BYLC awards changemakers

Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) awarded Tk 750,000 grants each to 10 groups of young changemakers, who will implement different development initiatives across the country.

It hosted an award giving ceremony on this occasion at the capital's Le Méridien hotel on November 27, said a BYLC press release yesterday.

With support from UKAid, BYLC launched the BYLC Youth Leadership Prize on August 24, following the Youth Leadership Summit-2016. Graduates of BYLC leadership programmes were invited to apply with project ideas that can create a significant social impact.

Addressing the ceremony, Ejaj Ahmad, BYLC founder and president, said, "The Youth Leadership Prize is a part of our efforts to transform the quality of leadership in Bangladesh. By enabling our graduates who are equipped with the appropriate leadership skills to take on social initiatives, we aim to demonstrate the power of youth in leading change in Bangladesh."

The groups are Waste Free Bangladesh, LLC for Dropouts, Ground Zero, Younifi, Zhink, Aroggo and Pandora from Dhaka, Green Power from Barisal, Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management from Cox's Bazar and Aqualine from Mymensingh.

Joel Harding, governance team leader of DFID Bangladesh, said, "These young leaders are an inspiration to all in their commitment to solving problems and drive forward change in their communities. They demonstrate that real leadership is about mobilizing others to act."

BYLC Chairperson Akhter Matin Chaudhury, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat and UN Resident Coordinator Robert Watkins also spoke at the event attended by guests from private, public and civil sectors. Adrian Jones, head of political section at the British High Commission, handed over the awards to the recipients.

BYLC began its journey in 2008 when Ejaj and Shammi Quddus received a $10,000 Kathryn Davis Peace Prize to run "Building Bridges through Leadership Training" programme in Chittagong. Having trained more than 3,000 young people through different leadership programmes in the last eight years, BYLC sought to give its graduates the chance to transform their ideas into action.