Aiming to scale up grassroots initiatives for a broader impact on their respective areas and communities, IID has introduced the “Policy Action Award 2024” this year. As part of this program, IID has recognized six organizations that have proposed transformative initiatives to advance inclusive education, gender equality, and community empowerment in Bangladesh. These awards, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reflect IID’s commitment to supporting impactful grassroots solutions for pressing societal challenges.
The selection process was highly competitive, with organizations evaluated for their innovative project proposals, alignment with award objectives, and potential to create lasting impact. The six awardees have presented forward-thinking initiatives to foster equity and sustainability within their communities.
The winners include Hashimukh Samaj Kallyan Songstha (HSKS), which will implement an Inclusive Capacity Building Program to enhance learning outcomes for underprivileged students. This initiative will focus on teacher training, parental engagement, and creating a supportive educational environment. As a notable effort, HEART Foundation, focusing on empowering marginalized communities, plans to address educational inequalities by launching a program in the Dalit fishing community in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, to provide 50 children from 40 marginalized families with access to quality education.
Another recipient, The Prantoz Foundation will roll out its Bikoshito Pushpa initiative in Khulna to empower Hijra students, addressing dropout rates and offering livelihood opportunities to promote inclusivity and resilience. Through these efforts, the foundation aspires to reduce stigma while enabling individuals from Hijra community to thrive socially and economically. Based in Bogura, Shopnopuron School, aims to implement its Shikkhar Alo project, which will focus on the skill development of female teachers and enhancing education quality to reduce dropout rates among underprivileged students as well as introducing extracurricular activities designed to improve students’ social and emotional skills.
Reinforcing the message that “tree is life”, TREE plans to launch its Education Tree program in Jashore, promoting child-led environmental stewardship by planting 100,000 date/palm seeds and 1,000 saplings in 5 educational institutions in Jashore, instilling ecological responsibility in youth, and fostering environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, the awardee, WeSafe is developing an innovative app that focuses on public harassment, gender-based violence, and the potential impact of technology to reduce harassment. This initiative will raise awareness and promote inclusivity, particularly among youth and within educational institutions.
By recognizing these proposed initiatives through the Policy Action Awards 2024, IID reaffirms its dedication to empowering grassroots efforts that create meaningful change. These projects promise to advance equity, inclusion, and sustainability, paving the way for a more just and prosperous future for all.
