Meena Comic Books and Videos

Meena is a cartoon character from South Asia, a spirited, nine-year-old girl who braves the world – whether in her efforts to go to school or in fighting the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in her village. Meena is widely recognised and appreciated in most South Asian countries, and is a successful advocacy and teaching tool for girls’ and children’s rights. The Meena figure has achieved popularity as she tackles the key issues affecting children, and the threats to the rights of millions of girls in South Asia.

UNICEF developed the Meena Communication Initiative (MCI) and it was launched in September 1998 as a mass communication project aimed at changing perceptions and behaviour that hamper the survival, protection and development of girls in South Asia. The stories revolve around the adventures of Meena, her brother Raju, her pet parrot Mithu, and members of her family and village community, and cover issues such as education, health, gender equity, freedom from exploitation and abuse.

The Meena Communication Package consists of:

• Comic books

• Animated films

• Posters

• Discussion and teachers’ guides

• Radio series (produced in collaboration with BBC world service)

Source: UNICEF

Date of Publication: September 30, 2021