By Mobashir Monim, YES Bangladesh 2012-2013

Our current generation is often accused of being inactive and not doing enough work to help the community. GYSD proves that these accusations have been wrongfully made. Here in Bangladesh, about 30 YES alumni worked together to hold several youth organized projects. These projects include “Click to Save Rivers”, “Debate on Environment”, “Leaders for Safe Water”, “Crowd-Funding for Safe Water”, “Water Way Washing” and “Farewell to Filth, Hello to Health”. All these projects were exceptionally planned to bring up all the problems surrounding water pollution, water preservation, water and hygiene and water purification and to engage youth in solving these problems. A video was created at the end to show the impact these projects had on the community.

“Click to Save Rivers” incited the youth K-12 from all over the country to take pictures of our rivers to show their current condition and the consequences thereof. Each participant submitted a picture with a small description about the reason of the state of the rivers and these were posted on social networking sites for the masses to view. From these pictures submitted, only one will be selected and awarded with a trophy. The rest of the participants will receive certificates for their participation. Project organizer and YES alumna Arunima Bhattacharjee holds stead fast to the idea that “it is certainly small now, but Rome was not built in a day.”

Likewise, “Debate on Environment” organized a debate competition for future leaders in Dhaka where they debated on the best method of restoring the state of the environment in earlier times and the rivers' coexistance with nature. Also, children from grades six and seven made extemporaneous speeches on the importance of this coexistence and on why the environment needs to be restored. The goal of this project was to make future leaders feel a responsibility for the condition of the environment now and in the future.

“Leaders for Safe Water” similarly took 21 participants from different schools in Dhaka and trained them on how to be leaders, as well as helped them develop their leadership skills. This workshop was held at the EMK center, Dhaka and also taught the participants about how to prevent water pollution and its consequences.

“Crowd-Funding for Safe Water,” conducted by YES alumna Mayeesha Kamal, held a workshop at Oxford International School in Dhaka and taught the students of grades seven through nine about the importance of safe water. The students were also briefed on how they can take the lead in raising awareness within their community by holding similar seminars and raising funds to buy water supplies to be be donated to households in rural areas. The students then did just this by making handicrafts, which were sold at the school fair, and which yielded funds that were then donated to an underprivileged community to improve the quality of its drinking water.

Moreover, “Water Way Washing” held a workshop with the YES 12 finalists at the American Centre, Dhaka to instruct them on the causes of river pollution and its consequences, prevention methods and water purification techniques and their importance and consequences, and measures they can take to create awareness among the locals. Participants also accompanied a group of underprivileged children from an organization called Smallfoot to river banks in their own districts to clean them up. Participants from outside Dhaka selected a river bank in their own districts from which to remove trash. The participants explained to the children what they had learned, so that they could drink safe water and could also take actions to prevent river pollution. Lastly, participants held workshops at their own schools and in an underprivileged community to teach others what they had learned at the initial workshop. “Our goal is not to inspire the hundreds among a thousand, but rather encourage that one among that thousand take action for the betterment of the community,” said project organizer and YES alumnus Mobashir Monim. 

Lastly, “Farewell to Filth, Hello to Health” was organized by Shomy Hasan Chowdhury, YES 2011-201 and took place at the Sweepers' Colony in Mymensingh. The project sought to educate the sweepers and 150 of their families (a total of 750 people) on hygiene and water purification. Chief Medical Officer of Bangladesh Agriculture University, Dr. Md Shahadat Hussain talked about health awareness and nutrition and FAO-UN Food Safety Expert Hasan Ahmmed Chowdhury gave lectures on food safety. An easy water filtration technique and proper hand washing technique were also demonstrated. Because there is not adequate medical help in the colony, the hope is that the hygiene training will keep them from falling sick too often. The main attraction of the event was "Trashmob," a trash collection contest. The winner collected trash worth 11 kg and won a 5,000 taka cash prize. The deserving winner was an 11 year-old kid with a handicapped mother. The community found this competition a very fun and unique way to run a cleanup session. 

This project has given the YES Alumni Bangladesh an opportunity to work closely on the iEARN project, "Our Rivers, Our World." All involved have developed a deep understanding of the need to improve the water system and create awareness in society through community service and leadership. This project has not only helped many youth become aware of the environment, but has also, through increasing awareness, helped improve the lives of hundreds of other individuals who might have otherwise had the unfortunate circumstance of suffering from a water-borne disease. It is the project organizers' hope that this project will help the people of Bangladesh help themselves, and in turn help the rivers of Bangladesh. A YES 12 finalist shared, “I would like to thank the YES Alumni Bangladesh for taking such an initiative and I am proud to be a part of this workshop.” 

To see more photos from these projects, visit the YES Alumni Bangladesh Facebook page.