Despite the obstacles she encountered, she continued her education with determination and courage. Rupali has been part of ALO Society’s Education for Empowerment Project since its very beginning. Through the project, she has received financial support to continue her own education while also taking on a responsibility to support children in her community.Today, Rupali teaches 12 primary-level students through her coaching sessions. She approaches her teaching with genuine passion and a strong sense of responsibility. For her, teaching is more than simply helping children with their lessons—it is an opportunity to share what she has learned and contribute to the future of children who may face challenges similar to those she has experienced.

Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. Last year, Rupali received the Best Sponsor Student Award in the Sylhet Region, recognizing her commitment to both her own education and the children she supports.Currently, Rupali is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS), second year. She has a clear ambition for her future: she wants to become a teacher. The Education for Empowerment Project has played an important role in helping Rupali continue her education. But her story goes beyond receiving support. She has transformed that opportunity into a responsibility to support others.

Rupali’s journey reflects the spirit of the Education for Empowerment Project: when one student receives an opportunity, that opportunity can reach many more. By continuing her education and sharing her knowledge with children in her community, Rupali is not only changing her own future—she is helping create new possibilities for others. Her story is a reminder that empowerment does not end with receiving support. It grows when people are given the opportunity to learn, believe in themselves, and give back to their communities. And Rupali is doing exactly that.

ALO Society recently held a coordination meeting with the leaders of the eight federations in Dhaka to review ongoing initiatives, discuss future priorities, and better understand the support needed to strengthen the organizations and their members.

During the meeting, federation leaders shared that since 2023, ALO Society has been providing various forms of organizational and technical support to all eight federations in Dhaka. These initiatives have helped the federations strengthen their self-help groups, increase membership, and improve their overall organizational capacity.

The leaders also highlighted the positive impact of the Education Support Program implemented from 2024 to 2026. Through this initiative, many students from leprosy-affected and disadvantaged families received educational assistance, enabling them to continue their studies and pursue better opportunities. In addition to educational support, ALO Society has continuously provided technical guidance, capacity-building activities, and organizational development support.

During the discussion, ALO Society Executive Committee Member Nurjhst Jahan inquired about the progress of the federations, the challenges they are currently facing, and new initiatives they are planning to undertake in their respective areas.

The meeting was attended by Klinton Malakar, Program Manager of ALO Society, and Arpon Andry, Assistant Accountant. Mr. Arpon Andry was formally introduced to the federation leaders and will work closely with them to improve financial reporting, documentation, and regular progress tracking.

Mr. Klinton Malakar also introduced the newly approved project supported by The Leprosy Mission Great Britain (TLMGB). He discussed the project’s objectives, implementation priorities, and sought recommendations from the federation leaders regarding local needs and effective implementation strategies. The discussion emphasized ensuring that project activities respond to the actual needs of the communities.

As part of the preparation for the new project, ALO Society also discussed the importance of conducting internal audits and strengthening financial accountability to ensure transparent and effective project implementation.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining close collaboration, strengthening federation capacity, and improving the quality of services provided to persons affected by leprosy and other disadvantaged communities.

This three-day workshop included community visits, safeguarding training, exposure trips, reflection sessions, and daily planning meetings—ensuring that each scholar not only learned but also practiced organizing, communicating, and coordinating a full three-day program.

Day 1: Community Visit to Trimohoni Federation – Hosted by Dhaka Scholar Bristi

The first day began with a warm gathering as visiting scholars and mentors joined the Trimohoni Federation. The Dhaka team facilitated the visit, where scholars:

· Held a discussion meeting with federation members

· Interacted with coaching students from ‘Education for empowerment project 1st phase 2nd year’ gifting school bags to young learners arranged by Trimohoni Federation and members.

· Met with adult education participants

· Spoke with federations members and leprosy affected individuals and came to know about self-employment initiatives

· Conducted a field visit to observe community-led development activities

This first day served as a model of community-based learning, demonstrating what each scholar will later organize in their own federation when it is their turn to host.

Throughout the day, participants admired the unity, teamwork, and resilience of federation members. They gained deep insights into local leadership, community ownership, and sustainable development practices.

Day 2: Exposure Visit to National Zoo & Botanical Garden – Learning in Nature

The second day was designed as a refreshing learning visit, giving the scholars space to reflect, bond, and broaden their perspectives and knowledge beyond their own communities, while also helping them build a stronger team.

Visit to the National Zoo, Mirpur: Scholars explored the main National Zoo of Bangladesh, viewing rare and endangered species. Seeing animals that are disappearing from many local areas helped them understand the urgent importance of:

-Wildlife protection for their won community

-Biodiversity conservation

-Community responsibility in protecting nature

Many participants shared that they had never seen some of these species before—making the experience both educational and eye-opening.

Visit to the Botanical Garden: After the zoo, the group visited the Botanical Garden, where they sat together in a calm natural setting for an open group discussion. Scholars exchanged ideas, shared their experiences from Day 1, and reflected on how nature connects to leprosy affected indidudulas and how climate changes is realted to nature. They also discussed the account policy for the program to ensure that everything runs smoothly, without any difficulties for scholars in receiving their individual skills development courses.

This outdoor session strengthened friendships, communication skills, and confidence among the young leaders.

Day 3: Safeguarding Training & Reflection Session – Building Responsible Leadership

The final day took place at the ALO Society office, starting with a focused Safeguarding Training. Scholars learned about:

-ALO’s Safeguarding Policy

-How to ensure safety, respect, and accountability in community work

-Practical ways to apply safeguarding principles in day-to-day activities

This training was essential, as every scholar will soon lead community visits and work directly with children, women, and vulnerable groups.

Reflection Session

The workshop concluded with a brief yet powerful reflection session. Participants:

-Reviewed their learnings from all three days

-Shared personal insights

– Expressed how the workshop strengthened their leadership, communication, and planning abilities

-Highlighted how the experience helped them understand each other’s communities and contexts

Although short, the session created a strong sense of unity among scholars from different regions of Bangladesh.

Leadership Development Through Real Practice

A key highlight of this three days workshop was its leadership-focused design. Every scholar:

-Observed how a three-day program is organized

-Practiced daily communication and coordination

-Learned how to host and guide visitors

-Understood Dhaka federation’s work and community initiatives

-Prepared themselves to later invite other scholars to their region and replicate the same model

-Other scholars inspired to learn from Bristy and her leadership in community

-Connection with fellow scholars from diverse regions

-This ensures that each scholar will grow into a confident young leader capable of promoting community development and strengthening LPO’s network across Bangladesh.

Over these three days, the scholars built a strong foundation for future collaboration and empowered themselves to take the lead in their own federations and communities. The workshop not only inspired them but also nurtured a vision of responsible leadership and collective growth within the community.