Empowering Rohingya Youth Through Refugee-Led Leadership, Innovation, and Community Action
(Op-Ed) by Ata Ullah, Rohingya Youth Union-RYU
The Rohingya Youth Union (RYU) is a refugee-led organization founded and led by young Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We believe that young refugees are not only recipients of humanitarian assistance but also leaders, innovators, and changemakers with the potential to shape a more peaceful, inclusive, and self-reliant future.
Despite the challenges of protracted displacement, restricted access to education, employment, and civic participation, RYU works to unlock the potential of Rohingya youth through education, leadership development, peacebuilding, digital literacy, community engagement, and advocacy. Our goal is to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to become active contributors to their communities and the wider world.
Over the past year, RYU has designed and implemented a range of youth-led initiatives, including leadership and digital literacy workshops, skills development programmes, community dialogues, and awareness campaigns on education, social cohesion, child protection, and youth participation. We have also collaborated with local and international organizations, universities, and global networks to expand learning opportunities, strengthen refugee leadership, and amplify Rohingya voices in regional and international discussions.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Amala Education, the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI), and other youth and refugee-led networks, we are helping create pathways for Rohingya youth to access quality education, develop leadership skills, build resilience, and prepare for meaningful participation in society. These collaborations enable young people to gain practical knowledge, connect with global communities, and contribute to solutions that address the challenges facing displaced populations.
At RYU, we envision a future where every Rohingya young person has the opportunity to learn, lead, innovate, and thrive.
By investing in education, peacebuilding, social entrepreneurship, community resilience, and youth leadership, we are working to build stronger communities and ensure that the next generation can contribute to a more just, inclusive, and hopeful future for all.
(Op-Ed) by Ata Ullah, Rohingya Youth Union-RYU
