18-year-old Imran is a student in Grade 12 of Amtali Government Degree College. He comes from a under privileged family of 06, where the main sources of income are his father and brother, who are engaged in farming and selling sanitary latrines at the local market. Since childhood, Imran has been very dynamic rebellious. The schoolteachers often disliked him because of these traits.
When the Adolescent and Youth (A&Y) Club was formed in 2021 in the village of Chotanilganj with the support of Educo’s STAY Project, the members of the club, who knew Imran to be an amazing leader, elected him as the General Secretary. Although many criticized it at first, Imran’s participation and leadership in the club’s activities successfully altered this notion. He received ToTs on Rights and governance, Life skills and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Child protection and gender equity from the STAY project, and then successfully arranged trainings for the club members. His participation in both the formation of drama troupes and acting in dramas on child marriage and prevention of violence against women has caught the community’s attention. Moreover, under his leadership, meetings are organized to stop violence against women.
Imran said with a smile on his face, “I did not have the courage to speak or attend any meeting or event, now I can conduct meetings and trainings successfully and convincingly! The teachers at my school did not like me before and would barely pay any heed to what I say, but now they are cooperating with us through engaging in the activities of the club and providing us new opportunities as well. Our self-esteem has grown, we want to make our village and Amtali Upazila child marriage free, drug free and harassment free!”. Imran’s leadership development has aided in not just his personal transformation, but also in the transformation of an entire generation of his area.
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