The SDGs aim to leave no one behind, reaching those farthest behind first. For this to happen, people who are marginalised- including women, young people, people with disabilities and people from ethnic and religious minorities-must participate. They are best placed to know what their problems are and what might be workable solution. Moreover, the process of participation can itself create solidarity and get people into a position where they can start to make the changes they want.

LET THE CHANGE BEGIN WITH ‘US’ MAKE A PROMISE! We do hope that all our promises and commitments will further build cooperation and mutual respect and support a women friendly atmosphere within AAB and FLF (Bangladesh). With time we hope that this will inspire others of the larger community to do the same thus multiplying this effect.

The annual report of ActionAid Bangladesh of 2015 captures the stories of the youth across ActionAid and its partners in respect to the programme, campaigns, policy advocacy, and solidarity movements undertaken throughout 2015. Community people taking action against poverty and inequality is central to our concerted achievements throughout the year. We saw how alliances were building, social movements paced up and the stories of change influenced our working strategy. In 30 districts, we reached 187,717 people. That’s 37,182 children and 150,535 adults – including 41,702 youth and 1,597 persons with disability who strengthened our fight against poverty and inequality. In 2015, ActionAid Bangladesh partnered with 56 NGOs, 10 INGOs and 27 networks. This is in addition to the 94 CBOs who teamed up to uphold the rights of the people from poor and disadvantaged communities. Annual Report 2015 also entails how the delegation ActionAid Bangladesh took up across the ActionAid Federation for a collective visioning reached the next milestones.

The Policy Forum titled “Empowering Youth” was jointly organised by Institute of Informatics and Development (IID) and ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) on May 25, 2016 in Khulna, Bangladesh. The idea was to create an open and conducive environment for grassroots youth to engage in candid discussion with high level policy actors on key policy issues.

Nilupher Begum was going to Chadpur from Dhaka. After living 5 years in the Capital City, she left the city for economic crisis as the price of shelter, food, health and education facility are higher than the village. Everyone comes to Dhaka for better income and livelihood, but Nilupher had to go her native home.

Aiming to uphold feminism and ensure collective leadership ActionAid Bangladesh initiated its Feminist leadership forum (FLF) on December 14, 2007 encouraged by ActionAid international. It is an open forum where all women colleagues within AAB have the space to share and discuss their professional as well as societal problems without fear or intimidation. Main objective of FLF is to motivate members in upholding their rights, supporting issues of women and building networks and forums nationally and internationally. This forum also has the freedom to design its activities according to the needs of the members.

Happy Homes offer the girls safe and loving shelter, link them up with mainstream education and build their capacity through different skill trainings so that the girls can survive independently when they graduate

Shahjahan Selim does not have a dream. So easy to put that in a tiny sentence. Selim does not have the life he had before Rana Plaza. He is not physically fit like before. His left leg and left hand is paralysed. Was this supposed to happen? Selim got minor injuries but his life was spared. However, he couldn’t evade the numerous souls trapped under concrete and rubble. Selim rushed to save 37 people alive. However, he then fell into a crack and got severely injured. His waist and left leg were broken.

14 March 2016 was a more eventful day than other days. There was a festive atmosphere in the office. From the morning, candidates of Feminist Leadership Forum (FLF) were conducting their campaign for the new convener position. After successful campaign, election formality started at 3 pm. The former convener handed over the responsibility to the newly elected convener.

This is the preliminary findings of the 3rd follow-up survey on the status of rehabilitation and reintegration of the survivors and the families of deceased, and a critical reflection on the changes in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector post-Rana Plaza collapse

The purpose of the study was to explore the status of Teacher Education Programme regarding inclusive education for children with disabilities in Bangladesh. The study shows, there are a few commendable initiatives taken by the Government in favour of inclusive education. However, a number of policy, practice and administrative challenges exist in the education system. Teacher education curriculum, teacher education institutions, the educators etc. require major reform for adequate promotion of inclusive education.

The training manual is expected to facilitate trainings targeted to enhance caregiving skills people require in meeting the therapeutic needs of children living with disabilities in Bangladesh. We hope the manual will be helpful for trainers, trainees and anyone working in the field of disability. The manual is in Bengali language at the moment.