Today on September 6, 2021, a workshop on the Network for Adolescent Rights Initiative (NARI) was held in the conference room of the AKS office in Bandarban. The session was led by Myamesing Marma, Project Coordinator of AKS, and chaired by Daw Nai Prue Naly, Vice President of NARI Network and Executive Director of AKS. Lelung Khumi, a spokesperson and rights activist from Tahzingdong, presented a welcome address. The workshop was organized by BNPS and with the cooperation of NARI Network of Bandarban.
The NARI Network’s operations were described by Myamesing Marma, Project Coordinator, AKS, and Uma Ching Marma, Project Coordinator, GRAUS. The strategic aims and vision of the ‘NARI’ Network were discussed by Sanjoy Majumder, Project Manager of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS). He described the efforts of the Our Lives, Our Health, Our Futures project in his speech. Through the active engagement of created and conscious civil society, inform and motivate stakeholders to play a role as a sustainable platform.
“Our expectation is to create a conducive environment for ensuring access to services and information related to sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and young women in this hilly region through the participation of local volunteers and dedicated conscious people. Through this workshop, the participants need to exchange views on the applicable supportive activities and effective initiatives, as well as ways to increase mutual cooperation. We hope that this platform will play a vital role in bringing about a positive change in the lives of about 12,000 adolescents and young women in these three hill districts through this project,” he said.
Among others, UNDP-SID Project District Officer Sing Mya Prue, Surjer Hasi Clinic Manager Promode Mallik, Onestop Crisis Cell (OCC) Program Officer Arun Bikash Chakma, Women’s Rights Activist Advocate Madhabi Marma, Women Resource Network (WRN) Coordinator Choity Tripura, Social Worker Nini Prue Marma, Female Headman (Traditional Leader) Sa Nu Ching, Former Female Vice-Chairman of Thanchi Upazila Bakuli Marma, Women Councilor A May Ching Marma, Member of Mro Social Council Pau Singh Mro, GRAUS’s Chairperson Mong Thoui Ching Marma, Joint General Secretary and Executive Director of Tahzingdong Ching Singh Prue, Social Activist Aung Cha Mong Marma along spokes on the workshop of NARI network, Besides, officials of BNPS, AKS, Tahzingdong were present at the workshop.
In her closing remarks, Daw Nai Prue Naly thanked everyone for their sincere and spontaneous participation in the workshop saying that ‘We must have a conviction. We need to work to change the lives of adolescents of hill tracts from a place of civic responsibility. If we can create a supportive environment to the overall development of healthy and deserving adolescents, then equality in society will return. And there is no alternative to the united efforts of all to realize this beautiful dream. ‘
