From Excluded Youth to Catalyst: A Journey of Empowerment and Purpose

My name is Chadni. I come from Bangladesh, and my story, like that of many young women in my country, began with struggle, but not with defeat.

I grew up in a context where being born a girl meant facing exclusion from the start. Girls were often denied opportunities, expected to marry early, and discouraged from dreaming big. My family was very poor. Sometimes, we didn’t even have enough food at home. My father was the only one working, and it wasn’t enough to support all of us. At a very young age, I had to drop out of school and start working to help support my family.

I felt worthless, like I had no place in society, and no one believed I could achieve anything. I didn’t know how to speak confidently, how to use a computer, or even how to plan my future. But I knew I didn’t want my life to continue this way. I wanted more, not just for myself, but for my family and other girls like me.

That’s when I discovered LP4Y.

Joining the program was a turning point. It was the first time someone asked me:

What do you want to do with your life?

I had never been asked that before. At LP4Y, I was trained in digital skills, communication, English, and professional behavior. But more than that, I was listened to. I was encouraged. I started to believe in myself.

Step by step, I grew. I got an internship in a real company. I learned how to work with others, how to speak in public, how to set goals. I started earning money, supporting my family, and seeing myself differently, not as a burden, but as someone with value.

Today, I am proud to say that I am a Catalyst. I am working with LP4Y to accompany other excluded young women like I once was. I help them gain confidence, develop their potential, and dream of a better future. It gives me so much joy to give back what I received.

In March 2024, I had the honor of sharing my story at the United Nations in New York during the Commission on the Status of Women. Standing there, speaking on behalf of thousands of excluded youths, I realized just how far I had come. A girl from a poor family in Bangladesh, who once had no voice, now speaking on an international stage, it was a powerful reminder that change is possible.

My journey wasn’t easy. I faced many obstacles, and there were moments when I wanted to give up. But I kept going, because I had a dream, and because LP4Y believed in me.

To all the young people out there who feel invisible, unheard, or hopeless, I want to say: you are not alone. You have strength inside you. And with the right support, you can turn your life around, just like I did.

Muntasir Hasan Chadni - LP4Y Catalyst in GV Bangladesh