In Bangladesh, many of us believe that without doors and windows, buildings cannot be safe—that people will steal what doesn’t belong to them. This has been our experience time and again. But something remarkable is happening in a small village called Roghunathpur in Mymensingh. At the Pahariapara Agamir School, ceiling fans have been hanging for…

Since November 2023, Grow Your Reader Foundation has been collaborating with the Global Fund for Children under the ARC (Addressing Root Causes) initiative. This partnership centers around one fundamental belief: communities are not problems to be fixed, but powerhouses of wisdom and solutions. True development begins when the community identifies its own…

প্রতিদিনের মতো আজকেও সকালে আমরা সবাই কমিউনিটিতে সল্টের অভিজ্ঞতা শেয়ার করার জন্য মিটিংয়ে বসেছিলাম। মিটিংয়ে আমি তেমন কিছু করি না, শুধু আমাদের ফ্যাসিলিটেটর মনিরা আপা এবং প্রকাশ ভাইয়ের অভিজ্ঞতার কথা মন দিয়ে শুনি। তাদের কাছ থেকে শেখার চেষ্টা করি।

আজকের মিটিংয়ে আমরা আমাদের নতুন ডকুমেন্টেশন অফিসার প্রিয়ার জন্য একটি দীর্ঘ আলোচনা করেছিলাম। আমাদের…

In 2023, I was first introduced to the SALT approach. I still remember my initial reaction—it was a mix of confusion and curiosity. On the very first day, I couldn’t quite grasp what SALT truly meant. The ideas seemed abstract, and I felt unsure of how to apply them in real-life community settings. But as time passed and I began visiting communities,…

After a long yet fulfilling day at the Knowledge Fair in Gopalgonj Byaspur, I (Sadia) was physically tired—but my heart was brimming with excitement. There was something truly special awaiting us: our Bangladesh ARC Cohort presentation at the ARC South Asia Convening 2025, held in Dhaka. Alongside me was Tasnim Apu from ECDO, and…

I’m deeply honored to have earned the eDiploma in Power and Influence for Positive Impact from Harvard Business School Online, made possible through a 97% scholarship from The Queen's Commonwealth Trust as a Youth Venture Program Awardee on behalf of Grow Your Reader Foundation. We are also proud to be part of the…

On 29th December 2024, I had the privilege of conducting a dream-building session in Hijlipara, Byaspur, Gopalgonj. It was a session that not only allowed me to interact and learn from the members of the community but also opened my eyes to the subtle yet profound shifts taking place in a small village that I call home. Thirty-three participants,…

From November 17th to 21st, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Teach For All Social Entrepreneurs Gathering in Cape Town, South Africa—a gathering that was nothing short of transformative. Surrounded by 27 incredible individuals from 14 countries, each of us using our fellowship experiences to tackle global challenges, I felt the…

On November 9, 2024, Jaynagar High School was officially closed, but we (Grow Your Reader Foundation) were there to hold a SALT group session with the teachers, followed by a dream-building session. Initially, I hesitated to ask the principal to hold it on their holiday. But to my surprise, he responded with, “Can we do it on a holiday?” This…

In the heart of Gopalganj, the air felt heavy as I stepped into the room of the Primary Teachers Training Institute (PTI). The faces of 42 trainee teachers greeted me, some worn, some irritated—a reflection of the news they’d just received about their school placements, which weren’t what they’d hoped for. As I looked around, I could feel the tension…

In the Hijli Para of Byaspur village, our facilitators, Manira apa and Prokash bhai, led 3 group SALT sessions with around 25 men, women and adolescents almost 2 months ago. The majority of participants were women, and together, they began to address some of the challenges they face:

1. Children addicted to mobile phones
2. Children…

In 2020, I made a big decision to work full-time for the Grow Your Reader Foundation, a journey that has been full of challenges, learning, and growth. Our journey began with a small but incredibly dedicated group of volunteers who have always been close to my heart. Their support has been invaluable, and without them, we wouldn't have made it this…

On 22nd August 2024, I had the privilege of visiting Islamia High School in Old Dhaka. This school is located near the historic Boro Katra, a site rich in our country's history. Two Teach For Bangladesh fellows invited me to visit them. Our Grow Your Reader Foundation will be working with their school. During our visit, I conducted two sessions with the…

For the past 11 months, I've had the privilege of being coached by Veena Pillai, a certified professional coach and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant in Mumbai. With 25 years of leadership experience and a global perspective, Veena's rich background adds depth to her guidance.

My time with Veena has been amazing. My learning curve went really high, thanks to her insights and support. As our formal coaching time comes to an end, I reflect on the profound impact this experience has…

On the morning of June 6th, Byaspur village in Gopalganj hosted a project inception meeting at Jaynagar High School. This meeting was organized by Grow Your Reader Foundation (GYRF), with funding from the Global Fund for Children. GYRF aims to improve children's education and community well-being through changes in the school ecosystem and the community's…

In the past couple of months, I've had the privilege of experiencing the resilience and determination of a remarkable community in Roghunathpur, Fulbaria Thana, Mymensingh, particularly in Paharia Para. This experience has left an indelible mark on me, reminding me of the power of grassroots initiatives and community-driven change.

From the moment I…

Hey there, fellow learners!

Here at Grow Your Reader Foundation, we've been on an exciting journey of growth and learning together. Our facilitators have been diving deeper into the art of conducting SALT (Stimulate, Appreciate, Learn, and Transfer) conversations and reflecting…

Hey there,

So, I had this incredible encounter with Lipika didi the other day, and I just had to share it with you. You see, Lipika didi recently lost her daughter to cancer, and I've been wanting to reach out to her for a while now. I've always admired her strength and wisdom, and I knew there was so much I could learn from her.…

Have you ever experienced that moment when you witness someone's growth firsthand and it fills you with an indescribable sense of joy and pride? That's exactly how I felt recently when I had the opportunity to visit our operation site Byaspur village in Bangladesh during the Eid vacation and observe our two SALT facilitators, Prokash bhai and Manira…

Life often keeps us so busy that we forget to tap into the beautiful minds and hearts of children. But trust me, if we pause for just a moment and really listen, we'll be amazed at what they have to say.

Our two amazing facilitators, Manira Apa and Prokash Bhai conducted a Focus Group Discussion on 10^th March 2024. Picture this: 11 kids,…