Project Details

Title :   Delivering Life Skills Education, Life Enhancement, and Youth for Peace to adolescent and youth in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Description :   From April 2022 to September 2025, a comprehensive youth empowerment initiative was implemented in both Rohingya camps and host communities of Cox’s Bazar with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The program was designed to empower adolescents and youth by equipping them with essential life skills, fostering peacebuilding and social cohesion, and creating opportunities for livelihood enhancement. The project was implemented across Camps 1W, 8W, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20 Extension, and 27, as well as in host communities including Teknaf Pourashava, Rajapalong Union, Kutupalong Host Community, Cox’s Bazar Pourashava, and Maheshkhali Pourashava. The initiative reached 4,085 adolescent boys, 2,385 male caregivers, 1,540 key community stakeholders, and 160 shopkeepers, creating a broad network of individuals committed to positive social change. At the heart of the program was a community-driven approach that recognized the importance of engaging not only young people but also the influential figures around them. Through the implementation of the Champions of Change (CoC) curriculum, peer-to-peer learning activities, community training sessions, and facilitated dialogues, participants explored topics such as gender equality, healthy relationships, menstrual health, positive masculinity, and youth participation. These interventions encouraged critical reflection on social norms and inspired behavioral changes that support more inclusive and equitable communities. As the program evolved, it expanded its focus to include peacebuilding and livelihood development. Preparatory activities paved the way for Youth for Peace sessions and Life Enhancement initiatives, providing adolescents and youth with opportunities to strengthen leadership skills, contribute to conflict prevention, and enhance their economic resilience. These activities were designed to help young people make informed decisions, build constructive relationships, and actively contribute to the well-being of their communities. By bringing together Rohingya and host community members through shared learning and engagement, the initiative fostered mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation. Ultimately, the program contributed to nurturing a more informed, confident, and resilient generation of young people who are better equipped to promote peace, gender equity, social cohesion, and sustainable development in one of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable humanitarian settings.

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