Engagement with EU Delegation on Technology-Driven Solutions to Reduce Learning Gaps
On the sidelines of the TVET/Skills Development Partners’ Working Group general meeting, our Executive Director Mr. Yusuf had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Michal Krejza, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. The discussion focused on reducing learning gaps and advancing skills development through technological interventions, with an emphasis on cost-efficient and easily scalable solutions. Our team shared ongoing innovations being designed and tested to support under-resourced education systems. The meeting brought together development partners including GAC, FCDO, UNESCO, ILO, UNFPA, among others, reinforcing a shared commitment to collaborative action for educational equity and future-ready skills.
Reflective Teens Trust Hosts “Goals for Education” to Mark International Day of Education
Dhaka, 24 January — Organized by Reflective Teens Trust, Goals for Education was successfully held today, bringing together national team footballers across different age levels—Sanjay Karim, Mohammed Karim, Ashik Rahman, Anik Rahman, and Tawhidul Alam Sabuz—alongside leading influencers and representatives from diplomatic missions for a purpose-driven friendly football match in celebration of the International Day of Education. Reflective Teens Trust extends its heartfelt appreciation to all players, participants, supporters, and attendees who stood together to champion education as a fundamental right. Special thanks are extended to the event partners—D-Box Sports Complex, NSU Sports Club, Kiva Han, and Marvel Be You—for their generous support and collaboration, which were instrumental in making Goals for Education a meaningful and impactful initiative. Through initiatives like Goals for Education, Reflective Teens Trust continues to harness the power of sports, youth leadership, and community engagement to drive positive social change and strengthen the call for investing in education.
National Youth Townhall Held in Dhaka to Present Youth Manifesto 2026
Dhaka, Bangladesh – A high-level policy dialogue titled “National Youth Townhall” was held at BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka, bringing together prominent political leaders, civil society representatives, and young citizens from across the country to discuss the future of Bangladesh’s youth and formally present the Youth Manifesto 2026. The event was organized by Reflective Teens Trust, supported by The Asia Foundation, and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Throughout the discussion, speakers repeatedly returned to one central concern: politics is becoming increasingly disconnected from the realities of young people. They spoke about the growing pressure, harassment, and digital abuse faced by youth – especially young women – and described the mental health crisis as a silent emergency that remains largely unaddressed. The conversation also focused on an education system that produces degrees but not skills, and on how the erosion of merit-based opportunities is fueling frustration and distrust. Several speakers warned that young people are no longer moved by slogans or symbolic gestures, and that unless politics shifts toward real accountability, practical reform, and leaders who are present in the field, the gap between citizens and the state will continue to widen. The Townhall was attended by Mahmudur Rahman Manna (President, Nagorik Oikya), Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman (President, National Doctors Forum & Parliamentary Candidate, Dhaka-17), Samantha Sharmin (Senior Joint Convener, NCP), Hasan Al Mamun (General Secretary, Gono Odhikar Parishad), Ali Ahsan Zonaed (Convener, UP Bangladesh), Barrister Shahedul Azam (Organizing Secretary, National Democratic Movement) and alongside a large number of young participants from different backgrounds. The town hall was convened by Yusuf Munna, Executive Director of Reflective Teens Trust, bringing together diverse voices for dialogue and engagement. A significant number of youth participants were present in the hall and actively engaged in the discussion, questioning the political leaders on issues of governance, education, employment, political reform, and the future direction of the country. The Youth Manifesto 2026, prepared by Reflective Teens Trust through nationwide consultations, presents a five-year reform roadmap (2026–2031) structured across three phases: 0–100 days, 0–2 years, and 0–5 years. The manifesto identifies five major crisis clusters: Gender & Society Education & Employment Youth & Politics Technology Environment & Health It proposes concrete reforms including Youth Advisory Councils, participatory budgeting, a Youth Confidence Index, merit-based recruitment reforms, mental health integration into public services, campus depoliticization, and digital rights and AI governance frameworks. The Townhall concluded with a call on all political parties and electoral candidates to engage seriously with the Youth Manifesto and recognize young people not as a vote bank, but as partners in nation-building. As Bangladesh moves toward a crucial national election, the National Youth Townhall marked an important step in bringing youth voices into the center of national policy and democratic debate. For enquiries: +8801601916039 / reflectiveteens@gmail.com
Global Shapers Chattogram Hub Meets City Mayor Shahadat
Representatives of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Chattogram Hub paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Mayor at his office today as part of the Global Shapers’ global flagship initiative, Meet the Leader. During the meeting, constructive discussions were held on the potential establishment of a Skill Hub, with support from the Global Shapers, aimed at equipping students from schools under the Chattogram City Corporation with globally relevant, future-ready, and cutting-edge technological skills. The proposed initiative seeks to enhance youth employability and prepare the next generation to thrive in an increasingly digital and innovation-driven world. The Honorable Mayor shared insights into his ongoing initiatives and future plans focused on youth development in Chattogram. He also expressed keen interest in exploring meaningful areas of collaboration with the Global Shapers to further strengthen opportunities for young people across the city. The meeting was attended by Yusuf Munna, Executive Director of Reflective Teens Trust and Curator of the Global Shapers Chattogram Hub, along with Global Shapers Tahmidul Islam, Aznif Chowdhury, and Bin Yamin Oni.
RT ED Meets UNESCO Education Head on School Innovation
On 10 December 2025, UNESCO organized a workshop titled “Empowering Youth as Advocates for Educational Transformation” at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. The workshop aimed to engage young people in advocating for stronger investment in education by presenting key findings from UNESCO’s global report The Price of Inaction 2024, highlighting the role of youth in shaping education policy, and collecting innovative youth-led ideas to support the report’s recommendations. Representatives from youth-led organizations engaged in dialogue with the chief and special guests, who emphasized the importance of amplifying young voices to drive increased investment in Bangladesh’s education sector. A delegation from Reflective Teens led by Mr. Yusuf Munna joined the workshop, contributing to discussions on youth leadership and innovative approaches to educational transformation. On the sidelines of the workshop, Reflective Teens’ Executive Director, Mr. Yusuf, held a meeting with Mr. Norihide Furukawa, Head of the Education Programme at UNESCO Bangladesh. The discussion focused on the innovative approaches introduced by Reflective Teens to enhance educational quality in marginal and under-resourced schools. As a focal person of the Youth for Education Alliance, Mr. Yusuf also shared the alliance’s ongoing efforts. Mr. Furukawa appreciated the impactful work of Reflective Teens and the alliance, and extended an invitation to the alliance for a future meeting.
RT’s ED Yusuf Munna Delivers Keynote at CGS’s Round Square Conference
Chattogram, Bangladesh – Award-winning social entrepreneur and Founder of Reflective Teens Trust, Yusuf Munna, delivered an inspiring keynote at the Round Square Conference hosted by Chittagong Grammar School (CGS). This year’s theme, “Together We Rise,” brought together students to explore collaboration, empowerment, and global citizenship. Round Square is an international network of more than 280 schools across 50 countries, united by their commitment to character education through the renowned IDEALS framework: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. In his keynote address, Yusuf shared his transformative journey from growing up on a small island off the Bay of Bengal to advocating for education equity on global stages. Drawing from his lived experiences, he highlighted how attempting to solve challenges within his own community shaped his worldview and ignited his commitment to youth empowerment. Speaking to the students of CGS, Yusuf emphasized resilience, service, and the power of collective action. “No matter where we come from, when we rise together, we create possibilities far beyond what we can imagine,” he shared. CGS students engaged deeply with Yusuf’s message, taking away renewed motivation to become changemakers within their own communities. Reflective Teens Trust, under Yusuf’s leadership, has worked with hundreds of thousands of young people across Asia, Europe and Africa, designing frugal, locally-led innovations for under-resourced schools. “We were honoured to welcome Mr. Yusuf Munna as the inspirational inaugural keynote speaker for this year’s in-house RS conferences, setting a powerful tone for the days ahead.” said CGS upper school principle Ms. Ruhbayna Mahmud Chowdhury, The CGS (Chittagong Grammar School) Upper School head teacher. The Round Square Conference at CGS continues to serve as a platform for cultivating globally minded, action-oriented young leaders who embody the spirit of “Together We Rise.”
Reflective Teens Trust Completes First Phase of Tree Plantation Initiative on Climate-Vulnerable Island
Chattogram, Bangladesh – August 2025 – Reflective Teens Trust is proud to announce the successful completion of the first phase of its large-scale tree plantation initiative, carried out with the active participation of the local community. In this initial stage, 1,000 trees have already been planted, and the remaining saplings will soon be distributed to schools, madrasas, and mosques across the region. This initiative is being implemented on a climate-vulnerable island that faces pressing development challenges, including the presence of a coal power plant that threatens both the local ecology and community livelihoods. While modest in scale, this effort contributes to creating lasting positive environmental and social impact in one of the most at-risk areas of the country. The milestone was made possible through the collaboration of key partners: Implementation Partner: Chattogram Hub, Global Shapers Engagement Partner: EcoWave Knowledge Partner: C3ER, BRAC University Financial Support: BSRM Reflective Teens Trust believes that collective action is essential for building resilience against climate threats. This initiative marks an important step toward the organization’s long-term vision of fostering a greener and more sustainable Bangladesh.
Reflective Teens’ Executive Director Mr. Yusuf Attends Global Shapers Annual Summit in Geneva, Switzerland
Dhaka, Bangladesh | July 2024 — Mr. Yusuf, Executive Director of Reflective Teens Trust, recently participated in the prestigious Global Shapers Annual Summit 2024, organized by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit convened 500 young leaders from over 150 countries, each committed to advancing social innovation, sustainable development, and youth leadership in their respective communities. The summit featured a wide range of workshops, networking forums, and learning sessions, empowering participants to exchange ideas, develop collaborative solutions, and strengthen their impact on a global scale. It also served as a platform for shaping future initiatives that promote equity, climate resilience, education, and youth-led governance. During the summit, Mr. Yusuf met with Ms. Natalie Pierce, Head of the Global Shapers Community, and Ms. Murchana Roychoudhury, Impact Communications Specialist and Community Manager for South Asia. In a warm exchange of greetings, Mr. Yusuf presented tokens of appreciation to both leaders on behalf of Reflective Teens Trust, celebrating their contributions to building a global ecosystem of empowered youth. Reflective Teens Trust remains steadfast in its mission to amplify youth voices and design innovative, locally rooted solutions for under-resourced schools and climate-vulnerable communities. Mr. Yusuf’s participation in this global forum reflects the organization’s commitment to bridging global insights with local action.
Reflective Teens Trust Announces Rakin Absar as Goodwill Ambassador on Its 12th Anniversary
Dhaka, Bangladesh – June 23, 2025 – As Reflective Teens Trust celebrates 12 years of empowering young minds and transforming education in under-resourced communities, the organization is delighted to announce Mr. Rakin Absar as its Goodwill Ambassador for the next 12 months. Mr. Absar, known for his dedication to youth development and creative social engagement, brings with him a deep commitment to the values that Reflective Teens Trust upholds. His collaboration with the organization comes at a time when Reflective Teens is expanding its efforts to reach more students, create inclusive learning environments, and strengthen its nationwide impact. Together, Reflective Teens Trust and Mr. Absar will work to mobilise a vibrant volunteer network, establish new Education Labs (Ed. Labs) in underserved areas, and initiate a dedicated School Renovation Fund aimed at improving educational infrastructure in marginalized communities. “This collaboration with Rakin Absar is not just symbolic—it reflects our shared belief that every child deserves access to creative, safe, and inspiring educational spaces,” said Yusuf Munna, Founder and Executive Director of Reflective Teens Trust. “His energy and advocacy will amplify our work and encourage more young people to get involved in social transformation.” Reflective Teens Trust extends a warm welcome to Mr. Rakin Absar and looks forward to working together over the next year to promote inclusive, quality education and spark lasting change in the lives of thousands of learners.
AirAstra and Reflective Teens Trust Join Forces to Champion Youth-Led Change
Dhaka, Bangladesh — May 28, 2025 — In a landmark collaboration celebrating youth empowerment and community impact, AirAstra, Bangladesh’s premier private airline, has featured Reflective Teens Trust in the latest issue of its inflight magazine, Celestar. This recognition highlights Reflective Teens’ decade-long mission to transform under-resourced schools and empower the next generation of changemakers across the country. As part of this partnership, AirAstra is spotlighting the work of Reflective Teens to a national and international audience — bringing stories of student innovation, community projects, and education reform from grassroots Bangladesh to the skies. “We are honored to be featured in Celestar and grateful to AirAstra for believing in the power of young people,” said Mr. Yusuf Munna, Executive Director of Reflective Teens Trust. “This partnership elevates our message and reminds us that when youth are given the platform, they can truly fly.” Reflective Teens Trust, established in 2013, has impacted thousands of students by facilitating creative education initiatives, digital literacy programs, and infrastructure support for schools in marginalized regions. With projects like Ed.Lab, a community-powered education hub, and national campaigns run by young volunteers, the organization is reshaping what it means to learn, lead, and give back. “At AirAstra, we believe in lifting up local stories that inspire. Reflective Teens Trust represents the best of Bangladesh’s future — driven, hopeful, and transformative,” said Mr. Sakib Shovo, Head of Communications at AirAstra. “Featuring them in Celestar is just the beginning of our commitment to supporting youth-led impact.” The partnership comes at a symbolic moment as Reflective Teens marks its 12th year of operation in 2025. With an ambitious vision for the next chapter — including expanding their Ed.Lab model to remote islands and launching the first nationwide school innovation challenge — the recognition by AirAstra adds wind beneath their wings. Celestar magazine is available on all domestic and international AirAstra flights. Passengers are encouraged to read about the inspiring journey of Reflective Teens Trust and discover ways to support or get involved.