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SDG 8 · Decent Work & Economic Growth

Youth Leadership

Empowering youth with disabilities to lead inclusive change

DRRA’s Youth Leadership Programme aims to empower young persons with disabilities to become confident, skilled, independent and active contributors to their families, communities and society.

Fund this programme Mentor a young leader
Young people in aprons prepare fruit with their trainers at a food festival at Amorjoti Special School
Our approach

From support to leadership

Many young people in rural Bangladesh, and young persons with disabilities in particular, leave school without the skills, savings or connections to earn a steady income. They are rarely asked to help make the decisions that affect their lives.

The programme recognises that young persons with disabilities are not merely recipients of services; they are rights-holders, decision-makers and potential leaders of social change.

Through the formation of self-help groups (SHGs), the programme encourages peer support, collective action, community volunteerism and social participation. It also facilitates productive asset support and entrepreneurship development to promote economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.

A key component is nurturing young persons with disabilities as emerging leaders who can represent their peers, participate in community decision-making, promote disability rights and engage in advocacy and networking with local government, civil society and other stakeholders.

A team of young football players wearing medals kneels in front of organisers holding a trophy on an indoor pitch
Inclusive football: a team with their medals
How it works

Key programme interventions

The programme promotes meaningful participation and ownership by young persons with disabilities throughout their personal development, economic empowerment and community leadership journey.

  1. Get readyCare and support

    Personalised support and care

    Individualised health, rehabilitation, education and other essential services based on individual needs and priorities.

    Services are linked to DRRA’s inclusive health and inclusive education programmes.

  2. LearnSkills for work and life

    Skills development

    Life skills, vocational training, digital literacy and employability development.

  3. OrganiseStrength in numbers

    Youth organisation

    Formation and strengthening of self-help groups (SHGs) to promote peer support, mutual learning and collective initiatives.

  4. ContributeGiving back

    Community volunteerism

    Engagement of youth in community activities, social awareness and disability inclusion initiatives.

  5. EarnIncome and enterprise

    Economic empowerment

    Entrepreneurship development, productive asset support, employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

    See economic inclusion.

  6. LeadA voice in decisions

    Leadership and advocacy

    Leadership development, youth representation, disability rights awareness, advocacy and networking.

What changes

What young people gain

  • SkillsLife, vocational and digital skills that open the door to work.
  • BelongingA self-help group for peer support, mutual learning and collective action.
  • IncomeA productive asset and a business of their own.
  • VoiceA place in leadership and advocacy networks, and a say in local decisions.
In the field

What this programme looks like, in practice

A trainer guides a young man as he sews fabric on an industrial sewing machine
Learning to sew on an industrial machine
Two young men watch as women block-print a flower pattern onto pink fabric
Block printing on fabric
Young people chop green beans and other vegetables at an outdoor table with their trainers
Cooking skills, learned together
Young volunteers in red T-shirts talk with rescue workers in life jackets beside a boat on the river
Youth volunteers with rescue teams on the river
Secondary school girls in uniform sit in a row as a facilitator leads a session with a projector
A session with secondary school girls
A DRRA staff member talks a student through printed materials at a school book week
Talking with students at a school book week
Young people stretch on the floor together during a group exercise session
Group exercise session
A smiling boy rides a stationary exercise bike in a corridor
Keeping active on the exercise bike
Related programmes

Related programmes

🩺

Inclusive Health & Rehabilitation

Health and rehabilitation support that gets young persons with disabilities ready to take part.
🎓

Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning

Vocational and life-skills learning that leads into the youth pathway.
💼

Economic Inclusion & Sustainable Livelihood

Assets, enterprise and jobs that turn skills into a living.