traditional wisdom with medical guidance. Aangan\u2019s community forums encourage open conversation, allowing women to share experiences, ask questions anonymously, and receive support without fear of judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As we move deeper into the digital era, the use of AI presents incredible opportunities to make women\u2019s health support smarter and more accessible. By using AI-driven insights, Aangan can help women track their cycles more accurately, offer personalized health tips, and provide timely reminders\u2014all tailored to local needs and sensitivities. With the right technology, we can bridge information gaps, empower women to make informed decisions, and ensure that no one is left behind, whether they\u2019re in a bustling city or a remote village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Gets Me Out of Bed Every Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If I had to sum up my \u201cwhy\u201d in one sentence, it would be this: To empower her, one cycle at a time, so she can be the best version of herself, her family, and a symbol of strength in society. I believe in the words of Pakistan\u2019s founder: \u201cNo nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Looking ahead, I envision Aangan as a global community for women, by women\u2014fostering education, support, and wellbeing while respecting cultural values. I want every woman in Pakistan and around the world to know her body, feel in control of her health, and be supported by a sisterhood that lifts her up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some said I was too young. Others thought the topic was too sensitive. What I\u2019ve learned is that change doesn\u2019t wait for the \u201cright\u201d time or the \u201cright\u201d person. It starts when someone decides that the cost of staying quiet is too high. Often, it just takes one voice to begin the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    by Muntaha AsimCo-founder and Lead, Marketing and Growth at Aangan For as long as I can remember, curiosity has been my constant companion. I spent countless hours lost in novels about distant civilizations, places where customs, values, and conversations were far more alien than the ones I saw around me. 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