Executive Director Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas and Rifat Al Nahian Represent YOUCAN at the First Session of a New Monthly Platform Connecting Young Leaders and Changemakers Across Bangladesh
Young Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) joined the first session of Youth Talk 2026, a new monthly initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh, on the occasion of International Youth Day 2026. YOUCAN was represented by its Executive Director, Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas, and Rifat Al Nahian, who joined young leaders and changemakers from across the country to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss the aspirations of Bangladesh’s youth.
Held under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the session brought together approximately 25 young people from diverse backgrounds to explore shared challenges, priorities, and opportunities for collective action. The discussion provided a space for youth-led organisations, emerging leaders, and changemakers to connect across different experiences while reflecting on their common vision for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.
Youth Talk aims to establish a continuing platform where young people can engage in meaningful conversations, strengthen connections, and contribute their perspectives to discussions shaping Bangladesh’s development.
Creating Space for Youth Voices and Shared Aspirations
Young people across Bangladesh bring diverse experiences, perspectives, and ambitions to the country’s social, economic, and environmental landscape. Despite differences in their backgrounds and areas of work, many share common aspirations for equal opportunities, meaningful participation, social justice, and a better future.
The first session of Youth Talk 2026 offered an opportunity to explore these shared aspirations while recognising the different contexts in which young people work and lead change. By bringing together participants from different fields and youth-led initiatives, the platform encouraged dialogue beyond organisational boundaries and individual areas of interest.
Such spaces are important for building mutual understanding, exchanging knowledge, and identifying common ground among young people working to address challenges in their communities.
From Climate Action to Governance and Human Rights
The conversation covered a broad range of issues affecting young people and Bangladesh’s future, including climate action, governance, entrepreneurship, human rights, social inclusion, and access to opportunities.
These interconnected areas influence how young people participate in society, develop their potential, and contribute to national progress. Climate action, for example, requires not only environmental awareness but also inclusive decision-making, accessible opportunities, and meaningful participation from communities affected by climate change.
Similarly, discussions around governance, human rights, and social inclusion highlight the importance of ensuring that young people from diverse backgrounds have opportunities to express their views and contribute to decisions that affect their lives.
By bringing these themes into a shared conversation, Youth Talk created an opportunity to consider how different youth priorities intersect and how collaboration can help turn common aspirations into meaningful action.
Building Connections Across Youth-Led Movements
For youth-led organisations, collaboration and networking are essential to expanding reach, sharing experiences, and strengthening collective efforts. Opportunities to engage with young leaders from different backgrounds can help organisations understand emerging priorities, identify shared challenges, and develop new perspectives on their work.
YOUCAN’s participation in the session reflects the importance of engaging in broader youth platforms that connect environmental action with wider conversations on development, rights, inclusion, and leadership.
As a youth-led network working to advance climate action and environmental justice, YOUCAN recognises that lasting change requires cooperation across sectors and movements. Connecting with young people working in different fields can strengthen understanding of the links between environmental sustainability and the social conditions that shape young people’s lives.
The session also reinforced the value of listening to diverse experiences and recognising that collective progress depends on creating opportunities for young people to learn from one another.
Young People Shaping Bangladesh’s Future
Young people are not simply future leaders; they are active contributors to the present. Their ideas, experiences, and initiatives can help identify challenges, encourage innovation, and bring fresh perspectives to conversations about Bangladesh’s development.
However, meaningful youth participation requires more than occasional consultation. It depends on sustained opportunities for dialogue, inclusive spaces for engagement, and connections that allow young people to contribute beyond individual events.
As a monthly platform, Youth Talk offers an opportunity to maintain these conversations over time and bring together emerging voices from across Bangladesh. Its continued development can help strengthen connections among young leaders and support the exchange of ideas across different communities and areas of work.
For YOUCAN, participation in such spaces is part of a broader commitment to youth engagement, collaborative leadership, and action that responds to the interconnected challenges facing people and the planet.
Looking Ahead: Different Contexts, One Collective Vision
YOUCAN is proud to have joined the inaugural session of UNDP Bangladesh’s Youth Talk 2026 alongside young leaders and changemakers working across diverse fields. The discussion highlighted the value of creating spaces where different perspectives can come together around shared aspirations.
As Bangladesh continues to navigate challenges related to climate change, governance, human rights, social inclusion, and access to opportunities, youth participation and cross-sector collaboration remain important to building a more inclusive future.
YOUCAN looks forward to continued dialogue and collaboration with youth-led movements, development partners, and other stakeholders working to strengthen young people’s participation in shaping the future of Bangladesh.
Different contexts may shape different experiences, but shared aspirations can bring people together. By connecting youth voices, strengthening collaboration, and turning dialogue into collective action, we can work towards a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.