Youth Engagement For Sustainability Bangladesh

Youth Engagement for Sustainability (YES) Bangladesh-a platform led by young people, for young people, rooted in the dream of building a just, inclusive, and empowered society. Youth Engagement for Sustainability (YES) Bangladesh is a nationwide youth-led, non-profit, and non-governmental organization officially initiated on 25 July 2018. It was established to create a platform for children, young people—especially women—who were formerly involved with the National Children’s Task Force (NCTF), Bangladesh, a prominent child-led organization. The idea of YES Bangladesh took root during a three-day workshop held from May 3–5, 2018, at Rangamati Waterfront Resort in Gazipur, organized by Plan International Bangladesh. These passionate young leaders recognized the need for a dedicated platform where they could continue their advocacy and development work beyond their roles in NCTF. In this historic gathering, participants collectively envisioned a new organization that would amplify the voices of children, adolescents, and youth—particularly girls and young women. They agreed that YES Bangladesh would serve as a safe and inclusive space where young people could freely share their ideas, express their experiences, and advocate for social change. The founding members set several core aims for YES Bangladesh:

Empower young people through capacity building on critical issues such as gender equality, climate change and action, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and life skills development. Foster leadership and active citizenship, enabling youth to become change agents in their communities. Unite adolescents and young people under one umbrella, promoting collaboration with like-minded youth activists, networks, and organizations. Advocate for policy reform, especially in areas directly affecting children and youth, such as the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 and other youth-related national policies. With continued technical and moral support from Plan International Bangladesh, YES Bangladesh has grown into an independent and dynamic youth-led organization. It is now actively working to mobilize young people across the country to lead sustainable development initiatives, challenge harmful social norms, and influence policymaking processes for a just and equitable society