From breaking the silence around menstruation in Satkhira to promoting digital safety in Chattogram, young women are challenging harmful norms and shaping the future of their communities. Through Swapnajaya, ActionAid Bangladesh's Grassroots Young Women's Leadership Programme, they are turning their experiences into action, building the confidence to speak up, claim their rights and create opportunities for others.
For many, that journey begins with overcoming barriers. Family and community expectations, social stereotypes, stigma, child marriage, gender-based violence and the digital divide can restrict young women's freedom to think, speak, make decisions and lead.
Creating spaces where they can learn, question and act is central to Swapnajaya. Across four cohorts, the programme has supported 95 grassroots young women to develop their voices and leadership skills, including 20 participants in its fourth cohort.
Learning to question the world around them
For participants, the fellowship began with recognising their rights. Through in-person and online learning, they explored gender, power, human rights-based approaches, young feminist leadership, advocacy, digital storytelling and strategic planning.
These sessions helped them question harmful norms, understand and claim their rights, and take informed action. Participants connected wider inequalities with experiences in their own lives and communities, gaining the confidence to identify concerns and respond.
In Satkhira, this meant confronting the stigma surrounding menstruation.
"Initially, no one was willing to talk about menstruation. But we were determined to break the silence," said Firoza, a Swapnajaya participant.
The young women engaged adolescent girls and parents, challenged harmful myths and connected them with accurate information and guidance from health workers.
In Chattogram, another team focused on digital safety. The participants initially planned to reach 100 students, but their advocacy and explanation of why digital safety mattered persuaded the school principal to extend the initiative to all 200 students.
Discussions covered cyberbullying, online fraud, fake identities and the protection of personal information. They helped students understand that being targeted online was not their fault and learn where to seek support.
From recognising problems to leading change
Across the fourth cohort, participants addressed concerns rooted in their communities.
In Rampal, young women explored the effects of salinity on women's health. In Patharghata, Barguna, a team addressed violence against women through community mobilisation and advocacy with local institutions.
Other teams worked on dignity and inclusion for gender-diverse communities in Amtali, plastic and polythene pollution in Bagerhat Sadar, and child marriage prevention in Teknaf.
Through community consultations and the "Reflection-Action Cycle", teams identified priorities and developed plans and budgets. Mentoring helped them put those plans into practice while strengthening their skills in advocacy, communication, public speaking, documentation and digital storytelling.
Beyond graduation
At the fourth cohort's graduation on 30 August, the conversation turned to what young women need to continue leading.
A panel discussion titled "Amplifying Her Voice: Young Women as Leaders and Changemakers" brought together Dr Manisha Chakraborty of Basod, Mst Morjina Khatun of Brac and Proma Israt of Care Bangladesh. Morium Nesa of ActionAid Bangladesh moderated the session.
The panellists reflected on barriers including family and community resistance, economic insecurity, unpaid care work, unsafe spaces and limited political participation.
The discussion highlighted that empowerment requires more than an opportunity to participate. Young women need continued support to make their voices heard and influence decisions.
That is where Swapnajaya's purpose extends beyond graduation. The confidence to speak up can help young women challenge harmful norms and advocate for others. Their actions can encourage more people to question old assumptions, claim their rights and take part in decisions affecting their lives.
For these young changemakers, shaping the future begins with addressing the concerns closest to home.