Save the Children forms Youth Adaptation Forum to connect the youths of Southwest

Dhaka, 6 July, 2024: Members of over 30 national and local-level youth organisations have been brought together under one network, called the Youth Adaptation Forum, by Save the Children and its local implementing partner Uttaran for greater climate action in the climate-vulnerable southwestern region of Bangladesh.

Through a terms of reference (ToR) signing and launching ceremony on Saturday (July 6) at a hotel in Satkhira, the Youth Adaptation Forum formally started its journey.

The Youth Adaptation Forum in Satkhira, envisions empowering youth-led initiatives in the southwestern coastal region to tackle climate change and water-related risks through collaboration and innovation. It aims to amplify youth-led climate initiatives by fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration and resource mobilisation to scale up and replicate good practices on climate change adaptation and water management.

This network consists of young minds from volunteer organisations like Transparency International Bangladesh YES group, Prothom Alo Bondhushava, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Volunteer for Bangladesh, YouthNet for Climate Justice, Bangladesh Scouts, The Green Force – Satkhira, BD Clean, Upakuliyo Prakritic Songrakkhon Juba Forum, Rotaract Club, and more. Activities and initiatives of the Youth Adaptation Forum are being supported by Save the Children and its local implementing partner Uttaran.

President of Youth Adaptation Forum, Karna Biswas said, “We, the youth, want to stand by the local communities to ensure their wellbeing and bring greater change through this network. This is going to be the first such network where the leading representatives of over 30 volunteer organisations in Satkhira will collaborate. Unleashing the power of youth, we will work to protect the environment and reduce the impact of climate change as well as promote good practices of water management.”

The southwestern region, especially districts like Satkhira, is highly affected by climate change due to its geographical location. People in this region are often affected by natural disasters like the recent cyclone Remal. The Sundarbans in Satkhira has been devastated multiple times because of the cyclones. Due to increased salinity, iron, and arsenic, the water in this region is not safe for drinking. Here, climate change has adverse impacts on food, health, shelter, education, and the economy — almost every aspect of life. So, greater collective climate action is necessary for the adaptation and resilience of the local communities.

About Youth Adaptation Forum, Mohammad Simon Rahman, Save the Children’s Manager – Resilience and Climate Change, said, “The Youth Adaptation Forum in Satkhira aims to create a youth network consisting of youth-led organizations focused on enhancing climate change awareness and water management in the coastal areas. Its primary goal is to amplify the voices of local youth at local, national, and global levels to address the water crisis. In the coming days, this platform will facilitate youth led advocacy for collective impact, addressing vulnerabilities in coastal communities, presenting innovative solutions for climate change adaptation, locally led water management, knowledge sharing and promoting youth-led initiatives for positive impact.”

Member of Parliament Laila Parveen Sejuti was present as the guest of honor at the ceremony. Welcoming this youth-led initiative to combat climate change, she said, "To achieve our goal towards a smart Bangladesh, first of all, collaborative involvement of both youth and women should be ensured. Because it is not possible to progress without the involvement of women and youth." Laila Parveen, who is also a member of the standing committee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said, “The government has asked us to work with the youth and women, and I want to work with you all.”

Along with the guest of honour, Assistant Director of Department of Youth Development Mst. Asmot Ara Begum, BSCIC Satkhira’s Promotion Officer Pijush Ghosh, different government officials, members of youth organisations, representatives of Save the Children and Uttaran were present at the ceremony.