Shomotay Tarunno, Youth for Equality Project, was officially launched in Khulna Division on Wednesday with the vision of preventing gender-based violence in society, breaking negative gender stereotypes and strengthening youth and youth-led organisations at the national and local levels.
Mohammad Yusuf Ali, Deputy Director, Local Government Department, Khulna, was present as the chief guest at the project launching ceremony at CSS Ava Center in Khulna, said a press release.
Besides, Anindita Roy, Director, Divisional Social Services Office, Khulna and Amitabh Biswas, Trainer, Department of Youth Development, Khulna were present as special guests on the occasion.
The project inauguration ceremony was also attended by representatives of public and private institutions, youth-led organizations, media professionals, and representatives from Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust.
Mohammad Yusuf Ali said, “Shomotay Tarunno project is a little bit different than other traditional projects. This is inspiring as the project will engage content creators, social media influencers, media workers and work in breaking negative stereotypes in the society.”
He assured to support for smooth implementation of the project from government departments in Khulna division.
Special Guest Amitabh Biswas said “The activities of Shomotay Tarunno project and the Department of Youth Development (DYD) look similar. Khulna DYD will cooperate in the project implementation.”
Special Guest Anindita Roy appreciated the Shomotay Tarunno Project initiative of breaking gender discriminatory stereotypes.
She said “the initiative of breaking negative gender stereotypes through content creators will be very effective as these contents are mostly viewed by youth on social media. Actually, a discrimination-free society can be built by youth.”
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Bangladesh has funded the four-year-long project, which will be jointly implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust in all eight divisions in Bangladesh.
The project will include youth and youth-led organisations, National Youth Council, youths of ethnic minorities, with special needs and diverse identities, students-teachers, media professionals (print, electronic, online), local youth content creators, and social media influencers.
Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust will work in a coordinated way with ministries, departments, policy makers, public and private universities, and media organisations.
The project will engage 13,515 individuals as project direct participants. Of them- 12,690 youths of 252 local youth-led organisations, 75 members of the National Youth Council, 350 local content creators and social media influencers, and 475 media professionals, education institute authorities, teachers and government officials.
Apart from this, the project will also reach two million people through awareness activities through digital media campaign, and related media activities to convey the message on gender equality and breaking negative gender stereotypes in Bangladesh society.
