In the beautiful city of Sylhet, Y Coalition launched Youth Training of Trainers (Youth TOT) workshop in association with Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN) on 'Strengthening Inclusion, Interfaith and Sustaining Peace.' The workshop was held on July 27 and 28, 2018.
Y Coalition is a youth-led peace organisation to strive together for sustainable peace. The workshop was launched in the green and serene campus of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) and the organising partner was SUST Model United Nations (UN) Association.
A successful two day workshop with 30 participants was led by Md Tamzid Hayder Tawrat Sikder, an experienced trainer. The whole programme covered social cohesion and peace building, facilitating intercultural and interfaith dialogues. The ideas from participants were innovative and inspirational.
This training of trainers workshop provided the young people with the skills and confidence to be leaders and agents of change in their communities. For this reason, the workshop was designed very practically and getting each and every participant involved, so that on completion, participants are trained and ready to design and deliver outreach and education activities in their communities.
"As an individual it is often hard for us to think about others in our own community. This workshop was an eye opener for me. It made me understand the injustices faced by the people in our community. It has also given me inspiration to lead and be a force to eradicate the injustice in our community," said Tasfia Binte Ali, a participant of the workshop.
The President of SUST Model UN Association Shadman Absar Chowdhury said, "SUST Model UN Association has always been an advocate of diversity and encouraged its members to see the world from as many viewpoints as possible.
So when the chance came to help organise this workshop of Y Coalition we tried to give our best to make this workshop a success and by the response of the participants we can certainly say we have succeeded."
The mission of the workshop was to connect, build capacity and provide support to the youth to promote peace in the society. The youths of this generation not only determines but their expertise is crucial to make their vision of a better tomorrow a reality.
The writer is a second year student of the Department of English at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). She can be reached at