The School of General Education (GenEd) of BRAC University recently hosted a closing ceremony of two civic engagement projects undertaken for Residential Semester students at the university’s Savar campus. The GenEd inaugurated the projects, Orko and Srijon, in Summer 2022 in collaboration with Brac Education Programme (BEP), which assisted in developing modules and conducted training sessions.
Run throughout the semester, the projects first trained the students to understand the ethics and practice of community engagement for change. The aim was to provide a better understanding of Bangladesh’s development and needs, community participation, change and active citizenship duties.
The BRAC University students were then allowed to work with schoolchildren from the greater Savar community. Beneficiaries of grade 6, 7 and 8 were eligible to apply for Srijon while those of grade 9 and 10 for Orko. The engagement sought to inculcate a range of competencies in the schoolchildren, ranging from literacy, ICT and other communication skills to sports, leisure and various kinds of social and personal awareness. Local school representatives welcomed the initiative and suggested incorporating more schoolchildren from neighboring areas.
Meanwhile, every volunteer acquired approximately 30 hours of first-hand experience on how to approach communities in need and to make themselves relevant to collective growth and change. It enriched students’ skills regarding leadership, teamwork, time management, public speaking, problem solving and critical thinking. The projects also worked towards fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 5 and more broadly 16 and 17.
Moreover, the volunteers received a certificate in recognition of their service, cosigned by Dr. Samia Huq, Dean of GenEd, and Safi Rahman Khan, Director of the BEP. The certificates were presented at the closing ceremony on the university’s Mohakhali campus auditorium on 13 October, 2022 by Dr. Huq, chief guest Registrar Dr. Dave Dowland and Profulla Chandra Barman, Programme Head of the BEP. Dr. Huq gave the welcome address, beneficiaries shared their stories and the volunteers screened two documentaries and staged a drama reflecting on their experience.
Monoar Hossain, Assistant Headmaster of the Akran School and College, Mir Sadik Faisal, Campus Superintendent, Residential Campus, BRAC University; and Tahsina Rahman, Joint Director of the Student Life office of BRAC University, attended as special guests. Morshedul Haque, Assistant Campus Superintendent, Residential Semester, BRAC University, and the GenEd faculty members and the BEP trainers and officials concerned were present.