Among the hopeful youth at American Center
Recently, GEIST International Foundation organised a youth leadership training session for the English Access Micro Scholarship Program students, where along with Munif Khan, a YES alumnus, Mohammad Shahed Ali TEA alumnus, I, Farjana Ahmed Annan, a SUSI alumnus and Muhammad Ferdaus, a CCI alumnus, were present as trainers. This programme started in 2004 where 150,000 students in more than 80 countries participated to bring changes in their society. In Bangladesh, it is being funded by the US Department of State and implemented by GEIST International Foundation where underprivileged students aged between 13 and 17 are provided with two years of education in English and leadership training. 46 Access students are currently involved in this programme and the session will continue till 2020.
As a trainer, I truly felt inspired during the session. The dreams of the students included becoming software and hardware engineers, serving the US Navy, working to make the youth love books more than gadgets, contributing to the cultural sector of Bangladesh and so on. The hardships they faced in their lives did not stop them from following their ambitions. What I truly wanted the Access students to know was that having faith in the importance of self-love and their own capabilities will take them ahead in life. Watching them listening to me so attentively gave me hope for a better future of my country. If more students like them could receive opportunities to attend leadership training sessions and scholarships for quality education, Bangladesh will have a bright and reliable workforce that will make us proud.
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