# JAAGO Foundation — Full Content
> JAAGO Foundation is a Bangladesh-based nonprofit operating since 2007 across Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We work in education for marginalized children, youth skill development, women's empowerment, climate resilience, and governance.
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## Projects
### Shomotay Tarunno
URL: http://jaagofoundation.org.uk/projects/shomotay-tarunno
Categories: Youth, Women
Status: Active
Objectives
Young people are equipped to combat gender stereotypes and increase positive social gender norms in society through enhanced active, effective, and meaningful engagement in decision-making and activism.
Media organizations and outlets and influencers are more proactive and responsive to positive gender representation and produce gender sensitive content.
Improved legal frameworks and curricula have become in place and strengthened commitment and accountability of duty bearers, media and education institutes to address harmful gender stereotypes.
Project Summary
Shomotay Tarunno aims to challenge and dismantle harmful gender stereotypes in Bangladesh by empowering youth, specially girls and young women (GYW) to realize their full potential. The project will amplify the rights, representation, and resources of young people, promoting young women and combating discriminatory norms against women through media and community engagement. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts with public and private institutes, the project will work with youth, media, educational institutions, and government entities to create an enabling environment for girls and young women (GYW).
The project focuses on four main areas:
Rights: Young people of all backgrounds will work together to analyze policies and influence decision-makers, educational institutes, media, and the community to fight gender stereotypes. Additionally, media professionals will receive targeted sensitization to combat gender stereotypes effectively.
Representation: Empowering youth through inclusive capacity-building discussions by YLOs, skills development, and resources for collective action and activism to combat gender stereotypes.
Resources: Providing necessary resources to youth-led organizations and groups to support their actions in combating gender stereotyping.
Reality Check: Ensuring project activities are appropriate to the local context through feedback from youth and community members.
Ensuring project activities are appropriate to the local context through feedback from youth and community members. By addressing harmful gender norms, the project aims to respond to the needs and interests of youth from all walks of life and foster an enabling environment for women and girls' rights and fairness in society.
Objective
To enhance disaster resilience and climate change adaptation in coastal communities of Bangladesh by strengthening local leadership, school-based preparedness, and sustainable livelihoods, ensuring that vulnerable populations are equipped to respond to and recover from climate-induced disasters.
Project Summary
The SHIELD project, implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust in the Khulna and Bagerhat districts, is a comprehensive initiative designed to address the increasing climate vulnerabilities of coastal Bangladesh. As a region frequently impacted by cyclones, tidal surges, and salinity intrusion, there is a critical need for integrated disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies. At the heart of this project is the belief that building community resilience requires a multi-layered approach that empowers children, school authorities, and local government representatives to lead emergency response and preparedness efforts.
The project will target over 1,910 direct participants and reach approximately 20,600 indirect beneficiaries through a series of structured interventions. A significant component of the program focuses on school-based DRR, engaging 1,200 children and 180 school authorities to create safer learning environments and foster a culture of preparedness from a young age. These groups will be trained to identify risks and implement safety protocols, ensuring that schools serve as resilient hubs during emergencies. Additionally, the project will strengthen local governance by training 40 local government representatives to integrate climate-smart planning into their administrative frameworks.
One of the central components of this initiative is the mobilization of Community-Based DRR Committees (CBDRRC) and Community-Based Emergency Response Teams (CBERT). By training 80 dedicated emergency responders and 60 committee members, the project establishes a grassroots frontline capable of rapid mobilization during disasters. Furthermore, SHIELD promotes economic resilience by supporting 350 women and youth in climate-smart livelihoods. These participants will receive training in adaptive agricultural practices and alternative income-generating activities to mitigate the economic impact of climate change. By diversifying livelihoods, the project helps families build the financial buffer necessary to recover quickly from environmental shocks.
The overarching goal of the SHIELD project is to bridge the gap between national climate policies and grassroots implementation in the coastal belt. By fostering local leadership and ensuring that marginalized voices—particularly women and youth—are at the forefront of disaster management, the project ensures that community response is both inclusive and sustainable. Furthermore, this project will help build an environment where local institutions not only manage crises but also influence long-term climate adaptation strategies. Ultimately, the SHIELD project will build a stronger, more resilient future for the communities of Khulna and Bagerhat, where local leaders and citizens are active contributors to the nation’s climate security.
The English Access Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust, is designed to equip students with essential English language skills to enhance their academic and career prospects. The program focuses on expanding educational opportunities by improving English proficiency, leadership skills, and global awareness, ensuring that students are prepared for future challenges and opportunities.
The initiative is implemented in Mymensingh and Rangpur, two regions in Bangladesh where educational development is of priority. In Mymensingh, the program provides students with language training and academic resources to help them overcome challenges. Meanwhile, in Rangpur, the program focuses on enhancing English instruction and providing modern learning methods that prepare students for competitive academic and professional environments.
Through a structured and skill-based curriculum, the program strengthens critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills while exposing students to American culture, global perspectives, and democratic values. By developing proficiency in English, participants gain the tools necessary for higher education, professional development, and international engagement.
Objective 1: Enhancing English Proficiency
The program focuses on improving students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities through a project-based and interactive learning approach. By offering a structured, student-centred curriculum, it ensures that participants are well-prepared for future academic and career opportunities. Students develop fluency, confidence, and communication skills, equipping them for success in an increasingly competitive world.
Objective 2: Strengthening Leadership and Personal Development
The Access Program encourages individual achievement and leadership by equipping students with problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. The program fosters self-reliance and ambition, preparing students to become productive members of society who contribute positively to their academic, professional, and national development.
The English Access Scholarship Program is an investment in the future—providing students with skills, knowledge, and leadership training that empower them to succeed in education, careers, and beyond. Through this initiative, participants develop a strong work ethic, a commitment to lifelong learning, and the confidence to compete in a global environment.
The JAAGO Women Scholarship Program is a flagship initiative implemented by JAAGO Foundation in partnership with U-GO, aimed at empowering talented female students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds in Bangladesh. The program focuses on enabling access to higher education while equipping scholars with the skills, confidence, and professional exposure needed to transition into meaningful careers.
The program was launched in November 2022 with Cohort 01 consisting of 100 scholars. Since its inception, the program has demonstrated steady growth and increasing impact:
Cohort 01 (2022): 100 scholars
Cohort 02 (2023): 176 scholars
Cohort 03 (2024): 277 scholars
Cohort 04 (2026): 375 scholars
This progressive expansion reflects both the growing demand for financial and developmental support among female university students and the program's proven effectiveness. To date, the program has supported a total of 928 scholars across all cohorts.
Target Beneficiaries
The program selects female students enrolled in reputed public universities across Bangladesh who:
Demonstrate strong academic potential
Face significant financial hardship
Show commitment to personal and professional growth
Selection Process
The selection process is designed to be rigorous and merit-based to identify the most deserving candidates. It begins with a detailed application form, followed by a careful review process involving an advisory committee and the use of AI tools to support the evaluation and selection of the best candidates. Students with exceptional academic results are given the opportunity to avail the scholarship under this program.
Scholarship Continuation Criteria
To continue receiving support under the scholarship program, scholars must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 throughout their academic journey.
Program Support Components
1. Monthly Financial Support
Each scholar receives a monthly stipend of BDT 4,000 to support educational and living expenses, helping reduce financial barriers and prevent dropouts for up to 48 months until graduation.
2. Skill Development Training
The program offers a structured skill development curriculum designed to prepare scholars for multisectoral careers and enhance their professional readiness. Through a comprehensive series of training sessions, scholars develop leadership capacity, communication and presentation skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and practical competencies in areas such as project management, financial literacy, research, digital proficiency, and the effective use of emerging technologies, including AI. The curriculum also supports career planning, entrepreneurship, higher education pathways, and a smooth transition into professional environments.
3. Mentorship Support
Scholars are connected with mentors from reputed organisations and institutions, offering guidance, career insights, and professional networking opportunities.
Expected Outcomes
Increased retention and completion of higher education among female students
Enhanced employability of women through practical skills and mentorship
Development of confident, skilled young women ready to contribute to Bangladesh's workforce and society
The JAAGO Women Scholarship Program is not only addressing immediate financial constraints but also investing in long-term capacity building of young women. By combining financial aid with skills development and mentorship, the program is creating a scalable model for empowering the next generation of female leaders in Bangladesh.
Project Overview
In the wake of Bangladesh's historic youth-led socio-political transition of 2024, a wave of democratic optimism swept the nation, with over 76% of the youth expressing a fierce desire to shape the future through their votes. Yet, beneath this optimism lies an urgent structural crisis: a widening gender gap in public governance and political leadership.
While women constitute nearly half of the national electorate (49.25%), their substantive representation remains severely marginalized. Women make up a mere 4.09% of parliamentary candidates, and hold just 2.33% of directly elected seats. Furthermore, the removal of the historic 10% gender quota safety net in July 2024, paired with systemic masculine political cultures and targeted online and offline gender-based violence (GBV), has led to a worrying 14% complete civic retraction of existing female leaders.
To shift this reality, "Her Vote, Her Seat" emerges as a transformative initiative. Supported by the Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation in Bangladesh (DRIP) project and BALLOT, and jointly implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust and WADA, this project is a strategic movement. It operates across 8 highly diverse, vulnerable districts (Jamalpur, Patuakhali, Khulna, Bogura, Kurigram, Satkhira, Mymensingh, and Cox's Bazar) where zero directly elected women MPs emerged in the last parliament. We work to break down the social, institutional, and cultural walls that dictate where a woman belongs, turning traditional male gatekeepers into active enablers of change.
Project Objective
The overarching objective of "Her Vote, Her Seat" is to leverage Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), community-led action, and strategic public relations to foster an inclusive democratic ecosystem in Bangladesh.
Specifically, the project aims to:
Dismantle Domestic Gatekeeping: Shift the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Norms (KAPN) of male family decision-makers (fathers, husbands, brothers) from restricting women's public visibility to actively supporting their political aspirations.
Transform Community Perceptions: Sensitize local influencers, youth networks, and faith leaders to publicly champion inclusive governance and celebrate female political actors as essential role models.
Drive Institutional Reform: Advocate within political parties, media houses, and local governance bodies to implement structured mentorship pipelines, equitable campaign financing, and strict internal anti-harassment mechanisms.
Empower Grassroots Aspirants: Cultivate the leadership capacities, digital resilience, and civic literacy of potential grassroots female leaders, enabling them to move decisively from the household to the decision-making table.
Core Activity & Expected Impact
Using the multi-layered Socio-Ecological Model (SEM), the project simultaneously drives grassroots mobilization and national policy advocacy through interconnected activities:
1. Feminist Storytelling & Localized Media
The Activity: Production and distribution of relatable, high-impact narrative tools—such as the journey of Mitu, a young woman who navigates and overcomes family restrictions to become a local leader with her family's backing. These tools are adapted into interactive community flipbooks, courtyard theaters, and widespread digital social media content.
Expected Impact: Normalization of female leadership within traditional households and the inspiration of thousands of potential female candidates across rural Bangladesh to claim their space in civic life.
2. Community Engagement & Male Allyship Forums
The Activity: Hosting localized dialogue forums and civic awareness workshops directly engaging husbands, fathers, male youth voters, and influential faith leaders across the 45 targeted parliamentary constituencies.
Expected Impact: The shifting of deep-seated conservative social norms. Traditional gatekeepers transition into active allies who ensure women can attend civic consultations, join political platforms, and vote completely independently without fear of social backlash.
3. Institutional Advocacy & Safety Frameworks
The Activity: Conducting multi-stakeholder national roundtables, capacity-building workshops, and media advocacy with political party committees, local government institutions, and media executives.
Expected Impact: Adoption of gender-responsive internal codes of conduct, institutional safe-participation spaces, and a reduction in character assassination and gender-based violence (GBV) against women in political spheres.
A true democracy cannot function on partial representation; it requires every voice to be heard and every vote to carry the weight of potential leadership. "Her Vote, Her Seat" is not just about placing a ballot in a box—it is about securing a permanent, rightful seat at the decision-making table for the women of Bangladesh.
By restructuring social expectations from the kitchen to the parliament, this project ensures that supporting a woman's right to lead is recognized as responsible, progressive, and absolutely vital for national stability. When we secure her vote and ensure her seat, we strengthen the democratic fabric of the entire nation.
Objective
To empower and equip adolescent girls and young women in remote areas with essential technical, vocational, and personal development skills, fostering a safe and supportive environment that enhances their future employability and independence.
Project Summary
The Skills on Wheels Initiative, implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust (JFT) with support from the Girls' Education and Skills Partnership (GESP)—managed by Generation Unlimited (GenU) UNICEF and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)—is a mobile outreach program designed to deliver inclusive, employment-focused training to marginalized populations. The project specifically addresses the critical challenges faced by adolescent girls and young women aged 13 to 24 in the geographically remote and underserved districts of Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban. At the heart of this initiative is the belief that mobile accessibility is the key to overcoming entrenched barriers such as challenging terrain, socio-economic constraints, and restrictive cultural norms that frequently limit women's mobility and participation in traditional training centers.
The project will deploy a fully equipped Mobile Training Unit (MTU) that travels across eight upazilas—including Ramu, Chakaria, and Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar, and Lama, Alikadam, and Nikhongchhari in Bandarban—over an 18-month period. Through a rotational model, the MTU will host intensive vocational training sessions for batches of 20 participants at a time, providing approximately 30 instructional hours per batch. These participants, selected from vulnerable groups including those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), will receive specialized technical modules such as advanced agriculture, digital marketing, and craftsmanship, alongside foundational "Employment Readiness" and "Passport 2 Earning (P2E)" digital literacy programs.
A central component of this initiative is the emphasis on community engagement and safety. The program will reach approximately 24,000 community members through behavior change campaigns designed to address gender stereotypes and create a supportive ecosystem for women's professional participation. To ensure the long-term impact of the training, the project also facilitates direct linkages with potential employers, career counseling, and job placement support within 15 days of course completion. By providing on-site training within a secure environment, the initiative simultaneously mitigates risks of child marriage and exploitation while contributing to the economic resilience of families.
The overarching goal of the Skills on Wheels Initiative is to bridge the skills divide between urban and rural areas for young women in southeastern Bangladesh. By fostering technical competencies and ensuring that local communities are actively involved in the development process, the project ensures that the voices and potential of marginalized youth are recognized and represented. Ultimately, this project contributes to a more inclusive workforce and a sustainable future where adolescent girls and young women are empowered as active contributors to their communities and the nation’s economic progress.
Objectives
Equip marginalized adolescent girls and young women (aged 14-25) with employable and transferable skills through technical, vocational, and life skills training.
Establish safe learning environments in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts to foster education, empowerment, and protection against gender-based violence, child marriage, and exploitation.
Enhance economic opportunities and promote gender equity by supporting nearly 11,000 girls and young women in developing vocational and life skills.
Project Summary
In Bangladesh, adolescent girls, especially in remote communities of Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban, face significant barriers to education and employment, exacerbated by poverty, early marriage, and gender-based violence. In partnership with UNICEF, The Shopner Sharothi project addresses these challenges by empowering nearly 11,000 girls and young women with vocational and life skills, preparing them for future employment and leadership roles. These skills are delivered through Girls-Only Learning Centers, offering training in areas such as IT, entrepreneurship, and retail services, while sports-based programs like the Seashore Girls Surfer Hub further enhance leadership and soft skills.
The project directly benefits girls and young women who are particularly marginalized and underserved (aged 14-25) while indirectly impacting families and communities through awareness campaigns on gender-based violence and harmful social practices. By creating safe and inclusive learning environments, Shopner Sharothi not only improves employability but also fosters a supportive community ecosystem with better and inclusive economic opportunities. Collaboration with local authorities, private sector partners, development partners and educational institutions ensures that these young women continue to access opportunities for growth even after the project’s completion. Additionally, the project places a strong emphasis on sustainability by leveraging community ownership and engaging local stakeholders. The use of the Passport to Earning (P2E) platform provides ongoing access to learning and employment pathways to reach 5,500 girls from secondary, higher secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Through these integrated efforts, Shopner Sharothi aims to create lasting change in the lives of marginalized girls and young women in Bangladesh, promoting both economic empowerment and gender equity.
Objectives
Develop enhanced digital capacities and confidence, allowing AGYW to engage meaningfully with online platforms, access services, and leverage digital tools for education, employment, and social empowerment.
Project Summary
In Bangladesh, many adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) face significant barriers to accessing digital technologies due to restrictive social norms. These norms, often upheld by their parents, siblings, and husbands, dictate what is considered acceptable behaviour for girls, including restrictions on their use of mobile phones and the internet. As a result, AGYW are less likely to own smartphones or use the internet compared to boys, limiting their opportunities for education, health information, and income-generating activities. Research has shown that these gender-based digital restrictions are deeply rooted in cultural expectations, and while mobile technology has the potential to improve the lives of AGYW greatly, these social norms prevent them from fully engaging with digital tools. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensuring that AGYW can access the same opportunities as their male peers, enabling them to thrive in today’s increasingly digital world.
To tackle these challenges, the JAAGO Foundation is launching an intervention focused on shifting these digital norms and empowering AGYW to make use of digital technologies safely and effectively. The project will begin with the development of a comprehensive training module, created in partnership with BBC Media Action. This module will be designed for three groups—AGYW, their digital gatekeepers (such as parents, older siblings, and husbands), and adolescent boys and young men. It will cover topics like digital literacy, safe online practices, and gender-sensitive communication, with a focus on challenging the restrictive digital norms that AGYW face. The materials will be adaptable to both urban and semi-urban contexts, ensuring that the content is relevant and practical for all participants.
In addition to the module development, the project will recruit and train 40 Master Trainers from Dhaka and Khulna. These trainers will undergo intensive training to equip them with the skills to effectively facilitate the modules. The next step will be to recruit 2,000 participants, including 800 AGYW, 800 digital gatekeepers, and 400 adolescent boys and young men, ensuring a diverse and representative group from the target communities. These participants will engage in a series of three half-day training sessions, where they will learn how to use digital tools safely and support each other in overcoming the barriers imposed by restrictive norms. The training will include role-playing, group discussions, and practical demonstrations to enhance understanding and participation. By the end of the project, the goal is to have shifted both personal and community-level attitudes towards digital technology, empowering AGYW to take full advantage of digital opportunities without the limitations of outdated social expectations.
Objectives
To enhance youth leadership and civic engagement, and equip marginalised youth, women, and PwDs with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in democratic processes, fostering accountability and good governance across Bangladesh.
Project Summary
The AHEAD Bangladesh Project, funded by the European Union through the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), is a nationwide initiative designed to empower youth and women by enhancing civic education, leadership skills, and active participation in the electoral process nationwide. The project aims to address the low levels of voter participation among women and youth—particularly in rural areas—and to equip them with the knowledge and confidence needed to actively participate in elections. At the heart of this project is the belief that every vote counts and that empowering women to exercise their right to vote is essential for building an inclusive, accountable, and participatory democracy in Bangladesh.
The project will train 24 youth leaders as master trainers in a national training program, 4 for each division, to serve as trainers and mentors, spreading knowledge and guiding their peers through the voter education process. The master trainers will then conduct divisional trainings, where 2 youth from each of the 300 constituencies of Bangladesh will participate. These 600 youth participants, selected from across Bangladesh, will take part in training sessions and conduct community outreach programs, where they will engage directly with local communities. They will be trained to facilitate civic education sessions in their constituencies, specifically targeting first-time voters and women, who have historically been underrepresented in the electoral process. As part of this training, youth will also lead 300 community action projects, which will be designed to directly engage local citizens in conversations about the importance of voter participation and choosing candidates that represent their interests.
One of the central components of this initiative is “Ekannor JAAGORON”, a digital awareness campaign which is focused on women’s empowerment, aiming to raise awareness about women’s voting rights and the critical role women can play in the electoral process. Although women represent 51% of the population, their rights and demands are often overlooked in national policies. Through social media platforms, online tools, and community-driven digital campaigns, the project seeks to create a unified awareness among women about the importance of their vote and how they can impact the future of the country by selecting the right candidates. These campaigns are designed to highlight how choosing leaders who prioritise women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusive policies can improve healthcare, education, workplace safety, and legal protections for women across Bangladesh. By educating women on these issues, the campaign will inspire active participation in the electoral process, making women more aware of the power they hold in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
The overarching goal of the AHEAD Bangladesh Project is to bridge the gap in civic knowledge among young women and youth across Bangladesh. By fostering democratic values, increasing electoral awareness, and ensuring that women know their rights and their power within the electoral system, the project will ensure that women’s voices are heard and represented in the political process. Furthermore, this project will help build an environment where youth and women not only vote, but also influence the creation of policies and laws that affect their lives and communities.
The project will focus on community outreach, ensuring that electoral engagement goes beyond traditional voter education and instead promotes a holistic approach to civic participation. The digital campaign, alongside community-based training programs, will work together to create a movement for empowered women voters, ensuring their active role in selecting leaders who will push for gender-sensitive policies. Ultimately, the project will build a stronger, more inclusive democracy in Bangladesh, where youth and women are not only voters but active contributors to the nation’s future.
Rationale
JAAGO Foundation is providing free-of-cost quality education to 5000 children (age group 4 to 16) through 11 schools in 10 districts. Due to the educational quality gap in rural, urban, and hard to reach areas, JAAGO came up with the idea of starting online classes in a blended approach with quality teachers based in the capital city Dhaka to provide quality education to the underprivileged and hard to reach children through innovative use of ICT by overcoming geographical distance. Here, a rural classroom is connected to a qualified teacher in Dhaka via video conferencing technology. By using the vast resources and advantages of technologies, a live interactive classroom session brings the opportunity for children to embrace the world sitting in their classrooms. JAAGO supports the creativity of underprivileged children and values their input in society by providing education in the English version under NCTB (National Curriculum & Textbook Board).
Objective
The goal of this project is to provide ICT-based quality education under the national curriculum of Bangladesh to the underprivileged and hard-to-reach children of Bangladesh to break the cycle of poverty through quality education.
The greater objective remained to provide ICT-based quality formal education to underprivileged children of Bangladesh.
Activity Details
Conduct live digital classes based on NCTB English version Curriculum to the students of pre-primary to class 6 aged between 5+ to 13 years old.
Conduct a healthy living project to ensure their nutrition.
Provide medical support to the students through arranging monthly medical camp.
Provide counseling support to the students and parents to ensure their mental health.
Provide capacity-building training for the teachers.
Objective
To create an experiential, technology-enabled, and personalised fellowship that cultivates holistic development spanning personal growth, professional development, and cross-sector capabilities—enabling youth to unlock their full potential and become confident agents of change.
Project Summary
The NexGen Graduate Fellowship Programme, implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust and YouthNet Global under the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF), is a transformative initiative designed to empower Bangladeshi youth by providing integrated life skills, professional competencies, and real-world exposure. The project aims to address the critical gaps in holistic development where current programs often focus narrowly on formal education rather than the adaptability and resilience needed for success in evolving contexts. At the heart of this project is the belief that shifting from traditional civic activism to an experiential model is essential for fostering a generation of leaders capable of navigating the interconnected realities of governance, the private sector, and civil society.
The project will facilitate a six-month modular fellowship journey, offering a technology-enabled platform that integrates immersive placements within a Quad-Helix framework. Fellows will participate in intensive capacity-building sessions during the first three months, focusing on emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and digital literacy. These participants, selected from diverse backgrounds including early-career professionals and recent graduates, will then transition into three-month sectoral practicums within host institutions. They will be trained to apply their learning to practical, real-world challenges, specifically targeting the improvement of community-based outcomes and institutional responsiveness. As part of this journey, fellows will engage in cross-sectoral collaboration to bridge the gap between young people and the institutional environments of government and academia.
One of the central components of this initiative is the creation of a sustainable network of alumni changemakers and the establishment of cross-sector referral linkages. Through residential training and mentorship, the project seeks to create a unified movement of resilient, future-ready leaders who can influence national development priorities. These interventions are designed to highlight how cross-sectoral synergy can drive innovative solutions for societal progress across Bangladesh. By equipping youth with these advanced capabilities, the program will inspire active participation in civic life, making fellows more aware of the impact they can hold in shaping a more inclusive and responsive nation.
The overarching goal of the NexGen Graduate Fellowship Programme is to bridge the gap in professional and personal development among young people across Bangladesh. By fostering youth agency and ensuring that young leaders are equipped with the skills to collaborate across different sectors, the project will ensure that youth voices are represented in decision-making processes. Furthermore, this project will help build an environment where youth not only participate in development but also drive the creation of inclusive policies that affect their communities. The project will focus on experiential learning, ensuring that youth leadership goes beyond theoretical knowledge and instead promotes a holistic approach to professional and civic excellence. Ultimately, the project will build a stronger, more resilient future for Bangladesh, where young people are active contributors to the nation's social, economic, and environmental progress.
Nagorikota: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF)" is a development program funded by Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh, and the European Union in Bangladesh, and managed by GFA Consulting Group. Under this fund, the NexGen Graduate Fellowship Programme is being implemented as a joint initiative of JAAGO Foundation Trust and YouthNet Global, with the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka as the Academic Partner.
For more details visit the Nagorikata website: https://www.nagorikata-cef.org/en
Objective
To enhance youth leadership and civic engagement across Bangladesh by equipping youth leaders with the cognitive, inclusive leadership, and human-centered design skills necessary to drive decentralized development and community action.
Project Summary
The Youth Leadership Development Program, supported through the FYL (Ful for Youth Leadership) Grants Program, is a nationwide initiative designed to empower youth by providing flexible and boundless support to grassroots organizations. The project aims to address the traditional power dynamics that often limit small or rural youth groups and to equip them with the knowledge and resources needed to lead local development. At the heart of this project is the belief that every youth leader’s potential matters and that shifting power to the local level is essential for building an inclusive and self-reliant democracy in Bangladesh.
The project will engage over 2,100 youth leaders across all 8 divisions of Bangladesh, including 497 divisional and district leaders and 1,600 youth at the upazila level. These participants, selected from the Volunteers for Bangladesh (VBD) network and other local groups, will take part in 14 daylong residential training sessions and conduct community outreach programs. They will be trained to lead Community Action Projects in their constituencies, specifically targeting local challenges through the use of human-centered design and inclusive leadership strategies. As part of this training, youth will also participate in a comprehensive needs assessment designed to identify and bridge specific skill gaps in their respective regions.
One of the central components of this initiative is the decentralization of leadership through the training of specialized Youth Coordinators. Through these coordinators, the project seeks to create a unified network of empowered youth who can impact the future of the country by implementing locally relevant solutions. These training sessions are designed to highlight how inclusive leadership and cognitive development can improve civic participation and community resilience across Bangladesh. By educating youth on these leadership principles, the program will inspire active community service, making young people more aware of the power they hold in shaping the local policies that affect their lives.
The overarching goal of the Youth Leadership Development Program is to bridge the gap in leadership opportunities for youth in marginalized and rural areas. By fostering democratic values and ensuring that youth have the skills to manage their own projects, the project will ensure that grassroots voices are heard and represented in the national development agenda. Furthermore, this project will help build an environment where youth not only serve as volunteers but also influence the social and economic progress of their communities. The project will focus on community-led action, ensuring that leadership development goes beyond basic training and instead promotes a holistic approach to civic responsibility. Ultimately, the project will build a stronger, more inclusive society in Bangladesh, where youth are active contributors to the nation’s future.
Objectives
Strengthen the enabling environment for adolescent girls in Cox’s Bazar through life skills and sports training, enhancing their protection, well-being, and empowerment.
Provide adolescent girls with transferable skills, empowering them with opportunities for leadership, employment, and resilience against climate change.
Project Summary
The Seashore Girls Empowerment project, focuses on empowering adolescent girls in Cox’s Bazar through sports and life skills development. By equipping girls with vital skills such as swimming, surfing, and lifeguard training, the project helps mitigate the risks posed by gender-based violence and environmental hazards, such as drowning. In collaboration with local schools and community leaders, the project establishes a safe learning environment where girls can build confidence, leadership, and essential survival skills.
The project reaches around 2,400 adolescents and young people by raising awareness of available youth-friendly services, particularly focused on the prevention of gender-based violence. The project also extends its reach to the wider community through campaigns addressing gender-based violence and providing information on available services, referral, and reporting mechanisms, indirectly benefiting 100,000 people. These targeted campaigns ensure that community members are informed and equipped to support adolescents in creating safer, more supportive environments.
To ensure long-term impact, the project engages 150 service providers, including community leaders and local businesses, who are trained to support girls in creating inclusive and gender-sensitive environments. This holistic approach strengthens the community’s ability to offer safe and supportive spaces for girls to thrive.
The project emphasizes sustainability by involving local stakeholders, including teachers and private sector partners, in regular workshops and community dialogues. These sessions address gender norms and climate change awareness, ensuring that the knowledge and skills imparted to the girls will have a lasting impact on the broader community.
Objective
The goal of this project is to provide innovative and digital interventions to help students catch up with their learning gaps and complete primary education, with a focus on gender equity and the inclusion of children with disabilities.
Project Summary
This project provides innovative and digital interventions to help students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out due to the pandemic catch up with their learning gaps and complete their primary education.
Through this project, JAAGO Foundation provides innovative and digital interventions, such as the TaRL approach and blended teaching-learning approach, to help students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out due to the pandemic catch up with their learning gaps. The goal is to address all children, especially girls and children with disabilities. A competency framework for each grade of primary level, with teaching-learning activities conducted in learning centres through physical interactions and online modality, is initiated. The project assesses students through formative assessment and tracks their learning achievements through an online tracking system. The concept of gender equity, sustainability, and rights in both intervention segments is ensured, with a participation ratio of over 50% for girls and 5-10% for differently abled children. The project also includes Communication for Development (C4D) initiatives and child protection through CBCPC, and the implementation of the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.
The impact of this project is significant as it addresses the learning gaps and educational challenges faced by marginalised and vulnerable children, including girls and children with disabilities, who are at risk of dropping out of school due to the pandemic. By providing innovative and digital interventions and using a competency-based approach, this project helps students catch up with their learning gaps and complete their primary education. The project also ensures gender equity, inclusivity, and child protection, which are crucial for creating a safe and enabling environment for children’s learning and development.
Overall, this project works to improve the educational outcomes and life opportunities of the children it serves, contributing to their overall well-being and long-term socio-economic development.
Goal
Create a platform for Bangladeshi youth and young professionals to engage in open discussions, develop critical skills, engage in creative and innovative projects, and exchange ideas, values, and cultures with the people of the United States with the aim of creating people-to-people connections.
Project Summary
This project creates a platform for Bangladeshi youth and young professionals to engage in open discussions, develop critical skills, engage in creative and innovative projects, and exchange ideas, values, and cultures with the people of the United States with the aim of creating people-to-people connections. A platform designed to amplify the voices of people and communities, delivering planned actions through a yearly activity calendar in coordination with the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh, providing operational systems and support, and developing and executing small grants programs to support PDS policy priorities is created.
This is a powerful initiative designed to provide targeted resources and opportunities to empower people and communities, addressing systemic barriers to participation. Through the creation of a vibrant youth governance club, knowledge about democratic and governance rights is imparted, while promoting awareness of human rights issues. To foster an entrepreneurial spirit, an incubation centre for budding entrepreneurs, while also providing training opportunities, is established. We nurture cross-cultural understanding by actively engaging youth in meaningful cultural exchange programs, recognizing and celebrating diverse traditions. The innovative Maker Lab is dedicated to the advancement of STEM education, providing exciting opportunities for our youth to develop critical skills for the future. The initiative also focuses on expanding access to higher education pathways in the United States for Bangladeshi students. In addition, we provide exciting courses on videography, photography, and theatre education, as well as arrange exchange programs and facilitate interactive workshops and immersive learning experiences ensuring all youth have access to well-being resources. Finally, massive online courses on 21st-century soft skill development are offered to ensure our youth are well-equipped to succeed in today’s ever-evolving world.
60,000 young people and professionals from Bangladesh, are enabled to interact and share ideas with people from the United States. Moreover, the targeted beneficiaries benefit from 648 programs that help them gain a deeper understanding of various topics such as democratic governance, human rights, entrepreneurship, STEM education, and the preservation of arts and culture. It contributes to enhancing their knowledge, skills, and overall capacity, which ultimately benefits their personal and professional growth and the development of their communities.
Rationale
The Hand Hygiene for All initiative is necessary to move the world towards the goal of supporting the most vulnerable communities with the means to protect their health and environment. The initiative will support WHO to implement global recommendations on hand hygiene to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic and work to ensure lasting infrastructure and behavior. It will create innovative solutions to fit different contexts, make soap, alcohol based hand rub and hygiene supplies both available and affordable.
Access to hand hygiene in healthcare facilities, schools, public places and home is essential to protect global health and reduce the risk of future outbreaks. Scaling up hand hygiene in all settings could potentially prevent an estimated 165000 deaths from diarrheal diseases each year. Scientific evidence and experience from WHO has also shown that improving health hygiene strategies in health care can reduce health care associated infections.
Hand hygiene is the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Adopting strong hand hygiene strategies is the single most effective intervention to prevent diseases and death due to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Hand hygiene also protects against a range of other diseases including common colds, flu, diarrhea and pneumonia. This is also a very cost effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Objective
- Support the implementation of UNICEF’s programmatic work around HH4A, accelerating impact on the ground and bringing positive change to children’s lives.
- Build skills and capacity of youth, equipping them for entry into professional life.
- Enable and empower youth to become agents of change in their communities as well as nationally.
Activity Details
Capacity Building Workshop for Youths
The capacity building training program was conducted for 180 volunteers in 3 groups for building a clear understanding of project plans and activities. The program commenced in Rangpur, Khulna, and Dhaka districts.
The participants were chosen after completing a screening process in which they signed up for the event by filling out a registration form that was circulated on social media. The participants were chosen by JAAGO’s youth wing, Volunteer for Bangladesh, who expressed an interest in working on projects based on the SDG 6 theme.
A 2 days-long residential capacity building training program was arranged for the selected 60 volunteers in a group for building a clear understanding of project plans and activities. The training allowed the youth to understand more on the basic concept of hand hygiene, safety, and WASH protocols. The training consisted of group work and other activities and explored new perspectives of the volunteers on hand hygiene for all initiatives. Designated facilitators conducted the training sessions for all volunteers in their respective groups.
Rangpur: A number of 60 youths including male 39 and female 21 participants, from different districts, came to join the two days long residential training program, who belonged from different age groups. The training was held on 18th and 19th February 2022 in Caspia, the home in Rangpur.
Khulna: The training program in Khulna was conducted in CSS Ava Center on 26th and 27th February 2022. A total of 59 youths, consisting of 45 males and 14 females, took part in the training.
Dhaka: On 20th and 21st March 2022 the training program for capacity building was conducted in BRAC Learning Center, Gulshan, Dhaka. Around 60 youths including 52 males and 8 females participated in the training.
During the training, the participants had intensive learning activities around hand hygiene, the process of hand washing, group work on project designing, budgeting and implementing strategies, and many more. The overall training program had prepared the youth participants for intervening in the community and spreading the knowledge in rural areas of the country.
Refreshers Workshop
78 youth volunteers received the refresher workshop in order to recall and reinforce previously learned skills and information by revisiting basic plans and processes and knowledge gaps. The workshop took place on 25th February 2022 through Zoom online platform. During the session, the trainer re-trained and reviewed all of the training topics for the participants.
Behavioral intervention through community mobilization
In order to directly engage the trained youth volunteers with the marginalized community, the courtyard meetings were held. 9 courtyard meetings were conducted by 90 trained volunteers from 25th to 27th March 2022 in the 3 districts of Rangpur, Khulna, and Dhaka. The locations were of the courtyard meetings –
- Dhaka – Dhaka Tangail Gazipur
- Rangpur – Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha
- Khulna – Khulna, Sharkhira, Kushtia
Each of the 9 meetings was attended by 25 members of the community supported by 10 youth volunteers, totaling 225 participants and 90 volunteers. The text-center agenda of the courtyard meeting focused on bringing strong behavioral changes among the community members. It accelerated the progress towards hand hygiene and supported the most vulnerable communities to protect their health.
Outcome
- Necessary knowledge and training provided to 180 youths from three different divisions of Bangladesh – Dhaka, Rangpur, and Khulna.
- 225 community people from Dhaka, Rangpur, and Khulna divisions were informed about hand hygiene protocol.
- Pulling off a behavioral change from the very root level and developing a sustainable hygiene practice.
Beneficiary Feedback
The youth volunteers were able to learn about the fundamentals of hand hygiene and WASH protocol through the capacity building training. One of the youth volunteers named Arman Hasan, informed us that the training played an important role towards his behavioral change. He mentioned that before the training, even though he had a basic knowledge about hygiene, he wasn’t aware about the steps of hand washing and the different types of waterborne disease. He said, “The training has helped me to understand more clearly about the 6 steps of hand washing, the F- diagram and protect the waterborne diseases and how it affects our health. I am now aware of the importance of the two significant WASH components which are the personal and environmental hygiene. I am confident that I will follow these instructions and will encourage my family and community members to understand the importance of hygiene as well.”
Rationale
World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of authors, illustrations, books, and reading and is observed in order to promote the benefits and enjoyments of reading books. UNESCO celebrates World Book Day every year on April 23 as a symbolic date for world literature. The day celebrates the role of books as a bridge between generations and across cultures, a link between the past and the future. This is a time when we should recognize the value of reading, encourage children’s development as readers, and foster a lifelong love of literature.
Reading is the most effective way to build vocabulary, and this is especially true for children. Besides helping us understand different ideas and theories, it also increases our knowledge and keeps our memory sharp. Involving children in World Book Day improves their ability to think logically. Many people are unaware of the mental health benefits of reading, and World Book Day celebrations can help instill positive attitudes about the activity. Besides, teaching kids about the importance of reading, this celebration encouraged them to read more books, which helps in enhancing their listening, learning, and creative abilities. A nationwide campaign was organized by the JAAGO Foundation to celebrate and promote this day. It was designed for children between the ages of 10 and 16.
Objective
To introduce the Let’s Read App to the children and the parents in order to make educational resources more accessible and develop reading competence through Let’s Read learning app.
Activity Details
The activities for the campaign are given below –
Call for Registrations
The first activity of the campaign was the recruitment of the volunteers. A call for registration was conducted. Social media and other platforms were used to encourage the youth volunteers to join the celebrations and share their interest in registering. The invitation included information about the volunteers’ roles and responsibilities. Young people who qualified the requirements were encouraged to register by JAAGO’s volunteer network and join the campaign.
Selection of Volunteers
After the invitation for the registration, eligible youths were selected for the campaign. Participant youth were between the ages of 18 and 30. From each district, 25 volunteers were selected for the campaign, totaling of 1600 volunteers from 64 distracts in Bangladesh.
Training of Volunteers
Following the recruitment of the volunteers, a training session was conducted. Through virtual training sessions, the volunteers were briefed about their roles and responsibilities. Volunteers from each district joined the session and they further trained the other volunteers in their districts. The volunteers were informed about the “Let’s Read” app, and its functionalities. They were instructed on how to conduct the promotional campaign and interact with the parents and children.
Nationwide Campaign
A week-long campaign was conducted throughout all the 64 districts of Bangladesh from 22nd to 28th April, 2022. Youth volunteers were mobilized to promote door-to-door awareness about the importance of reading competence, as well as sensitizing parents to download the Let’s Read App on their smartphones. Parents were given leaflets emphasizing the importance of reading by volunteers. In addition, the parents were explained on how and why to download the Lets Read App on their own smartphones. Volunteers showed parents and children a demonstration of the app on their smartphones. A few stories from the application was read aloud, and its unique features were discussed with the parents and children and the parents were encouraged to download it on their phones. A minimum of 10 children and 10 parents were reached by each volunteer. Thus, in all 64 districts, 16000 children and 16000 parents were directly engaged by 1600 volunteers.
Outcomes
- Community awareness raised for promoting e-learning platform through Let’s Read Learning App.
- Youth volunteers instructed and helped the parents to download the “Let’s Read App”.
- Leaflets were distributed in the locality to the general public.
- Social media promotions were done through using dedicated hashtags for the campaign.
Beneficiaries Feedback
Through the campaign a new learning platform was introduced. The parents and teachers appreciated this new interactive way of learning. People including youths and elder people were happy and satisfied with this initiatives. However, many parents were reluctant to download the app because they believed it will increase their children’s screen time and mobile addiction which can be harmful to the children. Due to unavailability of internet access in many households, people were not able to access the app. Many of the parents and teachers suggested to include offline content options in the app to make it accessible to the wider audiences and to include more contents in Bangla language to motivate more people to use the app.
Objective
To empower youth across Bangladesh to become grassroots leaders and changemakers by enabling them to design and implement community-driven initiatives that address local challenges related to climate action, women’s empowerment, civic engagement, and skills development while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Project Summary
The LEAD Bangladesh Project, implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust with support from the Australian High Commission, is a nationwide youth empowerment initiative designed to unlock the leadership potential of young people at the grassroots level. The project responds to a critical gap faced by youth in Bangladesh — limited access to funding, mentorship, and institutional support to turn their ideas into impactful community action.
At the core of LEAD Bangladesh is the belief that young people best understand the challenges within their own communities and, when given the right resources and guidance, can drive sustainable and inclusive development. The project provides small grants and structured capacity-building support to youth-led groups, enabling them to design and implement locally relevant solutions aligned with national development priorities and the SDGs.
Through an open and inclusive call for proposals, the project will support 40 youth-led community action projects, each receiving financial assistance alongside training in project design, leadership, implementation, and impact measurement. The initiative places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, prioritising the participation of young women, youth with disabilities, and marginalised communities, ensuring that leadership opportunities reach those who are often excluded from decision-making spaces.
The supported projects will focus on four key thematic areas: climate change, women’s empowerment, civic engagement, and skills development. Youth-led initiatives may include climate adaptation and resilience activities, waste management and green infrastructure, women’s entrepreneurship and leadership initiatives, civic awareness and volunteerism, as well as vocational and digital skills training tailored to local needs. By localising SDG targets, LEAD Bangladesh enables young people to translate global goals into tangible action within their own communities.
Beyond funding, LEAD Bangladesh places strong importance on capacity building and mentorship. Selected youth groups will participate in structured workshops and receive ongoing guidance from experienced mentors to strengthen project management skills, ensure accountability, and promote long-term sustainability. Regular monitoring, follow-ups, and community engagement activities will support quality implementation and generate learning for future scaling.
The overarching goal of LEAD Bangladesh is to transform youth from passive beneficiaries into active agents of change. By reaching more than 5,000 community members, the project strengthens grassroots leadership, fosters civic responsibility, and builds a replicable model for youth-led local development in Bangladesh. Ultimately, LEAD Bangladesh contributes to a more resilient, inclusive, and youth-driven future where young people actively shape the social, economic, and environmental progress of their communities and the nation.
Objective
The GenU Bangladesh project aimed to empower young people in Bangladesh to engage, influence, and co-create opportunities for marginalised youth as they relate to GenU’s Agenda.
Project Summary
GenU (Generation Unlimited) Bangladesh, in partnership with JAAGO Foundation, aimed to identify, advocate for, and support equitable solutions that align with the GenU agenda which is to help every young person successfully transition from education and training to decent work.
Bangladesh Youth Action Team (BYAT) consisted of 10 team members in 8 divisions of Bangladesh and 8 divisional leaders who represented the youth at the national level where marginalised and vulnerable youth had been included. Applications were sent off in all eight divisions, shortlisting and selecting divisional-level members. An orientation meeting and residential workshop were held to prepare BYAT members to engage in community development and participate in the steering committee meeting. Additionally, young people from six divisions of Bangladesh participated in The GenU Imagen Ventures Youth Challenge, which was promoted through a campaign. Support was provided for boot camps, incubation, and final presentations at the national event. GenU Bangladesh has helped empower youth across Bangladesh and created positive change in their communities through these activities.
By participating in the challenge, young people gained valuable skills, knowledge, and experience, which helped inspire them to become more engaged and create positive change in their communities. The achievements of this initiative have been significant in terms of empowering young people in Bangladesh. It demonstrates the positive outcomes of encouraging young minds to influence and create opportunities in their communities.
Objective
To ensure the usage of safe internet among children and create inclusive digital opportunities for students from all classes and backgrounds to strengthen their knowledge and reading capacity.
Project Summary
The increasing use of digital technology has brought about a new era of learning and communication. However, this has also resulted in new challenges, such as the need for safe internet usage and addressing the digital divide that exists among different classes and backgrounds. To address these issues, this project aims to promote safe internet usage and create inclusive digital opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Its primary objective is to enhance primary-grade students’ reading skills through storytelling approaches and to shift their focus to productive screen time.
The project sensitises 2500 students from 25 schools across five districts in Bangladesh about safe internet usage and digital learning. Volunteers are recruited from these districts and trained virtually for two days to build a clear understanding of project plans and activities, including safe internet protocols, read-aloud instructions, ideas for engaging with families and communities, child protection policies, and more. After training, volunteers are circulated in their respective areas to find five suitable schools in each district. The volunteers sensitised the parents about safety guidelines and information about the learning application and its usage and guided the students to download the app on their parents’ phones. A week-long campaign was conducted throughout all 64 districts of Bangladesh from the 22nd to the 28th of April. JAAGO also collaborated to develop grade-wise collections on the Let’s Read library based on the Bangla curriculum.
The impact of this project is significant, as it brings about a new and innovative way of E-learning in the locality. Children are able to learn in an interactive way, and people, including youths and older people, are happy with these initiatives. The app creates a bridge between traditional and digital learning, and parents are made aware of the digital app. Teachers are introduced to a new way of teaching through this app. It also increases the knowledge of students about safe internet usage.
Additionally, reading skills are improved, and storytelling capability is enhanced. Students are introduced to the learning application ‘Let’s Read’, and students and their parents have free access to this digital and online content. Overall, the project has positively impacted the community by promoting digital learning and improving educational outcomes.
Objective
To provide youth with a sense of belongingness and build awareness about the significance of youth voices in shaping Bangladesh’s democratic and political future.
Project Summary
The project is designed to increase awareness and participation in responsible citizenship among school children, youth, and communities in Bangladesh. It aims to provide a sense of belonging and build awareness about the significance of youth voices in shaping the country’s democratic and political future. Various activities, including project inception meetings, capacity-building workshops, community mobilization through youth action and media campaigns, and post-election scorecard implementation are conducted.
A project inception meeting is held to review the activities and differentiate responsibilities among project staff, while the capacity building workshop focuses on training youths from all 64 districts as master trainers on issues related to voting, good governance, and democratic rights practice. These master trainers then conduct day-long district training sessions with youths from each district to discuss the same issues. After the capacity-building workshops, the trained youth leaders conduct community sensitization campaigns on “My Voice My Choice.” JAAGO Foundation runs social media awareness campaigns to raise awareness among the wider audience, which includes a national radio talk show. Furthermore, youth leaders are trained to collect data, from their communities, using scorecards, and an external data analysis expert team is hired to analyze the data collected post-election. The compiled data is segregated according to all 64 districts for a comparative analysis of the local elected representatives.
Through this initiative, we empower youth by building their awareness and sense of belongingness, increasing their participation in the democratic process, and promoting accountability among elected representatives. Overall, the impact is to contribute to shaping Bangladesh’s democratic and political future by creating a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Rationale
Election violence has always been a well-known phenomenon to
people in our country. Especially those, who are in the
process,. During the elections periods political parties seek
to validate their activities, claiming those as protests for
the fraudulent result of the election. It is seen that these
violent activities are mostly carried out by the youth wing of
the political parties. It caused fear for women and men and
created a lack of interest among the youth towards
participating in the election.
Through this project, youth engagement in the process of
national development was ensured. For this reason JAAGO aimed
to create a positive impact on the election environment by
turning the youth into the promoter of peace, where they were
motivated to refrain from violence instead of waging them.
Since JAAGO has a huge young volunteer force countrywide it
was a lot easier to convey the message.
Objective
Promoting peace during the election and increasing youth
participation in national elections through a huge array of
awareness building through community engaging activities.
Activity Details
The nationwide campaign of “I pledge for peace” was launched
in the National Youth Assembly 2018. To create awareness all
over Bangladesh different activities were launched in 64
districts. JAAGO Foundation was the key responsible
organization and its Youth development Program (YDP)
management team and program management team (PMT) did the
overall management and monitoring of the project based on a
culture scoping.
Cultural Activities:
Cultural activities like Flash Mobs in University level with
the help of a cultural club Roadshow, Cultural/Comedy Show,
were held in respective districts to create awareness and
peace building behavior through these cultural programs.
Campaign:
As a part of the “I pledge for peace” campaign, a signature
campaign was held where 1 Million signatures were collected
for a peaceful election. After completing this pre-phase,
dialogues with the local government in 20 districts took place
to present the opinion of youths in order to increase the
arena of this peace building campaign. The whole campaign was
designed as target based and region based as well as
inclusive.
Online Activities:
To ensure successful implementation of the activities we
established partnerships with the media to reach mass people
through the media. We created an online platform, website,
talk shows, and promotional videos to reach the youth. Print
and TV media for reaching general and mass people and
community radio for the local community. Digital Tracking or
GPS tracker may be introduced to trace out the Van which may
be used for signing campaigns. For cultural shows and making
promotional videos, we worked on theme based content.
Rationale
In Bangladesh, climate change effect is seen and increasing day by day. Some coastal and southern areas are already affected by climate change disasters. For example, in the Coastal part of Bangladesh, lots of land water is now salty, drinking water crisis, low land productivity, health problem (fungal infection), forest-dependent income is decreasing. Diversity changes in local people’s livelihood. Besides, there is no working scope raise and not enough assistance from local authorities and other actors. So vulnerability is increasing at an extreme stage. Many economic farm-like-shrimp incubators are in danger, an asset for Bangladesh for foreign money. On the other hand, in the southern part, many plants are destroyed, and the hill is digging for people’s shelter. Besides, dense people create human liquid waste, making vulnerable hazard in the environment. However, climate change is seen in weather and season change in Bangladesh, and the warming tempura ratio by yearly. Moreover, in parallel spaces like agriculture fields, that effect is seen most in low production/ productivity and may occur for too many pesticides used on the land. So, immediately/urgently taken an initiative is necessary to make consciousness in human behavior with social action locally and globally. Then future generations can survive with a suitable planet.
Objective
Generate discussion about youth engagement for climate action in Bangladesh and other Commonwealth countries by organizing a webinar and a series of round table discussions.
Activity Details
Youth Mobilization
An invitation was disseminated through social media and related platforms to inspire the youth volunteers to be a part of the project and share their interest in participating roundtable discussions. JAAGO’s volunteer network actively searched and motivated young people to register for the roundtables who were fit for it. A total of 225 volunteers were selected from 15 districts countrywide.
Social Media Group Formation
JAAGO Foundation created a social media group where selected youth participants from all 15 districts joined. The selected volunteers for roundtables shared photos and stories of their activities so that other youths have opportunity to develop climate awareness among them.
Round Table Discussions
To address the climate issues and draw attention at the district levels, a series of round-table discussions were held in 15 districts of Bangladesh that are heavily impacted by climate change protocols. Volunteer for Bangladesh, the youth development program of JAAGO Foundation, actively implemented the organization of the round-tables. A discussion was held per district, where 15 selected youth volunteers were mobilized in each district from that respective region alongside a local climate resilience expert, who was actively involved during the process. Out of the 15 volunteers, one was selected to moderate the program, while another was selected as a rapporteur based on specific criteria. During the round tables, a volunteer was chosen randomly to address the issues and commence the discussion. The address highlighted the agenda and outcomes of Cop 26, global climate change implications, and detail the district history and current climate change predicament of the volunteer. The moderator drove the discussion through climate crisis issues and feasible opportunities where youth could engage and invest themselves in reducing the negative impact of climate change issues in their respective areas. All the round table discussions were publicly aired through Volunteer For Bangladesh’s social media platforms.
Social Media Campaign
All the activities, outcomes, impacts and success stories of the round table discussions were portrayed publicly through social media. Relevant photos, video or audio records, and promotional posters were regularly published in social platforms in order to reach maximum people from all spheres of life.
Objective
- To sensitise local-level school-going underserved girls with necessary knowledge and information of Menstrual Health Management for improving health safety.
- To sensitise local-level school-going underserved girls and boys with the necessary knowledge and information on Ending Gender Stereotypes to ensure gender equality.
Project Summary
The project has been initiated by the JAAGO Foundation to address the lack of knowledge and persistent taboos surrounding Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and Gender Stereotypes among young girls. The project aims to empower students from five schools in underserved communities where MHM issues have a significant impact. This initiative focuses on disseminating essential information about Menstrual Health Management and Ending Gender Stereotypes, involving both boys and girls, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.
To achieve this, 25 youth leaders have been selected and trained on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and Ending Gender Stereotypes. They are actively conducting sensitisation workshops in the five selected schools, benefiting a total of 249 girls and 221 boys, along with 100 teachers and 35 school management committee members. Furthermore, each school has established a Girls Champion Club, promoting communication between female students and school authorities. Alongside this, five Girls Support Corners have been set up and are currently managed by the Girls Champion Club, offering essential support to students regarding MHM issues. This includes providing free sanitary napkins and emergency medication during school hours. The ongoing project continues to directly benefit 249 girls and 221 boys, with an indirect impact on 895 individuals, including parents, teachers, and school administration members. All participants are within the age range of 10-15 and are attending grades 4-7 in five different districts of Bangladesh.
Project Location
Bangladesh, Chattogram Division, Feni District, Chhagalnaiya Upazila
Project Summary
The Rising Hope: Flood Recovery and Resilience Project is designed to rebuild livelihoods, enhance public health infrastructure, and strengthen disaster resilience in flood-affected communities of Chhagalnaiya, Feni District, Bangladesh. The project will directly benefit 26,910 individuals, with an additional 25,000 people impacted through community-wide interventions. To restore economic stability, 1,500 farmers and fishers will receive essential agricultural inputs and financial support, enabling them to resume their livelihoods. Public health and hygiene will be improved by installing or repairing 15 deep tube wells, constructing 15 hygienic latrines, and repairing 50 community washrooms. Additionally, 5,000 families will receive hygiene kits, while 15 mobile medical camps will provide essential healthcare and psychosocial support to 3,150 individuals. To ensure uninterrupted education, 5,000 students will receive learning materials, and 12 schools will be rehabilitated, creating a safe learning environment. Female students will benefit from 20 Girls’ Corners, which will provide access to menstrual hygiene products and awareness sessions. A certified emergency response team, trained in collaboration with the Fire Brigade, will enhance local capacity to mitigate future disasters. By integrating economic recovery, improved healthcare, and disaster preparedness, this initiative fosters long-term resilience, equipping communities with the infrastructure, skills, and resources to withstand future crises effectively
Project Objectives
- Restored livelihoods for flood-affected farmers and fishers by providing essential agricultural inputs, tools, and financial support, enabling them to resume their agricultural and fishing activities.
- Improved access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation for affected families through the establishment and repair of deep tube wells and the construction of latrines
- Provided timely emergency health services through mobile medical units and offered psychosocial support to individuals, volunteers, and staff, contributing to improved physical and mental well-being.
- Supported the continuity of education for flood-affected students by distributing essential educational materials and repairing damaged schools, facilitating a quick return to learning.
Expected Outcomes
Economic Stability
Through targeted interventions, 1,500 farmers and fishers will restore their livelihoods, ensuring stable income sources and enhancing food security for their families. This initiative will promote long-term economic resilience within the community.
Improved Public Health & Hygiene
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation will be provided to 1,700 families, significantly reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases. Additionally, 5,000 individuals will receive hygiene kits and benefit from WASH awareness campaigns, fostering sustainable hygiene practices within the community.
Enhanced Healthcare Access
Fifteen mobile medical camps will deliver essential healthcare services to 3,150 individuals, ensuring timely medical assistance and mental health support. To improve hygiene standards for female students, 20 Girls’ Corners will be established in local schools, benefiting 5,000 girls with access to sanitary napkins and awareness sessions on menstrual health.
Sustained Education
Educational continuity will be ensured for 5,000 students, preventing prolonged disruptions in learning. Additionally, 12 schools will be rehabilitated, creating a safe and conducive learning environment for students and teachers alike.
Comprehensive Emergency Response Training
A dedicated emergency disaster response team will be established and trained through a certified program led by the Fire Brigade. This initiative will strengthen local capacity to respond effectively to future emergencies, reducing vulnerabilities in disaster-prone areas.
Strengthened Community Resilience
By enhancing infrastructure, diversifying livelihood opportunities, and equipping communities with essential disaster preparedness skills, this initiative will build long-term resilience against future disasters. The program will empower local populations with the knowledge and resources necessary to mitigate risks and recover more efficiently from crises.
This comprehensive recovery approach will directly benefit 26,910 individuals, while an estimated 25,000 additional people will benefit from the project’s community-wide interventions
Objective
- Increased access and retention through enrolment and re-enrolment for dropout/out of school/displaced girls of secondary schools in formal and non-formal education.
- Strengthened local and national level advocacy to improve access, retention and quality for girls’ education.
- Establishing a girls-friendly learning environment to ensure quality education for girls in secondary education.
Project Summary
The ODOMMO project by JAAGO Foundation, funded by the Malala Fund, addresses the critical issue of girls’ access to education in Bangladesh. In many regions, girls face significant challenges that hinder their ability to attend and remain in school. Factors like poverty, gender discrimination, societal norms, and environmental hazards all contribute to girls dropping out of school.
The project’s primary goal is to ensure quality education for girls, particularly at the secondary level. To achieve this goal, the project employs various strategies. It seeks to strengthen relationships with local stakeholders, schools, and government authorities. It aims to change the knowledge and behaviour of local stakeholders towards girls’ education and improve the opportunities for girls who have dropped out or have been affected by environmental factors.
The project also aims to improve schools for girls and help parents see the importance of girls’ education. It raises awareness about the importance of girls’ education through advocacy at both the local and national levels. Moreover, it focuses on training teachers to create a more gender-sensitive classroom, equipping girls with the skills to advocate for their learning environment, and involving School Management Committees (SMC) to ensure a supportive and friendly atmosphere for girls in schools.
The impact group of the project includes girls aged up to 16 who have dropped out of school, are at risk of early marriage, have experienced gender-based violence, have children, have disabilities, belong to minority ethnic groups, or have been displaced due to environmental factors. In total, the project aims to benefit about 1584 girls directly, sensitise around 2800 households and 12,936 people, and engage government authorities and leaders in advocating for girls’ quality education at both the local and national levels.
Ultimately, the project’s ongoing efforts are geared towards creating a positive and lasting impact, ensuring that girls in these areas have access to quality education and a supportive learning environment and breaking down the barriers that have held them back.
EMK Center is thrilled to announce its annual Small Grants competition – an open call for organizations to submit program proposals that strengthen, expand, and celebrate U.S.- Bangladesh people-to-people ties, foster innovative ideas, and provide local solutions to complex social problems. EMK invites interested organizations and individuals to submit project proposals on the themes mentioned below:
- Advancing democratic values through the promotion of human rights, civil society activation, freedom of expression, press freedom, disability rights, and good governance
- Promoting inclusive economic growth and opportunities through entrepreneurship development that empower underserved communities and youth, and explore the benefits of expanded trading opportunities between the United States and Bangladesh
- Supporting innovative community solutions for the environmental challenges and raising awareness in youth on climate change adversities;
- Increasing opportunities for Bangladeshi youth from historically marginalized communities (e.g. indigenous, religious minorities, etc.) through STEM education and
- Promoting arts and culture targeting emerging and marginalized artists, showcasing local heritage and talents.
******Applicants are encouraged to review the U.S. Mission to Bangladesh Integrated Country Strategy to help develop strong proposals that align with the U.S. government’s priorities in Bangladesh. All project activities must commence latest by February 29, 2024 and must be completed by August 31, 2024. Selected Projects will be invited for pitch sessions and budget negotiation.
Upon review of the proposals, EMK will invite selected applicants to the final pitching session. Winners of the pitching session will be announced on January 31, 2024.
Application Timeline
The application will be open from 17 December 2023 to 31 January 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications from individuals, groups & non-profit organizations will be accepted.
Applications from profitable entities, programs relating to partisan political activity, charitable or development activities, construction and infrastructure programs, programs that support specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for specific legislation or programs, scientific research, programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization, projects consisting of a single meeting or brief conference, projects or events that require participants pay for entrance or participation will NOT be accepted.
The following entities are eligible to submit proposals:
- Organizations: Non-profit organizations, projects, entities, public service centers, cultural organizations, community-based organizations, and organizations registered under The Trust Act 1882/ Society Registration Act 1860.
- Foundations registered under Section 28 of the Companies Act, 1994 and established for financing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Clubs registered under any public or private university or any government authority that work for non-profit
- Individuals and Groups can also submit their ideas and applications where they will have to demonstrate the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects
Minimum Required Documents
- For individuals: NID Copy, TIN Certificate, Curriculum Vitae/Resume, Certification from previous donor organization (if any)
- For groups: (For each member) NID Copies, TIN Certificates, Curriculum Vitae/Resume, Certification from previous donor organization (if any)
- For organizations: Organization Registration Certificate/Incorporation Certificate, Latest Trade License, Form XII, Memorandum of Association (MOA), BIN Certificate, TIN Certificate, Organization Portfolio, Certification from previous donor organization (if any), Bank Certificate/Cheque Copy.
Application Procedure
Visit: https://emkcenter.org/emk-small-grant/
Important Instructions:
Application deadline: 11:59 PM on January 31, 2024
Only online applications will be reviewed. Hard-copy submissions will not be accepted
Applications sent after the deadline will not be reviewed
Project Completion Timeline: 6 months (February – August 2024)
Award Floor and Ceiling: BDT 200,000 – 500,000
If you have specific queries, please email grants@emkcenter.org
Objective
- Attract high-potential prospective students from schools through various programs.
- Strengthen the capacity of secondary schools and local university counsellors.
- Expand standard EducationUSA outreach services both within and beyond Dhaka.
- Foster partnerships with leading educational organisations and student groups.
Project Summary
The EdUSA student advising centre located at EMK Center Dhaka provides a comprehensive EducationUSA service for Bangladesh. This centre conducts various activities to support students interested in pursuing higher education in the United States. It offers services related to standardised testing preparation, school counsellor and teacher outreach, pre-departure orientation for outbound students, and outreach visits to secondary schools and universities across different regions of Bangladesh.
The centre aims to provide necessary materials for student outreach, including promotional materials. It also organises workshops and clubs to help students prepare for standardised tests like TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, and SAT. These activities are designed to enhance students’ test-taking skills and strategies.
Additionally, the centre focuses on strengthening the capacity of secondary school teachers and counsellors by conducting training and information sessions. It also organises networking sessions to connect with local school and university officials to expand opportunities for prospective graduate-level and transfer students. The centre also conducts pre-departure orientation sessions for outbound students heading to the United States.
Lastly, the centre carries out outreach visits to various regions in Bangladesh to engage with prospective students, parents, teachers, and school counsellors. These activities are vital for promoting higher education opportunities in the United States. The EdUSA EMK Center’s efforts align with its goal to contribute to the strategic objectives of EducationUSA in Bangladesh.
Objective
- Civic Engagement & Youth Leadership: Conduct educational workshops across Bangladesh to equip youth with skills in civic responsibility, social accountability, and leadership.
- Enhance Awareness & Knowledge: Improve youth understanding of civic duties, rights, and leadership to foster responsible and informed participation in their communities.
- Support Youth-Led Community Initiatives: Encourage and provide resources for youth to initiate projects that enhance civic education and local development.
Project Summary
Bangladesh has a significant youth population, yet many young people feel disconnected from civic responsibilities and community leadership due to a lack of awareness. The JAAGO Foundation aims to address this through a youth-driven initiative focused on civic education, leadership, and responsible participation in community development.
This initiative builds on JAAGO’s long-standing efforts in educating youth on social responsibility, leadership, and governance awareness across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. By equipping young individuals with the knowledge and skills to engage meaningfully in their communities, the project fosters an informed and active generation committed to social progress.
Through training workshops, community-led action projects, and social awareness campaigns, the initiative empowers youth to take leadership roles in their localities. Participants receive civic education training, focusing on governance, accountability, and leadership, enabling them to design and implement community engagement projects.
To amplify the impact, trained youth leaders initiate localized awareness activities in their respective communities, sparking discussions on civic responsibility and engagement. Additionally, an online content strategy helps disseminate youth perspectives and educational materials, broadening the outreach beyond physical workshops.
Beyond these activities, selected youth leaders receive advanced training in leadership and civic education, equipping them with the tools to mentor others and create long-term impact in their regions. With a strong emphasis on education, leadership, and responsible citizenship, the initiative encourages youth to actively contribute to their communities and the broader development of Bangladesh.
Rationale
COVID-19 induced shutdown has resulted in education disruption
and job loss for the young population. The pandemic has decimated
the work landscape and has devastated the education system.
Psychological stress among young people has heightened due to
distancing from sports, socialization, and entertainment. During
this pandemic, youth have to adjust to new sets of employability
skills, a slow paced economy, extensive health measures, and new
learning modes.
This policy talk series offered an inclusive platform for a broad
range of stakeholders to emphasize on policy actions that would
collectively advance the post-COVID19 youth development agendas.
The insights and analysis presented in this policy talk series set
a significant cornerstone for the post-COVID19 deliberations and
will reinforce the promise of post-COVID19 youth development and
transform the lives of youth across the country. Through this
project, we can understand what this vast population of youth has
to say regarding matters that benefit their welfare in covid
situation and also how policy would help them to become more
efficient in society.
Objective
To identify and propose the action for youth to deal with
challenges related to Post-COVID19 youth development.
Activity
Details
The Talk Show was held on 04 September, 2020 via online social
media platforms. The talk show consisted of an Inaugural session
which was followed by five (5) thematic sessions which culminated
in a Plenary session on the agenda of Post Covid19: Youth
Development.
In the inaugural plenary Young Bangla presented a framework of
youth development integral to post Covid19 recovery plan for the
nation. This framework was based on the suggestions and
recommendations that were obtained during different consultations
and Let’s Talk organized by Young Bangla during the COVID19
pandemic, from March to June 2020. Five (5) parallel sessions
(Let’s Talk) were held on the following topics to facilitate the
discussion of the implementation of the post-COVID19 Youth
Development agenda:
- Youth in Covid19 Recovery
- Covid 19 Recovery: Education & Youth Employability
- Employment & Youth Entrepreneurship
- COVID 19 Recovery Plus: Health, Sports & Youth Wellbeing
- Resilient Youth & Creative Endeavors.
12 Panelists were present in the session of Inaugural Let’s Talk
on COVID-19:Youth Development. Where various youth representatives
from across the country actively took part in this series. They
were Youth leaders, achievers, academics, practitioners,
registered youth participants, and policymakers. Penalists talked
about the overall youth situation during covid-19. How they are
contributing to this pandemic and how different measures were
taken concerning them. Ex- BYLC youth training and mental health
program etc. how their contributions can be put into strong
recognition to encourage them to do more effective and
volunteering work for the community.
In the session of youth in Covid-19 Recovery they particularly
talked about the problems youth are facing in preventing covid-19.
How their situation can be improved in the post covid situation,
the health measures, education measures, volunteerism activities,
how can they contribute more to the society. In those
consultations and the talk show, panelists also talked about
education and youth employability situations, opportunities,
accessibilities, entrepreneurship, funding, limitations, their
health and other recreational , social activities throughout the
different sessions.
It created a platform for the youth to share their concern and
thoughts of the COVID-19 situations along with their
recommendations which will be shared with the policy makers of the
country. Panelists also recommended integrated youth-friendly
development policies and actions to be taken in the post COVID19
recovery phase.The recommendations were compiled and were shared
in the last day session. Based on the vetting, initiatives were
taken to combine the government and the policy makers for
contributing to an effective change.
Objective
- To capacitate youth volunteers from the Volunteer for Bangladesh on the importance of youth participation in the national elections of Bangladesh and their voting rights.
- To create awareness among the youth (64 districts) around their participation in the 2023 National election and their voting rights through community mobilization by the volunteers.
Project Summary
The upcoming national election in Bangladesh is an important event that shapes the country’s future. However, many young people are not fully aware of their voting rights or the significance of their involvement in the electoral process.
To address this issue, Volunteer for Bangladesh embarks on a campaign to capacitate 448 youth volunteers on the importance of participation in national elections and their voting rights through a two day residential workshop, where they will be prepared for community mobilization. Additionally, the organization creates awareness among the youth in all 64 districts of Bangladesh through community mobilization efforts led by these volunteers. Through this initiative, young people are encouraged to exercise their right to vote and become active participants in shaping the country’s future. During the workshop, participants learn about good governance, democracy, voting, and youth rights, and work on problem tree analysis to solution mapping. Volunteers design and implement awareness campaigns based on their local political structure. Each district receives seed money for implementing community initiatives involving more youths. Youth volunteers share their activities on social media using the #YouthVoteMatter hashtag to make the campaign viral. In addition to the social media posts shared by these volunteers, a separate social media campaign will run throughout the project period. Contents around “Youth Vote Matters” is shared from all JAAGO Foundation and Volunteer for Bangladesh sites to further increase their participation. Awareness materials such as videos, static posts, and youth perceptions are shared through this campaign.
The project is a crucial initiative and capacitating and mobilizing youth volunteers and creating awareness through social media, it makes a significant impact on youth involvement in national elections in Bangladesh.
Rationale
Nationwide a lot of progress is going on. However, there still has a lot of work that needs to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 in providing universal access to clean water and sustainable sanitation by 2030. Although there is access to facilities, the quality of these facilities is inadequate, and there is still a lack of awareness among the people. The physical conditions observation was not enough; people’s behavior needs to be changed to improve hygiene practices and reduce exposure to infectious diseases and medical treatments costs.
The indigenous community living in Mushohorpara, residing 8-10 km away from Dinajpur, has poor hygiene and sanitation conditions. A significant number of the community women work in the fields where access to hygienic toilets and water is highly inadequate. Due to the lack of toilets in the area, the women used the open field. There was an acute need for tube wells and bathrooms in the area as currently; there is a significant problem in hygienic sanitation practices and menstrual hygiene management. So, work was needed to be done in this area to promote hygiene knowledge and personal awareness and improve access quality of the facility. Thus the purpose of this program was to create an understanding of sanitation and hygiene practices along with building proper hygienic toilets for the community members in Dinajpur.
Objective
Addressing the sanitation and hygiene practices of the community members in Dinajpur
Activity Details
Volunteer Training
The volunteer training has been organized, and twenty volunteers from Dinajpur and Rangpur districts were joined. In training, community project implementation objectives and goals have been shared and formed a team to work in their locality.
Community Engagement and Awareness
Trained volunteers were organized and facilitated a courtyard meeting with community people. In the courtyard meeting, they explained hygiene toilet etiquettes, CLTS approach, provided leaflets. Beside, explaining the sanitation management and hygiene practice. Pre-assessment tests have been taken on their existing hygiene knowledge. The core objective was-
- To be aware of sanitation and hygiene management.
- To motivate the community people to maintain good hygiene practice.
- To bring a behavioral change among community people.
In all participants, the male-female ratio was 4:1. After the awareness session, the community members were divided into eight groups for eight toilets operations and maintenance in their locality. Then again, a post-assessment was taken to know their awareness level on hygiene practice. And found a fruitful result of behavioral change issue.
Community based Model Toilet Establishment
The 8 community base model toilets have been established for ethnic community people at Moshohorpara, Dinajpur district. The toilets have a depth of 8 cubicles and an overall size of 5’5 square feet. With this a tube well has also been installed for water supply. That’s whole project has been implemented through the JAAGO’s volunteer wing and volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD)’s Dinajpur and Rangpur district. Also, it was a good recommendation and suggestion from the local authority (Union Parishad Chairman) and community people.
Rationale
In Bangladesh, half of the population is women with low
socio-economic conditions. With multi-dimensional problems in
society and gender disparity, it is difficult for women to
stay parallel and enjoy the right of equal participation. Some
of the critical issues for women that need to be addressed to
reduce gender disparity are lack of equal opportunity for
women in education , work and health services. Only 9.7% of
women are in the formal sector while 90.3% are in the informal
sector. Alongside, only 28% of students involved in technical
and vocational training are women. Considering these issues,
JAAGO in collaboration with UN Women arranged youth-led
consultations and national events to capacitate youth on the
12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action.
Objective
Increase Bangladesh’s youth understanding of the 12 critical
areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and
bring forward their perspectives and recommendations to
improve gender equality in Bangladesh
Activity
Details
Youth-led consultations: A total of 700 youth from 10
districts of Bangladesh gained a better understanding of the
12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action through youth-led consultation meetings. Youths’
perspectives and recommendations for improving gender equality
in Bangladesh were also brought forward.
Youth-Focused National Events:
A dialogue was held at the University of Liberal Arts
Bangladesh (ULAB) among 150 youth where the 12 critical areas
of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were
discussed. The panelists discussed the traditional mindset of
society and participants sharing their concerns about the
revision of the existing gender policies.
Rallies and cultural events were organized by Bangladesh
Mahila Parishad with support from UN Women in Central Shahid
Minar, Dhaka, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the
Beijing Declaration and Forum for Action. CSO representatives
and 50 volunteers from JAAGO participated and proclaimed their
support on behalf of women’s human rights organizations.
A session on “Youth Voice for the Future” was held at JAAGO’s
National Youth Assembly in 2020. Every year this assembly
connects the nation’s youth with renowned professionals,
practitioners, and policymakers from many quadrants to discuss
how to make development sustainable and implement the SDGs
successfully across Bangladesh through active youth
participation. Around 600 youth participated in the assembly
where the session focused on informing youth on reducing
gender inequality, empowering women, reducing violence against
women and ensuring women’s rights.
Social Media Campaign: A four-month-long
mass awareness campaign was conducted highlighting the
critical issues discussed in the youth-led consultation.
Objectives
- To build the capacity of youths on proper usage of the internet and social media through participatory capacity-building interventions using the internet.
- To sensitise the broader population on safer usage of the internet and social media platforms.
Project Summary
The “সাবধানে অনলাইনে” (Shabdhane Online-A) campaign, a collaborative initiative by JAAGO Foundation and TikTok, aims to promote internet safety and responsible digital behavior among Bangladeshi youth. Since its inception in 2022, the campaign has entered its third year, expanding its outreach from localised district-level workshops to a full-fledged nationwide movement.
In its first two years (2022-2023), the campaign organised 34 day-long workshops across 34 districts in the Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions. These sessions, led by expert trainers, provided practical knowledge on online safety and the positive use of social media. To further explore participants’ insights and create deeper dialogue, five divisional meet-ups were held featuring government officials, subject experts, youth representatives, and influencers.
Alongside offline efforts, the campaign leveraged social media extensively through awareness posts, content creation competitions, and collaborations with popular influencers, reaching a vast audience with its message.
In its third phase (2024), the campaign expanded to 256 academic campuses nationwide. It began with a 2-day Youth Ambassador Training Camp in Manikganj, where 128 youth from all 64 districts were trained to become campaign ambassadors. These ambassadors later organised knowledge-sharing sessions on campuses across the nation and recruited volunteers to support campus-based activations.
A total of 256 campus activations were conducted in 64 districts of Bangladesh, reaching around 100,000 students. Each campus featured a dedicated “সাবধানে অনলাইনে” corner offering guidance on internet safety, interactive games, and rewards. Participants were also encouraged to explore the campaign website, which is rich with safety tips and motivational content.
Following the activations, divisional feedback camps were held to collect insights from ambassadors and volunteers, feeding into the continuous improvement of the campaign.
To further amplify its impact, the campaign continues to implement online and offline outreach, including media engagement, online surveys, positive content creation competitions, and talk shows.
The most significant milestone of the third phase was the National Dialogue, which brought together diverse stakeholders to shape a safer digital environment in Bangladesh and strengthen the future direction of the campaign.
JAAGO Foundation and TikTok firmly believe that collective action is the key to building a safe, positive internet for the next generation.
Rationale
Based on the “Bangladesh National Hygiene Baseline Survey 2014,” 86% of adolescent students use old cloth during menstruation” furthermore, only 12% of the students wash properly with soap and sun-dry the cloth. The report further highlights that 40 %of female students in Bangladesh skip school during the menstrual period due to poor toilet infrastructure. It is not only the female students but female teachers who are also forced to take leave because of the toilet facilities being inadequate.
23,234 women were victims of different forms of violence in the four years and 10 months, nationwide, according to the statistics provided by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad around 2018. 4,777 of these women were victims of violence in 2013, 4654 in 2014, 4436 in 2015, 4896 in 2016, and 4471 in those 10 months.
The purpose of this program was to point out the particular challenges in legal support, health, leadership that women are facing. Also to bring teachers, community leaders, artists, activists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs together on the same platform. So that it helps to promote the local women entrepreneurs through the marketplace.
Objective
Celebrating women and girls’ achievements and exploring the obstacles which prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Activity Details
WOW Dhaka: Sylhet Chapter organized by JAAGO Foundation, the British Council, and South Bank Centre. It provided a platform to celebrate women and girls and explore the obstacles which prevent them from achieving their full potential. It consisted of panel discussions, performances, inspirational talks, and many more, highlighting the particular challenges facing the women of Bangladesh. The covered topics included tech for women, legal support, health, leadership, and how to support young Bangladeshi people as empowered individuals. The program ended up with traditional music, dance, and drama performances.
The program had brought together women from all over Sylhet and provoked conversations between teachers, community leaders, artists, activists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs who discussed significant issues that women face today. It also celebrated and highlighted their achievements. It curated an inclusive, empowering space that pushes at the boundaries of gender conventions. By pulling together diverse contributions from the wider community, WOW Dhaka: Sylhet Chapter has drawn upon a lived reality to inspire real change.
The “Ending Gender Stereotypes in Classrooms” project in Bangladesh, jointly implemented by the JAAGO Foundation Trust and UN Women, has successfully challenged gender stereotypes in educational institutions. The project adopted a multi-faceted approach, targeting students, teachers, parents, and the broader community. While student sessions were instrumental in fostering a gender-inclusive learning environment, recent developments have underscored the critical importance of sensitizing teachers and parents. Teachers and parents serve as influential role models, shaping students’ perceptions of gender roles and equality.
Partnerships with school management teams, youth leaders, and local leaders were instrumental in driving change within schools and communities. Youth leaders, in particular, brought fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the project, serving as catalysts for student engagement and advocacy.
Key achievements include:
Government Engagement: Through a national-level advocacy dialogue, government actors recognized the importance of addressing gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in educational institutions. This led to increased collaboration and partnerships among government bodies, civil society organizations, and educational stakeholders.
Student and Youth Involvement: The project actively engaged students and youth networks to drive gender transformative change. It equipped teachers with gender-sensitive teaching methods, reaching 158 educators, who committed to fostering a discrimination-free learning environment.
Parent and School Management Committee Participation: Sensitization workshops involving parents and School Management Committee members generated a collective understanding of the need to challenge traditional gender norms. These stakeholders committed to advocating for violence-free and gender-inclusive educational environments.
Positive Impact on Students: Targeted sessions encouraged students to reflect on and challenge their own gender-related attitudes and behaviors. Role reversal sports activities broke down gender stereotypes, promoting inclusivity in sports.
The project’s multi-faceted approach fostered a culture that challenges gender stereotypes, advocating for inclusivity and equality. Moving forward, JAAGO Foundation Trust remains committed to sustaining these efforts and creating lasting positive change within educational institutions and the broader community. The project “Ending Gender Stereotypes in Classrooms” has made significant strides toward creating inclusive and discrimination-free educational institutions.
Outcome
- Government actors actively engaged and influenced to promote Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment and the elimination policies of violence against women within educational institutions.
- National-level advocacy dialogue raised awareness among teachers, students, and policymakers, leading to government recognition of the need for action.
- Transformative changes observed among students, teachers, parents, and school management committee members in attitudes and behaviors related to gender stereotypes and violence.
- Significant reductions in the percentages of students who couldn’t recognize gender stereotypes, believed them to be harmless, and thought gender norms were unchangeable, with a shift from over 60% to less than 3% in most cases.
Objectives
By April 2025,
- Form the Bangladesh Youth Action Team (BYAT) of 160 members, comprising 50% females and 3%-5% individuals with disabilities, who will be actively engaged, functioning as GenU peer leaders at both divisional and national levels.
- Contextualise, promote, monitor and test Passport to Earning (P2E), an innovative 21st-century skills development for scalability in Bangladesh.
- Ensure that youths, with a specific emphasis on those facing opportunity challenges, acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to address pressing social and environmental issues. This involves fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and honing problem-solving skills through proven human-centred design methodologies, contributing to the promotion of sustainability.
- Mobilise youths, family members, and community stakeholders in targeted districts across eight divisions by April 2025. The goal is to actively support the implementation of inclusive practices and positive gender norms, thereby increasing access to skill development and earning pathways, especially for adolescent girls, young women, and youth with disabilities.
Project Summary
In Bangladesh, a significant portion of the population is adolescents and youths aged between 15-24, but many face challenges in accessing education and opportunities. While there has been progress in achieving gender equality in primary and secondary education, girls are still at risk of dropping out as they progress to higher grades. A large percentage of youths, especially young women, are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The COVID-19 pandemic made this situation worse, particularly for adolescent girls.
This project, aligned with the GenU Programme anchored in UNICEF, aims to empower young people, especially adolescent girls, young women, and youth with disabilities, who are disconnected from education, training, or work. We refer to them as “Opportunity Youth.” The project’s key goals are to provide access to relevant skills and opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship and to influence policies and programs for these marginalized youths. Strategies are being employed to achieve these goals. GenU’s Passport 2 Earning (P2E) platform is being utilized to assist young people in improving their skills and connecting with training, volunteer opportunities, and potential employers. The capacity of GenU’s Bangladesh Youth Action Team (BYAT) is being strengthened to provide support and connect marginalized youth at the local level. Moreover, the Imagen Venture Youth Challenge in all 8 divisions is a core component of the program to centre youth focus on climate and gender issues in their own communities.
Attention is being given to the social norms that discourage young women and youth with disabilities from pursuing non-traditional careers, particularly in high-growth and green sectors. Efforts are being made to promote changes in behavior and communication that support fairness and equal opportunities for all. In addition to these initiatives, the project emphasizes capacity development for young people by providing training in leadership, advocacy, and entrepreneurial skills. It also prioritizes the safety and well-being of participants, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.
UNICEF is actively supporting the capacity building of JAAGO Foundation Trust in program management, implementation, and monitoring. The project is in the process of establishing a group of youth-to-youth trainers and facilitators to encourage and mobilize the use of Passport to Earning (P2E) and provide peer-to-peer assistance to marginalized youth.
Overall, this ongoing project is dedicated to empowering Opportunity Youth, especially girls, young women, and youth with disabilities, by providing them with access to education, skills, and opportunities while challenging social norms and promoting their active participation in decision-making processes and community development.
Rationale
- To provide a common platform for the youth of Bangladesh for their betterment in terms of governance, employment, and accountability through collaboration and cooperation.
- To develop an information base through research on youth priorities and needs for future policy and programs focusing on youth development in the long run.
Objective
Celebrating women and girls’ achievements and exploring the obstacles which prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Activity Details
The project has three components – Research, Campaign and Meeting.
Database and Campaign
The first step of this project was to create a database of national and local organizations that work for youth priorities and development. JAAGOs extensive social media network did PR campaigns (using database demographics) to reach out to the organization. Seven hundred twenty youth organizations registered in the database through a participatory approach. The database included the organizations’ basic information and an overview of the organizations’ work focus, previous project experience, and key contact information.
Baseline Survey and Research
Participants from 59 districts of Bangladesh were surveyed. A total of 427 participants were selected from the youth organization database, and 100 representatives throughout the country were trained to ensure the validity and confidentiality of participants. The motive of this Baseline Survey was for network creation, potential obstacles (and how they can be mitigated), and network sustainability. The survey was undertaken from August to September 2015. The collected data can be analyzed in the ‘Baseline Survey National Report’.
Divisional Meetings
After completing the baseline survey and analysis of the results, UNDP and JAAGO held divisional meetings in each of the seven divisional districts of Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet between October 4th and 25th, 2015. These meetings were conducted in two sessions. A session on network mechanisms (and how they can be practically implemented) and another session where participants were asked to design a ‘joint action’ based on the youth issues that affected their locality. In the meetings, JAAGO presented the divisional results of the Baseline Survey.
National Meeting
Before the national meeting, JAAGO convened an ‘expert’s meeting’ on November, 2015, where prominent and knowledgeable figures from within youth development and networking within Bangladesh were presented with the draft framework and its contents discussed. On November’2015, the National meeting was held in Savar, Dhaka. One hundred fifty-four participants attended, acting as representatives from their respective youth organizations. The draft framework was presented to participants, and an open discussion regarding its content and specific queries/comments that participants had ensued. Where prominent and knowledgeable figures from within youth development and networking within Bangladesh were presented with the draft framework and its contents discussed. The national meeting was held on November 6th, 2015 in Savar, Dhaka. 154 participants attended, acting as representatives from their respective youth organizations. The draft framework was presented to participants and an open discussion regarding its content and specific queries/comments that participants had ensued.
Objective
- To provide access to WASH facilities to the students of JAAGO Foundation schools and community members
- To create awareness of WASH facilities and related issues through community mobilization
Project Summary
The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project aims to increase knowledge and awareness of JAAGO Foundation students, teachers, and community members about the importance of WASH facilities and promote access to them. It provides access to these facilities to JAAGO Foundation schools’ students and community members, while also creating awareness through community mobilization efforts. Through this project, JAAGO Foundation improves the health and well-being of individuals in the community by promoting good hygiene practices and access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Training and capacity building, community sensitization, and WASH schemes are included in this project. The existing training module is updated and contextualized for different age groups and diverse sectors. The trained teachers then educate the students on the basic concepts, including the F-diagram, the 7 steps of hand washing, and water-borne diseases, among others. The caretaker, operation, and maintenance committee members, who are responsible for maintaining the infrastructure, receive training on WASH basics, maintenance, and monitoring systems. Parents and community members are educated about WASH issues and multiple community awareness programs are conducted. Volunteers visit high-density areas of different neighbourhoods, shops, markets, and fairs to communicate with community members and encourage them to adopt safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation practices.
By educating students and community members on the importance of WASH and how to maintain good hygiene, the project contributes to behaviour change and promotes the adoption of healthier practices in daily life. Furthermore, the infrastructure, such as safe water filtration systems, safe drinking water lines for communities, renovation of existing toilets and construction of new ones, and renovation of handwashing stations are established. Access to safe drinking water prevents waterborne diseases, which can be fatal, especially for children. Improved sanitation facilities will help reduce the spread of these diseases.
The impact of this project is significant as it increases awareness and access to WASH facilities which promotes good health and hygiene practices among the students and community members.
Rationale
Although Bangladesh has had tremendous economic growth over the
past few decades but still has not been able to hold up the
employment elasticity of the country. Barriers to employment
include reasons such as; shortage of job opportunities, poor
quality of training and certificate accreditation, favoritism,
social stigma, and most importantly, lack of proper skills.
JAAGO is a youth lead organization with a network of 50,000 youth
volunteers. Volunteers for Bangladesh (VBD) works across 51
districts in Bangladesh on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
and other campaigns including local issues. The proposed project
is highly appropriate and timely for JAAGO where the activities
will be undertaken and organized by the youth with high-level
consultation with experts on the project content (sessions). It is
expected that the findings from the consultation sessions will
have the insights and recommendations of the youth along with the
directions from the skilled experts. These sessions would help
them achieve a clear national youth vision, understand ILO’s
declaration for the future of work, and build them as skilled and
competent individuals to join the labor force.
Objective
- To increase the knowledge of youth on civic engagement,
education, and employment and develop their skills
- To develop networks for hundreds of young people across the
country and shape them as a quality workforce for the future
Activity
Details
The project was designed to promote the youth engagement of
Bangladesh by connecting them with influential young leaders,
experts, and practitioners from corporate and development sectors,
develop their skills through training, dialogue sessions and
provide knowledge through groundbreaking new tools and resources,
take action and create impact by engaging them in new
opportunities to bring a sustainable impact in local and global
communities and develop their capacities for joining the labor
market in the future. The project organized four seminars with a
total of 320 youth participants from four divisional districts to
gain knowledge on employment, entrepreneurship, and other skills
followed by a closing session which included sharing the feedback
from the divisional seminars. A total of 500,000 people were
reached through mass media and social media.
Project Objectives
The goal of the project is to enhance climate resilience and economic empowerment of women and youth in the coastal regions through climate-smart agriculture, homestead nutrition gardening, and alternative livelihoods.
- Objective 1: Improve knowledge, skills and practices, integrating climate feminism in climate-smart agriculture and homestead gardening for women and youth.
- Objective 2: Enhance community capacity, engagement and advocacy for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Project Summary:
The project focuses on climate feminism with the aim to create resilience and economic empowerment among the women and youth in the coastal regions, particularly in vulnerable communities most affected by climate change. The climate feminism approach of the project emphasizes the interconnectedness of gender equality and environmental sustainability, recognizing that women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals are disproportionately affected by climate change.
The goal of the project is to enhance climate resilience and economic empowerment of women and youth in the coastal regions through climate-smart agriculture, homestead nutrition gardening, and alternative livelihoods. Through a multi-faceted approach combining capacity building, sustainable practices, and advocacy, the project addresses the critical need for climate-smart agriculture, alternative livelihoods, and community engagement.
As per the report of UNWomen (2023), by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and see 236 million more face food insecurity. Despite being a minimal contributor to global climate change, Bangladesh is disproportionately affected by its consequences. Khulna City, located in the coastal belt of Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change. The coastal region of Khulna, in particular, struggles with the ravages of climate change, including heavy rains and flash floods, and their devastating impacts threaten the very fabric of life, including agriculture, homestead gardens, and household usage, forcing the poorest people, including women and girls, to struggle for survival. Rivers near Khulna city have already been affected by salinity intrusion. In the last 35 years, salinity increased by around 26 per cent in the country. The saline-prone coastal region had a drastic yield loss, i.e. approximately an average 20-40% in major crops. Women in Bangladesh are often the most affected by climate change due to existing gender inequalities.
To address these challenges, an alternative livelihood project is proposed, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, improved cooking stoves, and climate education to empower the women and girls in the community. This approach advocates for their inclusion in decision-making processes and policy development related to climate action.
Key Components of the Project:
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Homestead Gardening
The project will empower women and youth in climate-smart agricultural practices, including homestead nutrition gardening (150 women) and innovative farming techniques such as watermelon cultivation (113 women and 112 men). 9 master trainers will also be developed who will provide micro level training to approx. 270 households. In addition, 9 model farms will be developed which will work as the demonstration of best practices of climate-smart homestead gardening, as well as will work as hands-on training sites. These activities aim to improve food security, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate adaptation at the community level. A baseline and endline survey will be conducted to measure the impact of the project.
In addition, 3 market linkage initiatives will be taken which will enable the participants to actively participate in income generating activities, where they will be able to sell their products from their homestead gardens which will economically empower them and bring sustainable
Changes.
Alternative Livelihoods Development
90 women and girls will be trained in handicraft production, enabling them to diversify income sources. Market linkage fairs will create opportunities for participants to connect with buyers and suppliers, ensuring that their products and produce can reach broader markets. The distribution of Improved Cooking Stoves (ICS) will further support environmentally friendly and sustainable living practices.
Community Engagement and Advocacy
Climate education initiatives in the 18 schools in the target location will foster awareness and resilience among adolescents and youth, preparing the next generation to address climate challenges. Advocacy events at the district and national levels will bring together stakeholders, policymakers, and community representatives to share knowledge and informed and evidence based decision-making policies on climate adaptation and mitigation.
Goal
The goal of this Access-like Micro scholarship Program is to render opportunities for the participants to improve their English skills which will lead to better jobs and educational opportunities, including future exchanges and study in the United States.
Project Summary
Access-Lite is a Micro scholarship Program. The primary goal of this program is to provide opportunities for participants to enhance their English language skills, which can lead to improved job prospects and educational opportunities, including the possibility of future study or exchanges in the United States. The program’s primary objectives are to engage students in meaningful interactions and student-centred learning environments, age-appropriate activities that promote critical thinking, and effective communication, and raise awareness about community issues. Ultimately, the program empowers students to positively contribute to society.
Through this project, necessary skills such as English language skills, digital literacy, personal development, and social-emotional development are taught to underserved students between the ages of 13 and 20. The program has four phases: recruitment of teachers and students, after-school instruction, enhancement activities, and intensive sessions outside the classroom. The program recruits teachers who are proficient in English, experienced in using the communicative language teaching approach, and have worked with the appropriate age group for at least three years. The after-school instruction focuses on communicative English, critical thinking, US culture, democratic values, governance, education system, family, relationship values, health, gender issues, and STEM. The program also conducts enhancement activities such as experience-sharing sessions, service-learning projects, and motivational speeches. Intensive sessions are also held outside of regular class hours.
The project provides these marginalized children with lifelong skills that will help them in building their futures. By improving their English language proficiency and critical thinking skills, the students will have better job opportunities and be better prepared for higher education and US exchange programs. It also exposes the students to US culture, values, and governance, promoting cross-cultural understanding and increasing their global perspectives. Overall, the project positively impacts the students’ personal and academic growth, as well as their future opportunities.
Rationale
Our country’s political and voting situation always causes
fear which creates a lack of interest among the general youth
towards participating in the election.
The purpose of this program was to prepare youth by
constructing their mindfulness on how youth can engage
themselves in shaping a positive election environment and
youth’s right as voters. Thorough this project participants
was able with opportunities to discuss and share their
concerns to their locality, career and education related
demands for 2018 National Election with local government
bodies, policy makers and leaders in meetings.
Objective
To provide youth a sense that their voice matters with
capacity and awareness in shaping Bangladesh’s democratic
future through their participation in the national election.
Activity Details
1. Pre-Workshop Phase
60 new participants were selected to attend the workshop from
each divisional district. Most of the participants were
selected based on their age between 18-28 years, who had
interest in Bangladesh’s democracy and ensuring democratic
rights of citizens and those who had shown interest and
intended to work to ensure youth participation in the election
process of Bangladesh. Curriculum and incentive workshop also
held by professional trainers in preparing participants and
contents for the workshops.
2. Workshops
To help and empower youth to develop their capacity by taking
community initiative for the nation, 480 youth were directly
trained through a two day long 16 workshops which were held in
8 divisional districts of Bangladesh. All the workshops
followed a fixed schedule and were split into two phases. In
the first phase, the trainer discussed democracy and covered
topics which included Election, Voting, and Voting in another
country. To make the workshops interesting, gaming sessions
were also included. In the second phase, the participants were
divided into 5 groups and were given a problem and were asked
to come up with online campaign on “how will you motivate
youth from your locality to vote” using innovative hashtags
related to the problem. They utilized social media platforms
to unveil the issues that matter to them most. Besides, the
participants got involved in fruitful discussion regarding
their locality, career and education related demands for 2018
National Election with local government bodies, policy makers
and leaders in meetings.
3. Post Workshop Phase
The post workshop activities started right after the workshop
in each divisional district. Participants from 8 divisions
conducted round table discussions on the topic “Youth Vote
Matters” with the local government bodies, policy makers, and
leaders of their locality.
A video was posted on social media to create awareness and
gain momentum and inspired youth to run the
“#youthvotematters” online campaign. The purpose of this video
material was to promote why youth’s opinion matters in shaping
the country’s future. The awareness video was viewed 106,000
times and shared 142 times on social media platforms.
Objectives
The USAID Bijoyee project focuses on three key Intermediate Results (IRs) to drive its mission. They are-
- To improve youths' access to economic opportunities.
- To strengthen YLOs.
- To reinforce Local Youth Systems.
Under IR 1, the project improves youth employability by equipping them with practical workforce skills, including soft skills, industry-aligned competencies, and entrepreneurship training. It fosters private sector engagement to create job opportunities and support young entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses.
IR 2 strengthens youth civic engagement by supporting YLOs to lead community-driven initiatives, promote local economic development, and participate in governance structures that encourage self-reliance and leadership.
IR 3 reinforces local institutional capacities by building partnerships among YLOs, private sector entities, and government agencies to improve youth services and expand access to employment and business resources. This ensures a structured, outcome-oriented approach to youth development that aligns with national economic priorities.
Together, these IRs support USAID Bijoyee's goal of creating a more sustainable, youth-driven future in Bangladesh.
Project Summary
The USAID Bijoyee Project aimed at strengthening youth workforce readiness, civic engagement, and locally-driven economic solutions. Implemented by a consortium that includes CARE International, JAAGO Foundation Trust, BYLC, and UCEP, the project provides young people with skills training, business development support, and leadership opportunities to help them succeed in an evolving job market.
Bijoyee primarily targets youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), equipping them with practical skills, business acumen, and job placement support to increase their economic participation. The project operates across 20 key districts in Bangladesh, including Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarbans, Khagrachari, Khulna, Magura, Satkhira, Jashore, Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Rajshahi and Bogura, strategically selected based on economic growth potential, workforce demand, and alignment with government development goals.
JAAGO Foundation Trust leads the implementation of Bijoyee in Dhaka South, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, and Khagrachari districts. Through Bijoyee, JAAGO will equip 55,000 youth with skills and resources to thrive in the job market, strengthen 300 youth-led organizations, and support local economic development initiatives.
Rooted in power shifting and sharing, Bijoyee will model localization, youth leadership, empowerment, and inclusion in its management structure. Additionally, Bijoyee will develop the capacity of 300 grassroots YLOs to support youth civic engagement, access to services, networking, and youth-led advocacy actions.
By prioritizing economic growth, job creation, and local leadership, Bijoyee ensures that youth are empowered to contribute to national development through entrepreneurship, workforce participation, and community engagement.
Note : The Bijoyee Project, implemented in collaboration with USAID, officially concluded following the closure of USAID operations in Bangladesh. We are immensely proud of the impact this initiative has created in empowering youth and strengthening democratic values across communities.
While the project has come to an end, the lessons, tools, and spirit of civic engagement it fostered will continue to shape our ongoing efforts. We remain committed to building on this foundation and advancing our work with young people across Bangladesh.
For transparency and archival purposes, this page remains as part of our Completed Projects portfolio.
Rationale
Women experience fears three times as much as males, despite their documented risk of personal violence being lower. It is argued that women’s fear of crime stems from their concern about the repercussions of violence. The reality of violence is a key component in most women’s lives, and it manifests itself in a variety of everyday settings, which often reflects in their spatial exclusions. It could be argued that this fear may be a result of women’s unequal standing, but the perpetuation of gendered disparities also contributes to this fear. Frequent experiences and incidents of economic, physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual violence evoke circumstances and spaces from which women are barred on account of their gender. The lack of agency for women, their heightened emotions of vulnerability, and lack of social support based on gender-based violence have long-term effects.
Gender-based violence has been described by the World Health Organization as a global public health problem of epidemic proportions and a fundamental violation of human rights. Gender-based violence has profound psychological, medical, economic, and social consequences for the rest of a woman’s life that plague survivors and their families. Violence against women and girls in Bangladesh appears to have further increased during the Covid-19 pandemic with NGO hotlines reporting a rise in distressed calls. Recent surveys and reports have shown that a nearly 70 percent increase in reported incidents of violence against women and girls in March and April 2020 compared to the same time in 2019. This crisis comes at a time when Bangladesh is marking the anniversaries of two landmark pieces of legislation on gender-based violence and entering the final phase of its national plan to build “a society without violence against women and children by 2025.”
Therefore, it is important to sensitize women, men, and communities on the issues that can prevent GBV in the long term. Especially in Bangladesh where currently there is a youth bulge. This entire workforce can work on creating awareness, empowering the communities, and being a part of the policy-changing process that will ensure gender equality in the next 50 years of Bangladesh.
Objective
Capacity building and sensitization of youth leaders on “Fear of violence” and Gender Based Violence.
Activity Details
Activity 01: Capacity building training for youth leaders on Fear of Violence
The capacity building training for youth leaders have conduct in project periods. Five youth leaders from each district were identified, and a total of 20 young people from Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal and Rangpur received a 2-day long residential training physically in Dhaka by a subject-matter expert. They were sensitized on the concept of combatting the fear of violence and the fundamentals of developing local community sensitization campaigns.
Activity 02: Local youth training
The 20 master trainers on the second phase of the campaign initiated community intervention through providing training to the local youths of their respective districts around the concept of Fear of Violence and how to combat the fear. A total of 79 youth were reached through the local community workshops in 4 districts of Bangladesh. During each of the community workshop the local youth participants learn about fundamental human rights, the prevention law of women and children, the dowry prevention law, gender and sex, gender-based violence etc.
Activity 03: Organizing and celebrating IWD- 2022 with the theme #ChallengeFearOfViolence
To celebrate the day, as a part of the advocacy, JAAGO youth leaders from 64 districts started a conversation by posting on social media with the hashtag #ChallengeFearOfViolence. A public event was also launched to raise awareness on the hashtag campaign. A customized Facebook Profile Picture frame was designed which was used by all the participants with the same hashtag in order to prolong the sense of solidarity with the theme.
An imaginary character Dipti was created and introduced through social media as well as later included at the workshops (Act 1 & Act 2). Dipti who is an embodiment of our collective force was created to create resistance against violence against women and children. The aim of this character was to raise the inner consciousness to face and challenge fear of violence, break the bias thus sensitizing the wider audience and community. This was a psycho-social campaign designed and implemented to aware the concept and challenge fear of violence.
Activity 04: National Dialogue on “সহিংসতার ভয় আর নয়”
A national dialogue on “সহিংসতার ভয় আর নয়” named Challenging Fear of Violence was conducted dated on 25 April 2022. The dialogue was attended by youth, policymakers, government representatives, NGO/ INGOs, law enforcement representatives and representatives from JAAGO Foundation and Plan International Bangladesh to discuss the national situation around winning the fear of violence, how laws and policies can become more supportive to the theme, and where the youth stand in this whole process. The panel discussion was conducted by Mohd. Muhibuzzaman, Ms Taslima Yasmin, M.H. Tanshen, Kamrun Nahar, and Maleka Banu. The dialogue further discussed how the local youths can work with the policymakers and government to find a way forward, and how it can avail government support for a broader scale implementation across divisions.
Outcome
- 20 youths from the 4 districts received the capacity building training
- They learned about the different types of violence faced by women as well as about the fear of this violences and how they can address these issues and raise awareness in their communities.
- Youth participants learned about basic concepts on women and child protection law, dowry law, human rights, social identity/gender, equality, equity, gender based violence, and emergency helplines.
- Through participating in debates on “financial violence”, youths gained a clear concept about gender based violence.
- Through the local youth training, 79 local community youth were sensitized around gender based violence, challenging fear of violence and the rule of law around GBV.
- A national dialogue was conducted which was attended by youths, policymakers, government representatives and key stakeholders.
- Youths were able to put forward their concerns in front of the panelists
- Through media coverage, general people have been made aware of gender based violence.
Beneficiary Feedback
One participant from Rangpur, Rakibul Hasan expressed his concern that, “In our patriarchal society, especially in the rural areas, the women are facing mental, physical and financial violence which are often overlooked in our society. Due to this campaign, we have been able to create awareness among the girls and women in the society to take necessary actions in case of any type of violence.”
Amrita Roy, a volunteer from Barishal said, “This campaign has made me aware of my rights, laws, and the types of violence that most women in our society face in their day to day lives. I am certain that many youths, girls and women are unaware about their own rights. Thanks to this campaign we were able to inform people about their rights and laws of our country regarding violence”.
Rationale
Masks are a part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. Most of the people of our country are still unaware of using masks correctly at any crowded place. People have started avoiding masks after getting vaccinated as well. But in this Covid-19 pandemic situation, Volunteer for Bangladesh has started a campaign‘’Apnar Mask Kothay’’ back in November 2020. In that campaign, all the volunteers from 64 districts of Volunteer for Bangladesh raised awareness on using masks properly and its benefits on this pandemic.
Objective
To increase awareness on the importance of wearing masks and social distancing to decrease the risks of contamination of COVID -19 among the people.
Activity Details
“Apnar Mask Kothay” campaign was conducted throughout the country by our youth volunteers of Volunteers for Bangladesh. This campaign was one of the signature event of JAAGO Foundation and Volunteers for Bangladesh, where the youth volunteers of all the 64 districts of Bangladesh reached thousands of people and raised awareness on the importance of wearing masks during the COVID pandemic.
In 2020 and 2021 when the spread of Covid-19 was at its peak, the youth volunteers maintaining their safety protocols, ensured that the people were aware of the disease and the ways of contaminations. They helped the people understand the importance of wearing face masks correctly and distributed thousands of masks to the people all over the country. The campaign also targeted to raise the highest level of awareness among the people in the crowded places during occasions including shopping malls, Puja Pandals, different haat during Eid-ul-Adha etc where the volunteers set up booths to distribute masks those who were without masks.
Besides, between 28th to 31st January 2022, around 7000 youth volunteers actively took part in the campaign. After a proper sensitized training, volunteers distributed masks; awareness leaflets, conducted one-to-one advocacy to bust myths about COVID-19 and provided masks at various spots, including mosques, busy streets, public transports, overbridges, bus stops, and reached about 1 million beneficiaries. The whole campaign was observed maintaining COVID protocols.
With the sudden spike in COVID cases in the country, wearing masks has become more critical than ever. To encourage people, this campaign played a vital role in engaging the public to wear masks and highlight how to properly, safely use them, and dispose of them safely.
Outcome
- Thousands of youth volunteers from all the 64 districts of the country actively participated in the campaign.
- The youths were able to create awareness and disseminate knowledge regarding COVID 19 and safety protocols to approximately 1 million people all over the country.
- The beneficiaries were made aware of wearing face masks correctly, ways to dispose them after use and the importance of social distancing.
Objective
To empower children and youths with necessary learnings, life skills, and training to access improved livelihood opportunities and break the cycle of poverty and hunger.
Project Summary
The project aimed to address the needs of underprivileged students and youth from various Surfing Clubs in Cox’s Bazar and provide them with quality education, life skills, and employment opportunities. The project offered digital tablets to the students to learn basic language, numeracy and computer skills. Qualified teachers from Dhaka conducted lessons on various subjects. WFP’s monthly in-kind food assistance was also distributed among the students. Meetings were held with surfing clubs to provide support and suggestions, and regular meetings were organized to brief stakeholders on the project’s progress. During the project, there was a strong focus on staff capacity development, with teachers and project staff receiving refresher training in various areas, such as academic subjects. This training aimed to enhance their knowledge and skills to better support the students.
Community engagement played a vital role, with activities like courtyard meetings, parent-teacher gatherings, and awareness sessions involving parents. These sessions focused on educating parents about important topics like nutrition, hygiene, and childcare. Additionally, meetings between club heads and project staff were held regularly to address challenges and discuss the students’ future prospects. Surfing training and practice sessions were provided, academic progress was monitored, and students received training in surfing and life-saving skills, earning certificates based on international standards. A perception survey gathered valuable feedback, and a closing ceremony in February 2023 celebrated the project’s success, with students receiving course completion certificates and parents and club heads sharing their project experiences and benefits.
Objectives
- Improve capacity of women and youth on climate adaptive livelihood strategies.
- Reduce gender gap in having access to market services, commodities, and financial inclusion for Girls and Women.
- Raise community awareness about climate change impacts and social issues.
Project Summary
Alternative Climate Adaptive Livelihood for the Vulnerable Communities project aims to enhance sustainable development in Khulna by addressing climate change impacts, empowering marginalized groups such as women and youth, and improving their quality of life through a comprehensive and sustainable approach. Khulna, the most vulnerable coastal region in Bangladesh, is massively affected by heavy rain and flash floods due to climate change that has negative impacts on livelihoods, including agriculture, homestead gardens, and household usage, forcing the poorest people, including women and girls, to struggle for survival. As a result of climate change, Kamarkhola Union in Dacope Upazila is highly affected by flash floods, waterlogging, scarcity of freshwater, and salinity. Climate change and destructive activities result in a scarcity of freshwater that affects livelihoods and reduces employment opportunities. To address these challenges, an alternative livelihood project is proposed, focusing on climate-smart agriculture technology, improved cooking stoves, and community sensitization. The project aims to introduce flood and salinity-tolerant crops and smart cooking stove technology, which can restore degraded land, reduce environmental hazards, and create new livelihood opportunities for women and youth between 18 and 35. Moreover, community sensitization to the effects of climate change on sanitation, hygiene, waste management, child marriage, and gender-based violence is critical to address these issues comprehensively and holistically.
Rationale
This project will seek to address the need for quality education, life skills, and employment opportunities for the underprivileged children and youth of four surfing clubs of Cox’s Bazar through close collaboration with parents and community. In this project, JAAGO Foundation will provide non-formal education to the surfing children and youth for three years. Currently, 100 surfer children and youth from 4 surfing clubs are attending live digital classes on Bangla and English languages, numeracy and financial literacy, environment and tourism, digital literacy, safety, and healthy living. Four trained teachers from Dhaka are taking the classes. Students are attending live classes five days a week two hours in a day. All 100 students are provided with tablets and internet packages to attend the classes. A content development team is developing a learning competency framework, course contents and teachers guidelines for three years based on the national education curriculum of Bangladesh. A need assessment and baseline study has been completed before setting and starting the competencies and content development. To ensure their nutrition and livelihood support each student is getting 4000 tks of monthly food support. In addition, they are being provided lifeguard training weekly. The project activities will support these children to get quality education to improve their learning and life skills to get better access to livelihood opportunities and to be a better citizen of the country.
Objective
This project is to strengthen existing local efforts and create learning, development, and livelihood opportunities for children and youth in Cox’s Bazar. The objectives are below at a glance:
- To equip children and youth with the learning, life skills, and training they need to access better livelihood opportunities and break the cycle of poverty and hunger
- Enhance school retention among those enrolled
- Cover the basic daily food and nutritional needs of children and families engaged in the program.
Activity Details
- Conducting digital live classes and students are attending classes through zoom with the provided Tablets and internet data package.
- Conducted need assessment and baseline survey to know project beneficiaries and their learning.
- Developing learning competency framework, course contents and teaching guidelines for three years program based on the national non formal education curriculum of Bangladesh.
- Providing monthly food assistance of BDT.4000 to each beneficiary.
- Providing lifeguard training weekly.
Objective
To improve public health and to create safe public spaces for women and girls through social behaviour change communication (SBCC) by engaging and mobilising youths in Rajshahi City.
Project Summary
In the Safe Now project, a critical issue is being addressed – the improvement of public toilets to make them safer and more accessible. Public toilets in many urban areas, especially in low-income communities, are often in poor condition and not safe for women and girls to use. A study conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh and UKAid found that more than 90% of public toilets run by city corporations are unusable due to being untidy, dark, insecure, and poorly designed. They are also insufficient in number and not suitable for use by men, let alone women and people with disabilities. This situation can lead to the spread of diseases and poses a serious public health risk.
To tackle this problem, the Safe Now Campaign is working to optimise sanitation facilities in public spaces, especially for women and girls. Youth participation is crucial in this campaign because young people can reach a broader audience and help change people’s behaviour. By involving and mobilising youth at the community level, the campaign can monitor and ensure the implementation of SafeNow indicators, ultimately leading to improved public health outcomes. The campaign’s primary goal is to improve access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities in public places, and by doing so, it has the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially women and girls, by promoting their health and well-being. This project contributes to building a better and more equitable society. Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD) is actively participating in this project.
The Safe Now Campaign begins with orienting the youths of Rajshahi and conducting orientation workshops to equip them with knowledge and responsibilities. Youth representatives will also participate in stakeholder meetings to share experiences and insights. The campaign focuses on conducting on-ground campaigns in various public spaces across the city, engaging in location selection, and distributing leaflets to raise awareness about safe sanitation. Furthermore, JAAGO Foundation will create communication assets, including case stories and films, to highlight the campaign’s positive impact and will use social media platforms for online awareness. These activities aim to improve access to safe and hygienic public toilets, particularly for women and girls, promoting a healthier and more equitable society.
Rationale
Moheshkhali is a coastal island, situated in the southeast of Bangladesh, and because of its geographical position, it is vulnerable to all types of hazards. Because of the remoteness as per the District ranking tables by the indicator of UNICEF published in 20091 the pre-primary school attendance rate falls under the below-average category. Literacy rate 30.8% in 2011. (Male 30.5% and Female 31.1%) and the number of government primary schools 47, Number of teachers 286 (M 142, F 144). Considering the situation, alternative and innovative measures are required to meet the quality education need of the primary school children of Moheshkhali.
The project was aimed to overcome geographical distance through ICT to spread the light of quality education in Moheshkhali Island using the Online School model of JAAGO Foundation with the help of high-speed internet. Under this project, three teachers from JAAGO’s teacher’s training center situated in Rayer Bazar, Dhaka taught the English language to about 2,000 students across three primary schools with the help of e-learning services. JAAGO executed the project from two separate sides. One was the distance learning education program for the English language and capacity development of school end teachers (local teachers). The local teachers or school end teachers received training throughout the project period on basic computer skills and maintenance of IT facilities.
Objective
To create distance learning equal opportunities for school-going children of 10 primary schools in Moheshkhali Island of Cox’s Bazar through ICT technology.
Activity Details
JAAGO collaborated with the International Office of Migration (IOM) and the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to provide English Language teaching through the distance education program to 9,300 children in Moheshkhali Island with 10 government primary schools funded by IOM and Korean Telecom. JAAGO developed 1 online course, including 13 videos for teacher training on classroom management techniques in Muktopath (An open and free e-Learning platform) free of cost with a2i (Access to Information), which is highly used and appreciated by teachers. Currently, more course contents are under development.
The first and second phase of this program was completed with the focus to provide high-speed internet network service in all ten schools, with well-equipped multimedia classrooms set up and building up local capacity in the usage of various online tools. Both phases have contributed significantly to meet the objectives with multiple challenges. Around September 2019, IOM and JAAGO Foundation completed its third phase of the distance learning program’s operation to make the changes and meet the project’s objectives. The third phase of the project specifically targeted to develop a sustainability plan and institutionalization of the project interventions to provide long-term benefits for both school teacher students and community people. This phase significantly improved access to existing online educational content and enhanced knowledge on English language and literature using digital content and multimedia classrooms for 4,000 students of class 1 to class 3 of 10 targeted project schools.
Objective
To support the students and community teachers of JAAGO Bandarban School residing in remote locations with school bus transportation facilities to and from the school.
Project Summary
In the Bandarban district, the JAAGO Foundation has completed a project that significantly improved the transportation situation for students and teachers of the JAAGO Foundation Bandarban School. The project aimed to make it easier for students to access education in this challenging region by providing a school bus facility.
The Bandarban district, located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, posed difficulties in commuting due to its hilly terrain, making it hard for students to reach schools. As a result, the dropout rate of the region is high due to the long and arduous commutes. The JAAGO Foundation Digital School of Bandarban had 234 students, with around 150 living nearby and 84 living far away. Through this project, the school received a school bus from the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. This bus now transports 85 students and 11 teachers to and from the school on a daily basis and plans to accommodate more as the number of students grows.
The project’s outcome was evident as student attendance improved, dropout numbers decreased, and students had a safer and more convenient means of reaching school. This initiative positively affected both the students and the community, contributing to a more accessible and thriving educational environment in Bandarban.
Rationale
Young people (18-35 years) constitute one-third of
Bangladesh’s population (BBS, 2015). This youth bulge offers a
great potential of demographic dividend for the country, which
will end in 2040. Harvesting the benefits of demographic
dividends depends on how young the people will be integrated
into the development process. This workshop and online
dialogue were needed for future generations to be inspired to
participate in democracy and good governance.
Objective
To developed a positive relationship between youth and the
political representatives to create a positive impact at the
policy level concerning youth roles in democracy and good
governance.
Activity Details
Registration: Social media shared a call for
registration among the youth. A total of 64 participants from
64 districts across the country were selected based on their
knowledge of governance and democracy for joining the event.
Workshop: A sensitization workshop engaged
youth in understanding good governance and empowering their
understanding of democratic values to life, leading to the
overturning of authoritarian practices. It focused on
strengthening their mindset on asking questions relevant to
democracy and good governance. The workshop comprised group
works and explored new youth perspectives on the challenges
and opportunities of democratic inclusion in theory and
practice. This workshop allowed the youth to envision the
country’s growth in the next 50 years. A facilitator was
present in the workshop to guide the learning.
Online Dialogue: With the presence of 5
multi-party youth leaders as panelists, the dialogue was
effective and eventful as 64 youth from 64 districts shared
their views, expectations, and involvement in the democratic
process of the country.
Rationale
Youth are the future leaders. Ensuring their participation in free and fair elections is a political and democratic right they enjoy as citizens of Bangladesh. Particularly the young and educated groups of voters are showing increasing distaste for our present political culture. In a nationwide youth survey conducted in December 2011 by Institute of Governance Studies in BRAC University, about 80 percent youth showed repugnance for student politics and a general distrust of the present political parties. With the recent political upheavals on the issue of war crimes tribunal and caretaker government, there are reports that many young voters would prefer not to cast their voting rights or retain the provision of ‘no’ vote as a means of expressing their discontent. That’s why this project has been devised to evaluate the general perception of the new generation of Bangladeshi youth about their expectations from Bangladeshi politics and also find out their general acuity on election process, democracy and national political culture.
The purpose of this program was to find out the changed perception of the new generation of educated youth about the practice of democratic rights in the country and their expectation from the existing political parties in the country. Through this project, we understand what this vast population of youth has to say regarding matters that benefit their welfare, both as citizens of Bangladesh and as change makers for tomorrow.
Objective
This study aims to analyze the perception of the youth in the context of the current socio-political scenario across seven divisional districts of Bangladesh – Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet. Additionally, to assess youths’ career aspirations and perception towards their country, leaders and local community.
Activity Details
The project has two components – research and campaign which was conducted in three phases:
Pre-campaign Phase
The research was conducted in 7 universities in 7 divisional districts Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet. The research tools used in this phase are mainly FGD and Survey. A total of 45 FGD discussions were held across the seven cities. On average, 20 participants were present in a FGD discussion. Nationwide around 900 people took part in these FGDs. The participants were randomly selected from a group of people aged between 18 to 30 years and residing in all divisional districts.The FGDs have been chosen to articulate their general perception on political culture, election and democratic process in Bangladesh. Quantitative data have been collected through surveys from 1,450 respondents in seven divisional districts. The survey was focused on their expectations and social, economic and political rights that youth have in the current global environs. This phase is focused on researching the perception of youth voters on the political culture and democratic process in Bangladesh and the needs and expectations of the new generation of voters.
Developing 'Youth University Democracy Network'
In this+ phase we selected 5 youth ambassadors from each university (35 ambassadors in 7 districts) based on their merit, response and activism based on a screening test. Five youth ambassadors from each of the 7 districts were trained in a different session on concepts like democratic principles and practices, peace and conflict resolution, role of youth and student leader, use of social media, project management (focusing on social campaigning projects) etc.
Campaign
According to the research outcome we prepared campaign messages, AVs (audio visuals) and social media campaigns which went live from April 2014. We launched a customized website and facebook page for reaching the youth voters. Our marketing campaign was separate for urban and rural regions. In the urban region, our focus was on facebook and websites and in the rural region we relied on leaflets and handouts for raising awareness among the voters. The AVs were made to target the youth in general throughout the country. The youth ambassadors were given the responsibility for campaigning in their respective areas.
Rationale
Young people (18-35 years) constitute one-third of Bangladesh population (BBS, 2015). This youth bulge offers a great potential of demographic dividend for the country which is going to end in 2040. Harvesting the benefits of demographic dividend depends on how young people are integrated into the development process. According to UNDP, achieving the 2030 Agenda will require strong partnerships between young people and all stakeholders so that the challenges faced by youth are addressed, contributions recognized and included at all levels of decision-making.
Taking note of this context, ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) and JAAGO FOUNDATION aimed to work collaboratively to take forward the agenda of democratic participation of young people and youth-led accountability to delivery of SDGs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion was needed for future generations to be inspired to stand up to communalism, anti-democratic stances, and extreme values.
Objective
- To contribute in policy interventions that create space for young people in the decision-making process at all levels
- To promote the inclusion of young people in the COVID-19 response mechanism to make COVID-19 response more inclusive and accountable.
Activity Details
A virtual dialogue “Promoting Youth Participation in the Democratic Space and Accountability of SDGs” was organized through social media on 8 August 2021 collaboratively by ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) and JAAGO Foundation, to promote youth’s democratic participation and youth-led accountability in policy interventions and delivery of SDGs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approximately 30 youth from all over the country received a platform in which they can communicate freely and directly with policymakers and youth stakeholders in Bangladesh. Politicians, civil society members, student political leaders, various organizational leaders, as well as youngsters and volunteers from all across Bangladesh were present. The discussion focused on the challenges and prospects encountered by youth in the political process, as well as methods for young people to participate in Bangladesh’s administration. Simultaneously, it also addressed how Bangladesh’s youths can effectively express themselves through creative, democratic actions, viewpoints, and mindset.
This discussion took place for the youth generation to connect with the political leaders and youth leaders, the youth were enthusiastic to ask questions on entrepreneurship, employment, and skill development, as well as understand their ability to grow as leaders in the change process and raise their voices.
Rationale
Election violence is a well-known phenomenon to many people
who in the process get injured and killed during every
national election. Many political leaders are unwilling to
defeat and often resort to violence to try and foil the
election results. They also seek to validate their violent
activities, claiming those as protests for the fraudulent
result of the election. It is seen that these violent
activities are mostly carried out by the youth wing of the
political parties. It causes fear for women and men and
creates a lack of interest among the general youth towards
participating in the election.
The purpose of this program was to promote peace through
youth-led initiatives before and after the 2018 National
Election in Bangladesh. Through this project, the youth were
able to engage in constructive conversations with influential
members of political parties, candidates of constituencies,
members of civil society and press. So that it helps to
promote the peaceful political and election culture.
Objective
Create and promote peace through youth led initiatives in 7
districts of Bangladesh for National Election 2018.
Activity Details
1. Workshops and Town Hall meeting
A total of 785 participants attended the workshop and
townHall meeting discussions from 7 locations. The key issues
that were discussed were the locality problems and probable
solutions,youth expectation from the government administration
politicians, candidates and political workers to maintain
peace before and after the Election Day.
2. Debate Sessions
The participants from the workshops and town hall meetings
also engaged in 7 debate sessions in 7 districts of
Bangladesh. Two groups were formed (Winning Party and
Opposition Party) who discussed the issues talked upon during
the workshop and TownHall meetings. The 314 participants were
given one topic to openly discuss the prospects and challenges
of implementing the selected topic.
3. Post election Dialogue
The six post-election discussions were held in Dhaka,
Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Bogura, Comilla, and Narayanganj, a
total of 310 youth and participants from political parties,
civil society and press were engaged in discussions. The
dialogue focused on skill development and self-employment,
accountability for government service to end corruption,
society free from drugs and extremism, opportunity for
recreation, mental health and physical development. Overall,
the goal was to ensure peace is promoted during the transition
period after the national election.
Objective
Increase awareness and youth participation in the electoral process, ensuring their voices and concerns are recognised and addressed by authorities.
Project Summary
JAAGO Foundation is currently engaged in a project focused on raising awareness and improving knowledge dissemination regarding electoral participation among youths. This initiative directly benefits approximately 2500 youths across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. The project includes a series of youth-led debates, political dialogues, and voter awareness workshops that engage and inform the youth.
The project encompasses a perception survey conducted among first-time voters to understand their perspectives on voting, the election process, and key election-related topics. Subsequently, a series of debates and dialogues will take place, focusing on vital electoral issues and opening discussions on matters like road safety, education, health concerns, environmental issues, and job safety, all highly relevant to the future of the youth. This component also invites representatives from political parties to observe these debates and participate in panel discussions, fostering informed conversations among young, first-time voters.
Additionally, the project addresses election integrity monitoring. A comprehensive module and survey questionnaire are developed for youths to analyse election integrity through media and public perception. Young individuals are selected and provided with capacity-building training on election integrity monitoring. These participants spread across ten constituencies all over Bangladesh, work to gather information from various election-related stakeholders and monitor media channels for election-related incidents, which are analysed to understand Bangladesh’s overall situation.
The project’s primary output focused on strengthening and expanding the Human Rights Education Club in Bangladesh. This involved the training and empowerment of 20 youth leaders who gained a deep understanding of human rights and other related issues. The initiative was meant to help people learn more about important human rights issues like bullying, teaching girls how to defend themselves, and understanding the rights of individuals. Through the active involvement in community initiatives, the youth leaders acted as agents of change, fostering a culture of human rights and actively working to prevent and address human rights violations. Their endeavors aimed to draw attention to these critical issues and advocate for the implementation of measures to safeguard and promote human rights for all individuals in Bangladesh.
Project Activity Summary
The project initiated a “Call for Action” campaign across social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, to encourage youth engagement in the Human Rights Club. Special attention was given to ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups within communities. Following this call, a rigorous selection process identified 20 youths out of over 450 applicants, representing diverse backgrounds in terms of age, gender, caste, race, socio-economic status and disability. These selected participants attended a two-day capacity-building training session in Dhaka, covering various aspects of human rights, problem identification, project planning, implementation strategies, and project monitoring and evaluation.
Once trained, participants formed 10 teams and were tasked with identifying human rights issues within their communities and proposing community action projects. Each team submitted one project proposal, resulting in the selection of three projects for implementation. These selected projects received seed funding, and all club members had the opportunity to contribute to these initiatives based on their preferences.
Before commencing the on-ground action projects, a virtual refresher training session was conducted for all 20 youth members via Zoom. This session aimed to reinforce their knowledge and skills related to human rights education, project planning, and community action project strategies. Through these activities, the project empowered and equipped the youth leaders to address human rights challenges in their communities effectively.
Over a two-month period, the project successfully implemented three community action initiatives in Dhaka. The first one is about Self-Defense for Women which empowered 150 participants with self-defense skills through workshops. Another one was focused on Speech for Peace which shared anti-bullying video speeches, reaching 259 users on Facebook. The third initiative was designed to raise awareness about gender equality. It conducted an interactive session at Dweep Ideal School, engaging 100 students and teachers, fostering understanding and empathy towards every individual. These community action initiatives showcased the youth leaders’ commitment to addressing community issues and driving positive change through education and awareness.