On the occasion of International & National Youth Day (IYD) 2025, YPSA, through its Centre for Youth and Development (YPSA-CYD), organized a series of impactful activities from 12–18 August 2025 under the global theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”. This year’s observance highlighted the unique role of young people in transforming global ambitions into community-driven realities.
Throughout the week, YPSA hosted a variety of activities, including interactive discussions on youth leadership, women’s empowerment, climate change adaptation, environmental awareness, and the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the occasion of National and International Youth Day-2025, YPSA joined hands with the Department of Youth Development (DYD) in Chattogram to conduct joint awareness programs, emphasizing the power of government–civil society–youth collaboration for sustainable development. The main event, held on August 12 at the Circuit House, featured discussions, oath-taking, and distribution of training certificates, youth loan checks, and honors for successful youth and self-help workers.
Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin presided over the program with Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain as chief guest. YPSA’s Assistant Director Abdus Sabur and prominent youth leaders of the organization also attended the event, representing YPSA’s continued commitment to empowering youth for sustainable development.
An online webinar brought together prominent youth leaders from different regions, creating a platform for young voices to share perspectives on how grassroots initiatives can accelerate progress toward the SDGs and inclusive, sustainable communities.
On 18 August 2025, YPSA conducted a Plastic-Free Campaign in Chattogram City’s Chandgaon area, titled “Let’s Work Together and Beat Plastic Pollution.” The campaign raised awareness about the harmful effects of plastics and polythene, highlighting their non-biodegradable impact on urban environments. Volunteers engaged residents in adopting sustainable waste management practices, while leaflets were distributed to reinforce the message of collective responsibility for a cleaner city.
As part of the celebration, YPSA-CYD successfully organized a high-impact Youth Dialogue on 12 August 2025 at Simanto Sommelon Kendra, BGB Urmee Hotel, Cox’s Bazar, under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond: Meaningful Youth Participation in Localization and SDG.”
Supported by YOSD, YASID, THP, and SSD Youth Foundation, the event brought together 40+ participants, including youth leaders from community-based organizations, development agencies, media professionals, and youth volunteers. The dialogue emphasized the importance of SDG localization, collaboration among youth-led initiatives, and the identification of local-level challenges and opportunities.
The program was honored by the presence of Prof. Dr. Md. Tawhid Hossain Chowdhury, Mr. Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director and Regional Head of YPSA Cox’s Bazar, attended as Special Guest and reaffirmed YPSA’s commitment to strengthening youth organizations and ensuring their meaningful engagement in the development process.
The dialogue produced key outcomes, including the strengthening of youth networks, greater awareness of SDG localization strategies, and a preliminary action plan for youth-led SDG initiatives in Cox’s Bazar.
In his remarks, Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Founder and Chief Executive of YPSA, stated:
“On International Youth Day 2025, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and creativity of young people. At YPSA, we believe youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the changemakers of today. Their voices, actions, and innovations are vital in addressing climate change, promoting sustainability, and building an inclusive future for all.”
The celebrations concluded with strong commitments from participating youth and organizations to continue advancing SDG localization through collaborative action, regular dialogues, capacity-building, and strategic partnerships with local government and development actors.
