From Election to Engagement

From Election to Engagement: Connecting Youth Leaders with Development Practitioners | Day 2 of BYC EC Election & Special General Meeting 2026

Day 2 was not only about casting votes and electing new leaders. It was also about creating a space where young people could connect, exchange ideas, and learn directly from experienced professionals working across the development sector.

Throughout the day, BYC members and newly elected youth leaders had the opportunity to engage with guests from Plan International Bangladesh, Solidar Suisse, Right to Peace Foundation, and GAIN. Their presence added a different energy to the event, bringing reflection, encouragement, practical guidance, and a wider development perspective into the room.

We were pleased to welcome Ms. Neelima Yasmeen, Deputy Director-Programme, Plan International Bangladesh; Ms. Falguni Reza, Advisor-Children and Youth Leadership, Plan International Bangladesh; Ms. Farzana Rupa, Gender Specialist, Plan International Bangladesh; Mr. Shakir Hossain, Consortium & Advocacy Manager, Plan International Bangladesh; Mr. Mohammad Farid Ahammad, Programme Manager, Solidar Suisse, Bangladesh Country Office; Ms. Jannat Jalal Nava, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Officer, Right to Peace Foundation; and Mr. Zawad Alam, Consultant for the Youth and Adolescent Nutrition Program at GAIN.

The guests shared their reflections, expectations, and guidance with the young leaders, encouraging them to think beyond positions and titles, and to focus on responsibility, inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and the collective strength of the Coalition.

One of the most engaging moments was the member organization poster exhibition. Youth partners had prepared hand-made posters presenting their organizations, areas of work, achievements, and priorities. As the guests moved through the exhibition, conversations started naturally about local realities, youth-led solutions, future partnerships, and areas where stronger connections could be built.

These informal conversations became just as valuable as the formal sessions. They created a meaningful space for young leaders to introduce their work, ask questions, exchange experiences, and build relationships with development professionals.

For BYC, this is what meaningful youth engagement looks like: not only giving young people a seat in the room, but creating opportunities for them to lead conversations, present their work, connect with partners, and shape future collaboration.

The BYC EC Election & Special General Meeting 2026 was implemented by Youth For Change Bangladesh Foundation, as the Secretariat of BYC, under the “Strengthening Bangladesh Youth Coalition (BYC)” initiative, in collaboration with Plan International Bangladesh under the Shomotay Tarunno: Youth for Equality Project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.