Essential Skills and Opportunities for Today's Youth

Transforming Dreams into Reality

Imagine a young woman in Cox's Bazar who has never stepped outside her home alone, whose world is limited to the confines of her small home. She dreams quietly of opening a tailoring shop, of earning enough to support her family, and of a life beyond uncertainty. For years, those dreams seemed impossible. But one day, an opportunity arrives.

This is the story of many young women and men across Cox's Bazar, both from host communities and Rohingya refugees, whose hopes were once whispers. When the International Rescue Committee (IRC), together with local partners, reached out to them, they found the training, support, and confidence to turn dreams into reality.

Maimuna remembers the moment she saw her name on the Youth Development Center list. "I didn't know exactly what I'd do," she says, "but I knew I would learn skills to help my family." Today, she sells vegetables and makes dresses in her locality.

Mofidul, 21, juggled work and studies to support his family before discovering IRC's leadership and computer training. Today, he runs his own small computer business in his locality.

Firoza, once forced into early marriage, now protects girls in her community from the same fate, standing up to stop child marriages and encouraging education.

Since 2023, IRC has helped over 1,700 youth start small businesses, from groceries and dry fish selling to tailoring and cosmetics, and provided vocational training to hundreds more in skills like graphic design, motor driving, and electrical work. More than 300 young people have found jobs locally, and dozens are preparing to work abroad.

In Rohingya camps, youth are learning to install solar panels, create handicrafts, and teach literacy, becoming financially independent and preserving their culture through art and storytelling.

Around 10,000 youth from both communities are involved in peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, bridging divides that politics cannot.

Yet the challenges they face are immense. Over one million Rohingya refugees live alongside host communities in Cox's Bazar, over 20% Rohingya youth are confronting restrictions on education and access to livelihood or income generation, while host community youth struggle with unemployment and a gap between education and job opportunities.

Nationwide, youth unemployment remains high despite Bangladesh's urgent need for skilled workers.

The solution lies in equipping youth with practical skills, digital literacy, leadership, and opportunities to engage.

Policymakers need to create an environment that makes youth development inclusive of Rohingya refugees and host communities.

Education systems can combine academics with hands-on training. Investments in entrepreneurship, green jobs, and creative industries will unlock the potential of host communities and reduce economic pressures.

The international community must expand sustainable funding and expertise for youth-led programs, open pathways for higher education, skills that match global expectations, and apprenticeships, and recognize that investing in youth is investing in peace and prosperity for communities, countries, and beyond.

Rohingya and Bangladeshi youth are not just survivors; they are leaders, dreamers, and builders of a brighter tomorrow. With the right tools & techniques, opportunities, and trust, their potential knows no bounds.