In an era where health and sustainability are at the forefront of global conversations, a dynamic group of 250 youth volunteers spanned out across 25 districts in Bangladesh. They didn’t just aim to mitigate the spread of the virus but also aspired to infuse awareness about the environment into their communities.
The young activists kicked off their mission by distributing reusable, environmentally friendly three-layered cloth masks. Not content with just distributing 100 masks per district, they leveraged the opportunity to educate people about the detrimental environmental impacts of negligently discarded single-use masks. Their commitment shone through as they also cleaned up their communities, collecting over 50,000 strewn single-use masks.
But the volunteers wanted to leave a lasting impression—something that would stay even when they moved on to their next project. So, they displayed 500 steel signboards and embellished more than 50 walls with eye-catching graffiti across 25 districts. These visual cues were far from decorative; they bore critical messages urging citizens to get vaccinated and maintain proper hygiene practices.
In a compassionate touch, the volunteers also engaged with the community members directly, asking about their socio-economic conditions during these troubled times. They especially focused on the employment issues that plagued the youth during the pandemic, gathering data and experiences that would serve as valuable insights for policy recommendations.
The young leaders culminated their efforts in a grassroots consultation where they were able to present their findings directly to city mayors. Their presentation wasn’t merely a laundry list of problems but also included actionable recommendations on tackling Covid-19, climate change, and youth employment challenges. The mayors took note, recognizing that these youth were not just part of the future—they were actively shaping it.
