This project funded by the European Union will be carried out in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh simultaneously, implemented by National Peace council in Sri Lanka and Rupantar in Bangladesh coordinated by Helvetas Sri Lanka and Bangladesh respectively. The project is a multi-country civil society initiative contributing to the specific objective of exploring preventing violent extremism (PVE) in diverse contexts and forms of extremism. It aims to engage Bangladesh and Sri Lankan Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and their actors in PVE in their constituency.

Being a right base and humanitarian organization JSKS planned to response for COVID-19 affected population in Dinajpur. The Major support are

1. Emergency food support to affected population during lockdown

2. Emergency Cash Support

3. Livelihood Support

Poor status of sexual and reproductive rights of young people in Bangladesh and lack of capacity of civil society and young people’s organizations/networks to hold the State accountable in delivering sexual and reproductive rights, the project envisions to tap into the opportunities around Voluntary National Review and Human Rights Instrument i.e. UNCRC to increase accountability of the state in upholding these rights. The project will develop capacities of young people and their networks/groups to engage with VNR and UNCRC monitoring, strengthen capacities of civil society groups/organizations, strengthen collaboration between youth organizations/platforms and other civil society actors and create positive social norms around SRHR and participation of girls and young women in decision making processes. It will partner with civil society organization working at the national level, civil society organizations working for young people from marginalized communities and youth organizations/platforms to deliver this change. Therefore, the project will make a difference in improving status of sexual and reproductive rights of young people through strengthening civil society especially youth organizations/networks to hold Government accountable in delivering quality SRHR and SGBV services and changing social norms around SRHR of young people.

Youth is the most viable and potential human resource not only in population structure but also in social structure. Without proper and integrated social development of the youth, a nation cannot achieve her human goals intended. Although the Government of Bangladesh has formulated policy, plans and programs for youth welfare and implementing these programs but face a lot of socio-cultural problems in which they cannot develop and empower themselves properly. As a result, they cannot play their significant roles in socio-economic development and change. 

Dinajpur district under Rangpur division is most poverty prone backward area in Bangladesh, 47.2% population lives under poverty. Both poverty and extreme poverty (30.5%) are much higher than the national average and it is increasing. Agriculture is the main occupation and major part of the population work as day laborer. High dropout rate, early marriage & VAW is another phenomena. Youths are the main victim of poverty, unemployment rate (10%) of youth is higher than the overall national unemployment rate 4.18%. Unemployment rate (12%) of young women also higher than men. Lack of employment skills, working environment & workplace security are the obstacles for decent employment of women & youth. Youth are unable to integrate with mainstream work force due to lack of employment skills specially from Madrasha. In the other hand, lack of social integration of different groups of youth increases isolation, lack of respect to other’s opinion, believe & culture, intolerance and self-centered thinking of peoples. Violence extremism is a problem and increased in the region in recent years. JSKS study revealed that long lasting deprivation, exclusion, intolerance and threatening of identity/believe are the main driving factors of violence extremism.       

JSKS is implementing “Engaging Local Government Elected Body (Union Parishad) to Create Resilience against Violent Extremism” at Dinajpur Sadar & Chirirbandar Upazila of Dinajpur district with the financial and technical support from USAID’s Obirodh: Road to Tolerance Program. Bangladesh witnessed an incremental growth of violent extremism in recent years. It is observed that countryside or less developed areas face a number of violent incidents. Different state and non-state actors usually pay attention to urban and semi-urban settings for designing countering/preventing violent extremism (CVE/PVE) interventions, thus, interventions targeting rural people are often not considered.

Objectives:

• To develop and strengthen capacity of local level duty bearers for creating access of   3 to 5 years old children to home based early learning (SBK).
• To increase skills of community human resources & school teacher for ensuring quality primary education including SBK and pre-primary.
• To increased capacity of school teacher SMC, student council for promoting co-curricular activities and enhance school’s environment.
• To motivate and skilled of local education authority at Upazila level for providing quality supports to school.
• To provide support to children aged 12 to  15 years to continue their study at secondary level

Protection of women human rights and reduction of Violence Against Women through gender responsive social movement.