2024 Youth Empowerment Summit: Shaping Tomorrow’s Bangladesh, Today

The 2024 Youth Empowerment Summit (YES), a signature training program by JAAGO Foundation, was held from February 22-24 with over 400 youths from all across Bangladesh. It’s a great opportunity for future leaders to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange opinions, unleash their inner potential and be inspired by the speakers and esteemed guests. The event hosted three empowering sessions focused on empowering youths with knowledge and skill development opportunities to guide them towards a brighter future.

The first session was conducted by partnering up with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and USAID, titled ‘National Civic Awareness Seminar for the Youth’. 

The session aimed to advance civic education and nurture youth leadership. Featuring keynotes, discussions, and creative showcases; the seminar underscored the vital role of civic education in empowering young individuals and fostering community development. Highlights included an inspiring address by IRI’s Resident Program Director, Kregg Halstead, and a dynamic panel discussion on civic engagement and national youth policy.

A compelling drama, ‘We Can’, along with a parliamentary debate on the youth’s role in politics, emphasised civic engagement’s significance. The ‘Showcasing Bangladesh’ segment highlighted the nation’s cultural diversity through local crafts and food, promoting cultural exchange and economic empowerment. Additionally, Peer-Organised Discussion (POD) groups facilitated a deeper understanding of leadership and community service roles among participants, encouraging them to plan actionable civic education initiatives in their communities. Korvi Rakshand, Chairman of JAAGO Foundation Trust, and Kregg Halstead from IRI both emphasised the potential of the youth as change-makers and future leaders.

Korvi Rakshand said, “Let’s renew our commitment to fostering a generation of empowered young change-makers. By equipping our youth with the knowledge, tools and opportunities to engage actively in the civic process through embracing volunteerism and leadership roles, we can hope for a better future for Bangladesh. Together, let us amplify their voices, providing the platform and guidance they need to shape a brighter tomorrow for all.”

“As Nelson Mandela said–’The youth of today are the future leaders of tomorrow’. And by their very existence and rapid coming of age, they embody, personify, and represent positive change. Only they are not burdened with the status quo of the rapidly disappearing past, allowing them to see effectively, critically, and analytically how all aspects of life can be improved. Together and collectively, their community involvement, activism, volunteerism, and time and attention to any problem or issue will change our world for the better,” said Kregg Halstead, IRI Resident Program Director to Bangladesh.

The second session was hosted by JAAGO and UNICEF, focusing on Youth Skill Development through the launch of a digital learning platform, ‘Passport to Earning (P2E)’.

This half-day event aimed to foster youth leadership and skill development, introducing participants to the Passport to Earning (P2E) program. P2E is a digital learning platform designed to empower youths with essential skills for employment, entrepreneurship and social impact. Marianne Oehlers, Programme Manager, Generation Unlimited Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of skill training in preparing youth for their future endeavours. Chairman of JAAGO Foundation Trust, Mr Korvi Rakshand, emphasised the role of skills in unlocking the collective potential of Bangladesh’s youth, empowering them to become valuable employees, effective leaders, and agents of positive change. 

Marianne Oehlers said, “Investing in employable skills for young people, especially girls and young women is not just about job readiness for the individual, but also for building a brighter future for Bangladesh. Today is a very special day as we are launching Passport to Earning (P2E) right here at the Youth Empowerment Summit with over 400 youth leaders from across the country. P2E is a new digital learning platform for employment, entrepreneurship and social impact opportunities designed with, for and by young people and employers in Bangladesh. The platform offers free and certified quality courses designed with young people in mind and validated by employers with a focus on the practical application of knowledge! Over the next three years, together with Jaago Foundation Trust, Volunteer for Bangladesh and other public, private and youth partners, we aim to reach every corner of Bangladesh and engage at least 350,000 young people in this exciting opportunity!”

The seminar concluded with the introduction of courses offered on the P2E platform, showcasing their effectiveness through expert demonstrations and interactive sessions.

The third session, titled ‘YES to Shabdhane Online-A’ marked the extension of the partnership between TikTok and JAAGO Foundation to promote online safety among Bangladeshi youths through their collaborative initiative, “Shabdhane Online-A”.

Launched two years ago, Shabdhane Online-A has been pivotal in educating young users on responsible social media use and safe internet practices. The initiative, targeting individuals aged 16 to 25, emphasises capacity building, community sensitisation, and leveraging social media for awareness creation. Covering all 28 districts across Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisions, with current activity in Khulna Division, the campaign has engaged nearly 1,000 participants directly through workshops. Additionally, online engagement has been robust, with the #ShabdhaneOnline hashtag garnering over 2,000 content pieces, reaching 2 million individuals and generating more than 12 million impressions. 

The session also celebrated the creativity and engagement of young content creators through a content competition, with winners being awarded for their contributions to safer internet practices. This initiative not only highlighted the creative potential of the youth but also emphasised the importance of responsible online behaviour.

The extension of this partnership underscores the commitment of TikTok and JAAGO Foundation to fostering a safer online environment and promoting positive digital engagement among Bangladesh’s youth.

The participants of the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) also enjoyed a cultural session organised by their peers. To foster team building, a sense of togetherness and healthy competition, a sports session was also organised for the young change-makers. To mark the end of the event, a musical night was also arranged.