Completed Projects

Youth as change agent for social cohesion

Supported by: Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF

Project locations:  Project Office, Sherpur Sardar, Sherpur

Rationale: Violent extremism, drug’s usage, pornography and misuse of ICT among youth are increasing rapidly day by day in our country which are resulting declination of social cohesiveness, peace and harmony in the society and state by large. Hence, social unrest, turmoil and unstable situation are becoming common scenario. To encounter and reverse those odds and negative consequences, there is necessity to organize and involve youth to make them as committed change agents. The proposed project is planned and designed to address this situation focusing youth’s role.

Goal: Created enabling environment for building peace, harmony and social cohesion in the project area

Outcomes:

  • 2100 Youths are involved in community level voluntary activities in the project areas.
  • 1700 Youths are refrained from anti-social activities (pornography, drug, extremism)
  • 175 Youth are involved with economic/ employment opportunities
  • 220 youth’s Representation in different local forums and bodies/ youth forums

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in Gross national income. While the economic growth of Bangladesh is praiseworthy, the inequality is increasing. The social condition; intolerance, political conflict, social and gender based violence is frequent and the security concern is in rise.

The violence against women and children, girls and boys has been raised in alarming proportion. According to report of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), violence against children in the period of January-August 2017, the total number is 666. During the same period, the cases of rape published in newspapers are 464 and death after rape is 27. The actual of violence against women and children is much higher than what is published in media.

While the energy, creativity and productivity of the youth population is contributing to the economic growth Bangladesh, at the same time they are the victims of violence as well as the perpetrators. They are the most vulnerable to be recruited by the political actors promoting religious militancy and violent extremism.

According to the BBS (2016) youth population (age 15-29) in Bangladesh is about one third of total population. Over the next ten years, working age population expected to grow more than 2.2 million annually. The youth unemployment rate has been increased significantly and expected that only 40% of them would be able to get jobs in the next decade (ILO, 2015). The unemployed youth are the most vulnerable to be engaged in political violence, violent extremism, communal violence, crimes, drug abuse, and to join in anti social activities.  During the period of January-August 2017 (ASK), 39 were killed, 3129 injured in 234 number of political violence; most of them are youth.

The literacy rate has significantly improved in Bangladesh. Perhaps the most crucial issue is the quality of education, as the skill and competence required for job is not provided by the education. The indigenous knowledge, cultural practices of caring & cooperation, collective initiatives like youth club & voluntarism replaced by partisan affiliation, religion based identity politics, abuse of drug and improper use of technology.

Within the family, the cohesiveness declined.The patriarchal family structure has new generational conflicts. All these have effects on the psyche of youth who become alienated, frustrated, insecure and more vulnerable to violent extremism, drug, crime, pornography and other anti social activities.

It is the same picture in the project area. Considering the situation, it is the youth who could play the crucial for bringing change in education and cultural condition so that Bangladesh can overcome the problem of inequality, unemployment and all forms of violence. To be able to play constructive role for progressive change in their life and society, youth need multi dimensional support, they need an enabling environment andown institution as vehicle for their social action for building peace and harmony. They need knowledge on active citizenship and social change methods, leadership skills and capacity to analyze and act as a change agent and vocational skills for economic engagement. Youth should be given opportunity to integrate their own village community as an active citizen so that they are able to change their community towards democratic development, peace, harmony and overall well being.