Beginning of a new chapter
For the last seven years, Reflective Teens has overcome lots of challenges and steps to become the organization it is today. Recently, we have entered into a new chapter of our journey. Last Friday, 10th July 2020, Reflective Teens arranged their first-ever board meeting.
Completion of the Orientation Program for the newly recruited Campus Ambassadors
On July 9, 2020, Thursday at 5.00 PM, the orientation for the freshly employed Campus Ambassadors of reflective TEENS for the 2020-21 tenure was accomplished. Since June 4, 2020 rt voyaged on a venture in finding Campus Ambassadors from different institutions across the nation to act as a bridge between the rt authority and their respective institutions as well as taking part in rt programs efficiently.
The First Episode of ‘Bridges, not Borders’ Held Successfully
Even though we are more connected to each other in this era of globalization and social media, but how much do we actually know about each other? how much do we know about the history, heritage and culture of other nations around the globe? With that aim in mind, Reflective teens in collaboration with Global youth club organised a culture exchange program between Bangladeshi and Pakistani teenagers. Five of our members sat down virtually with our friends in Pakistan on 27th June to discuss our respective countries. The two and a half-hour session started with discussing the COVID-19 situation in both the countries and what they’re doing to cope with the pandemic. The whole session was conducted by Nizar Ahmed from Pakistan and Yusuf Munna, Founder and CEO of Reflective teens was also present throughout the session. Then our Pakistani friends gave us a brief presentation on Pakistan, which included the geographical information, people and races living in there, traditional cuisines, tourist spots, overall culture and different social and political problems of Pakistan. Then from Bangladesh first we gave some general information about Bangladesh, then we presented our culture dividing it into five parts, namely Literature, Foods and cuisines, Festivals, Tourist spots and heritages, Sports. After all the presentations, we had a very interactive and enthusiastic discussion for around 10 minutes and asked each other questions to know more about the other country. Overall, the purpose of the session was well served, and as quoted by Nizar Ahmed “The whole purpose of this session was to bring diverse people together, because the more you interact with people, the more you know about them, so you see more good on them which promotes a sense of unity and peace between people.” Author: Abid Bin Ahmed, Executive Member
Ignition of a sense of responsibility towards the ‘special’ community of the society: The crucial revolution for a better world
Recently, a viral video of a nine-year-old boy caught my attention. The Australian kid, Quaden Bayles was asking for a knife from his mother who was filming the entire incident. Despite his mother continuously urging him to ignore the taunts, the constant bullying caused him to become suicidal and ultimately wanting to kill himself by using a knife. The only fault of the little boy was his ‘disability’ to grow taller. According to his mother, Quaden suffers from Achondroplasia dwarfism, a rare bone-growth disorder that makes him shorter than other kids. The Australian mom, Yarraka Bayles broadcast her pain to the world, “This is the effect of bullying. It’s the constant bullying, the name-calling, obviously pointing out his difference. We are not suffering silence anymore. There are way too many people suffering in silence.” The incident reminded me of a famous quote by Robert Michael Hensel who despite being born with the birth defect known as Spina bifida is a Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair. He said, “There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.” Just close your eyes for a moment. What do you see? Pitch Black? Now, put your hands in your ears. Can you hear anything? What happens when you catch a severe cold? It is hard to speak, right? Sometimes, you have to use sign language to communicate and it is quite irritating when you get mocked. What happens when you break your hand or leg? It is difficult to do your daily chores, is it not? Now, imagine what happens to those people who go through these ‘problems’ every single day of their lives. Yes, I am talking about them who are more commonly known to the ‘ordinary people’ as ‘blind’, ‘deaf and dumb’, or ‘disabled’ people. In 2017, I appeared for the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) examination, a public examination in Bangladesh for the 10th-grade students conducted by the educational board as the completion exam of secondary education. After the tiring exam, I had a long vacation of 3 months and was thinking of ways to utilize my spare time. When I asked my father about it, he advised me to work as a volunteer at PROYASH, a school situated at Chattogram Cantonment for the children with special needs. I thought it was not a bad idea to spend my leisure time as well as gather some working experience. As a result, I started going to PROYASH marking the beginning of a blissful journey. I never realized that there are so many kinds of disorders people could have until I visited this institution. Disorders like Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy (CP) were quite new to me but it was unbelievable how much I learnt about such disorders and children suffering from them through my work in PROYASH. Now, let us get to my experience of working at that divine place. I was assigned to work in the ECDP – Early Child Development Program in the first week. This was the class similar to our nursery class, where all the special toddlers are taken care of. This is the class where I met little Azmain, an adorable baby with Down syndrome; Tahmid, a kid suffering from ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Mighdad, Arafat, Shayan, Ishaan, Zarif, Labib and the other little cuties. It was amusing working with these adorable and talented children. It was adorable when little Azmain spoke in ‘gibberish’ or Tahmid would not stop saying goodbye to us while we were leaving, when Zarif would ask me to get him his favorite teddy bear or when Mighdad played ‘Disha Disha’ with me. The second week was as delightful as the first one. Apparently, the third week was the best because on 2nd April, I got the chance to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day for the first time. The day started with a brief discussion about Autism. After that, we all rallied through the areas nearby to raise awareness along with the students, teachers and staffs of PROYASH. It was indeed one of the experiences I will cherish forever in my heart. In the fifth and sixth weeks, I worked in the Primary (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) class where I met an extraordinary little girl, Shreya (ADHD) who can memorize anything, even the calendar. If you tell her a date of any year she can tell what day it was within a second. Amazing, is it not? This little girl changed my whole perception of children with special needs and their ‘inability’. To be honest, she mastered the impossible; even what ‘normal’ people are incapable of doing. Then, what right do ‘normal’ people have to label ‘people like her’ as ‘disabled’? My journey in PROYASH did come to an end soon after my classes of 11th grade started but the time I spent there is unforgettable. By working in PROYASH I realized how lucky I am to be born normal. My experience there persuaded me to feel grateful to Almighty for this. I also realized that these kids are capable of doing a lot even some things we ordinary people cannot do and therefore, I prefer to call them ‘Differently-abled’ or ‘Special Children’ instead of ‘Disabled’ because they are not ‘literally’ disabled now, are they? “[By] this most sorrowful way I was compelled to tread, I learned to respect and reverence for every human mind. It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights. None is to be considered less, as a human being, than any other, and each must be given his place and safety in the world. I might never have learned this in any other way. I might’ve gone on in the arrogance of my own intolerance for those less able than myself. My child taught me humanity,” said the first American female Nobel Prize
Call for Campus Ambassadors
reflective TEENS is an internationally recognized teen-based creative platform which exist to create an efficient environment for flourishing the creativity of the teenagers and prepare them for the future through proper utilization of their abilities. From 2013, reflective TEENS has been working to channel the creative spirit of the teenagers and nurture it through various methods such as workshops and events. We are planning even bigger for the future and for that, we need our target audience, the teenagers from all across the country. Thus, we are calling for campus ambassadors, the leaders who’ll be leading the students in our events to glory. What will we offer to you as a Campus Ambassador:• Skill enhancement• Special recommendations in rt programmes• Certificate at the end of the tenure• Recognition for the best CA APPLICATION LINK: http://localhost/ref/apply/
Impact Report | rt Advantage | Teenage Mental Health and Wellbeing
Teenagers around the globe currently suffer from mental health issues more than anything else. And the problem is worse when it comes to countries like Bangladesh where people have mostly zero awareness about this type of serious problems. At an age where they are supposed to take steps to build up their future, we see millions of youths around the world keeps suffering silently from this disease and in cases chose an opt-out system like suicide. So in order to raise awareness about this issue we invited Tahmida Hossain Sheemu, a mental health enthusiast currently living in Dallas, Texas over our online Facebook Live session. At first, she talked about what to do when we face unwanted situations in life, and how to cope up with those. Then she gave suggestions on how to come out of depression or mental health-related problems. She told that no matter what the situation is, it’s always helpful to speak out your heart to someone. She also advised trying to keep ourselves busy with productive activities during this Quarantine period to be mentally healthy and also to introduce a healthy lifestyle in day to day life. When asked about how can someone help their close friends when they fall in depression, she told always to be cautious about our close one’s activities and try to help them whenever someone thinks It’s necessary. Tawshipa Jarin, a student who participated in the session as an audience gave the following feedback to us – To begin with, it was honestly great how everyone in the session clarified that even though mental health is considered a stigma, it actually isn’t. I liked how the session gradually proceeded by talking about mental health at the present time as well as other usual times as well. Tahmida Shimu started with how we can be productive in this time of the pandemic going on, which was great considering everyone gets to invest time in doing something. But like still contradictory, because doing something productive is not mandatory at all. Also, I thoroughly support the segments of how we are told to seek support from the environment around us and accept failures to move forward. It is actually one of the key issue that either stands in our way to progress or give us a heads-up. I overall think the relevancy of the mental health issue of this generation was established. And several ways of overcoming those and accepting those with a wider point of view was established. Really enjoyed the session!” Author: Abid Bin Ahmed and Shusmita Shil
International Women’s Day: It All Matters
Do you ever feel like you’re an insignificant feminist because all you’re doing right now is getting your education and you haven’t made an actual contribution towards the movement yet? Well, this is a thought that occurs to me every day, but we’re wrong. Probably not the first time we’ve been told we’re wrong, but it’s legit this time. How so? Every time we handle a situation like the bosses we are, we’re contributing. We are significant. Every time your mom tells you that that top / dress is inappropriate and you still choose to rock it because you shouldn’t have to police what you wear due to other people’s low mentalities, you’re significant. Every time your brother / cousins make an ignorant comment about your body type and you shut that shit down, you’re significant. Every time a highly misinformed relative tells your parents that going abroad to study will spoil you and you tell them that their son didn’t need to go any further than his own bedroom in order to get “spoiled,” you’re significant. Every time your misogynistic male friend puts their heart and soul (I’m not making this up, some people are just sad) into trying to make you feel bad for identifying as a feminist and you just couldn’t care less, you’re significant. Every time your supposedly modern boyfriend is egotistical but also shit deep in his own insecurities about you so he tries to control you and you remind him who the hell he actually is (sometimes that doesn’t work – please dump him), you’re significant. Every time some guy – who clearly also has the wrong idea about whoever the hell he is – calls you a slut for doing the exact same thing he did and you delete his number (or some version of this on a dating app) even before he’s out of sight, you’re significant. Every time literally anyone gives you an opinion about your own self that you didn’t remotely ask for and you tell them to mind their own business (maybe not as politely), you’re significant. And last, but definitely not the least, every time you wake up in the morning and drag your highly caffeinated self to class to learn something that’ll help you achieve your career goals someday, you’re significant. Happy International Women’s Day to all the great young women, alongside our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and every other woman that inspires us to work harder. Never change your views and opinions no matter how unconventional they are because “society” honestly only is as much a part of your life as you make it. Those who mind won’t matter and those who matter won’t mind. You do you! Author: Manaar Sadida, a high school graduate from William Carey Academy, on the verge of adulthood, and a feminist (“a person who believes in the equality of all genders,” for all you ignorant sexists) who calls a spade a spade and absolutely despises people with double standards (hypocrites).
Facebook Challenges: As Useless As the Dorne Storyline in “Game of Thrones”
In our modern-day society, Facebook has become a huge part of our lives. Starting from my chauffer to my nani, EVERYONE is on it. Well, why wouldn’t they be? Facebook has become such a huge platform now that you pretty much have access to everything through it. Whether it be online shopping, breaking news, food places, or major upcoming events, Facebook has all of it to offer. Amidst all the pros of Facebook, obviously there are a few cons as well. The most recent one that has caught my eye is probably related to the initial purpose of Facebook. Yes, I’m talking about the “3 names”/ “negative thing”/ “compliment” challenges. Now, you may wonder why I include the compliment challenge in this, since compliments are supposedly a positive thing, right? That’s debatable when you’re fake as fuck, but more on that later. Now, don’t get me wrong, I myself have liked/commented on my friends’ posts regarding these. I was fairly honest in my comments, and I believe I got fairly honest replies to my comments too. Sadly, not everything I read besides my comments were genuine, and some of these I can even say that I knew for a fact were full of utter crap. Let’s start with the “Like my status and I’ll message you 3 names to comment on” challenge. Uhm okay, it’s good to see that people have taken ways to get rid of boredom another step further with this. Never mind that. So, this challenge was initially meant to get rid of certain curiosities the person who posted the status may have had (if they still have them, my deepest condolences). But then, it either ended up going nowhere (again, condolences) or it ended up further than your bitchy mind may have ever imagined. I myself had the misfortune of receiving a few “What did I ever do to you?” type messages. Well, if you really didn’t have any trouble figuring out that I was talking about you, then don’t you think that’s where the problem lies and you should just embrace the truth about yourself instead of coming at me? Look up Tyrion Lannister’s quote about this for inspiration, seriously. Then we have the “Comment your name and I’ll say something negative about you” challenge. Now, this is one I wasn’t a part of in any way whatsoever, because who the fuck are you to openly point out my flaws? The reason I emphasize “openly” is because you may think I’m contradicting myself, considering what I said about the first challenge, but I’m really not. If everything I said in my comment during the first challenge is something I’ve already said to your face, then there is no reason for you to consider it an insult, since it’s anonymous. In this challenge though, you are encouraging unnecessary humiliation, and don’t you think there’s enough negativity in the world already? We are all only human, and you’re damn right that there are negative things about us, but there’s no need to publicly promote that. Have some love, jeez. Lastly, there’s the “Comment your name and I’ll give you a compliment” challenge. This one was completely fine as long as it was confined to friends spreading love. Unfortunately, the world isn’t perfect, and that confinement lasted shorter than Justin Bieber’s boner. Weird people you only know because you either went to the same school, or one of your close friends knows them started commenting their names. I mean, how are you supposed to compliment someone you barely know? You just tell them that, right? Wrong. You give them a fake compliment like the kiss-ass you are. I mean, that’s what everyone went by, I’m simply describing it. Long story short, these challenges may have initially been “fun,” but they very quickly became nothing but pathetic. Just do your homework, tbh. Also, who comes up with these things anyway? Like no, seriously, WHO? If you’re reading this, which I highly doubt, a little more creativity next time, yeah? Yeah. Peace. Author: Manaar Sadida, a high school graduate from William Carey Academy, on the verge of adulthood, and a feminist (“a person who believes in the equality of all genders,” for all you ignorant sexists) who calls a spade a spade and absolutely despises people with double standards (hypocrites).
Fathers’ Day: An Open Letter to Abbu
Somewhere between “Abbu, amake eta kine dao please” and “Abbu, eta ekhon nah kinle’o cholbe,” I grew up. Or so I think. My father is someone who isn’t totally ecstatic about this day due to the whole “American vibe” of it, as some fathers tend to be. Despite that, every year, my brother and I make an effort to celebrate it with him in some small way or the other, and this is only a tiny contribution to that gesture. First things first – What do our fathers mean to us? What do they signify in our lives? For some of us, they are our confidante, or the fulfiller of all our downright bratty wishes. For some, they are the lecturer we occasionally (trying to be generous, here) hate listening to, or the benchmark of qualities we someday hold our significant others by. For others, fathers are their inspiration and moral compass, or the soft-hearted individual they go to ask permission from when their mothers say no. And for the rest, fathers are simply someone they terribly miss and would give anything to be by their sides again. Unfortunately, sometimes some people feel this way about their fathers despite living under the same roof. My father to me is some of these things, and more. Abbu, you are an outstanding individual. You go out of your way to be generous and encouraging towards everyone around you. You cherish your loved ones to the point that you sometimes spoil them. You try not to hurt people’s feelings, but at the same time, without sugarcoating anything. Let me tell you that to me, that is a paradox. You work hard despite being lazy at times. Again, paradox. You despise huge social gatherings reeking of small talk, but you have innumerable friends who are thankful for you. You make everything you take up your own, whether it be a sport or public speaking. You are overprotective and anxious at times, but let me confess to you today that I understand that all that comes only from a place of love. Lastly, in a society like ours, you are miles away from being the chauvinistic man who differentiates between his son and daughter, and that counts for something. I’m sure you’ve noticed the pattern of a few negative things by now, but I am your wife’s daughter and I have to be realistic. Nobody is perfect, and all of these are things that make you the loveable man that you are. To conclude, I would like to apologize for the times I was too busy boosting my ego, instead of accepting my mistakes. I would like to apologize for the times I have hurt you, and I promise you that it has always been unknowingly. I would like to apologize for the times I fell short in making you proud, despite you always maintaining my pride in being your daughter. Thank you for being the dramatic yet caring father that you are. Thank you for always catering to all my wants and needs. Thank you for letting me grow up. Thank you for the hard work you and Ammu have put in together at making our family what it is today. Thank you for being my father, in all the right senses of that word. Author: Manaar Sadida, a high school graduate from William Carey Academy, on the verge of adulthood, and a feminist (“a person who believes in the equality of all genders,” for all you ignorant sexists) who calls a spade a spade and absolutely despises people with double standards (hypocrites).
Impact Report | rt Advantage | Responsible Citizenship
Citizenship is a concept that is having a growing influence day by day on the average people. From the greek concept of citizenship, we have come a long way of democratization where most of us are part of some state system as its citizen. But, Citizenship offers its perks in exchange for some responsibilities. And most of the citizens aren’t aware of this responsibility nor do they have many methods of getting to understand these responsibilities. To shed light on this and for our future generation of citizens, Reflective Teens Organized Their 4th-day Online session of RT Advantage, a series of sessions for everyone on “Responsible Citizenship” on 5th May 2020 from 9.30 PM. The session was conducted by Mohammad Abdullah Al Kaiser, Founding Admin of Desperately Seeking Chittagong and Founder of Team Chittagong and Hosted by Hasan Habib and Miskatul Islam, respective members of Reflective Teens. Throughout the session, the expert speaker gave us a crystal clear idea about the very concept of modern citizenship. He talked about the growing concept of it and the impact of various factors such as the internet, generational trends on the idea of citizenship. Furthermore, he went on to give us explanations and examples of responsible citizenship through his experience of running voluntary organizations and also public help groups. He also shared his optimistic views regarding the future of Bangladesh in terms of citizenship, how active and healthy politics can change a country and how the youth should be more proactive in its approach to state matters. The queries of the audience were also entertained and the entire idea of citizenship was appreciated by them. In conclusion, the entire session garnered 1.6 thousand views and the audience was as interactive as they were enlightened about such a concept that affects everyone. One of the audiences, an O level candidate stated, “The session was very enlightening. The speaker was amazing and the interactivity of the session was appreciated as well, and our future citizens need more conversations like this”. Another viewer, an HSC candidate, stated, “I simply learned a lot from this session, where the main focus is us, the future citizens. And it was worth the time and Reflective Teens should provide more content like this. It was a fruitful session by Reflective Teens and we are open to more amazing sessions like this one.” Author: Hasan Habib and Mishkatul Islam