Empowering Youth for Climate Policy Leadership: YOUCAN PolicyLink at BAF Shaheen College Kurmitola
In March 2025, the Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) took a significant step toward youth climate empowerment by hosting a peer-led climate policy dialogue at BAF Shaheen College Kurmitola. This event, organized in partnership with the BAFSK Climate and Environmental Action Network, gathered 60 enthusiastic students for an immersive session focused on climate action and youth engagement in policy processes.
The YOUCAN PolicyLink initiative is designed to build a generation of climate-literate and policy-aware youth who are prepared to lead sustainability initiatives within their schools and communities. By leveraging peer education methods, the program enabled students to explore complex climate governance concepts in Bangladesh through interactive discussions, collaborative activities, and action planning.
Key discussion points included:
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Understanding the fundamentals of climate governance at the national level
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Methods for influencing climate policy through grassroots mobilization
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Incorporating sustainability principles into campus initiatives
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The pivotal role of youth in shaping national and international climate frameworks
Through these conversations, participants critically examined how educational institutions can act as fertile grounds for climate activism, emphasizing the power of student-led movements to impact policy dialogue on a broader scale.
BAF Shaheen College Kurmitola, known for hosting one of Bangladesh’s most proactive student environmental groups, provided an ideal setting to foster local leadership and civic engagement in climate advocacy. The session concluded with a strong commitment from attendees to expand sustainability efforts within their institution and to strengthen collaboration between YOUCAN and youth networks throughout the country.
Looking ahead, YOUCAN aims to replicate the PolicyLink model across colleges and secondary schools nationwide, ensuring climate education remains participatory, policy-connected, and action-driven.
