February 21st was the International Mother Language Day of our country. Once upon a time, it was unthinkable that the Pechakola community would celebrate this day in this way. But this time, the community's adolescent Jamuna team made the impossible possible by doing that work.

They said that earlier they had not even thought of organizing it…

When we go to the community to do SALT, we often see children coming and going. Most of the time, children are seen moving here and there. However, when we go to the community and sit and talk with them and talk to their parents, the children attention is much higher. They come to us with interest and participate in the story. At this time, the parents also encourage them and express great interest that we sit and talk with their children.

Later, we tried to bring out their dreams,…

One afternoon, three young men in the community had an open discussion about masculinity. The topic is actually very common, but due to social perceptions and traditional beliefs, there was very little opportunity to talk about or practice this topic until now. Now, there is a gradual change in that place, and this discussion was an example of that.…

One afternoon, Pechakola community comes alive with the footsteps of children. Even when evening arrives after school, the laughter, running, and play of the children fill the environment with energy and joy. It wasn’t always like this. The Jamuna team has taken an initiative to make children’s afternoons meaningful and constructive, which has brought a visible and positive change in their lives.

Previously, most children spent their time at home. Due to lack of play spaces, busy…

The Pechakola community, located beside the Jamuna River, had been facing a serious social problem for a long time. Especially after sunset, the only road in the community became dangerous and unsafe. Because of the darkness, incidents of theft and robbery occurred, and children, adolescents, women, and elderly people lived in constant fear. Many…

On a winter morning, 12 January 2026, the Jamuna team gathered 15 children for a different kind of initiative. At the beginning, everyone sat together and had an open conversation with the children. There were no lectures or instructions. Instead, the team learned directly from the children what they loved to do, which games brought them joy,…

The afternoon at Pechakola began quite simply. A few elderly men and some youths sat together in one place. No one had papers in hand, and no one was trying to prove anything. It was merely a space created for speaking and listening.

At…

Yesterday, the first day of 2026, began at the office in a truly unique way. From the morning, faces were filled with warm greetings, smiles, and a quiet sense of hope for the new year. There were no formal ceremonies or outward glitz, there was only our own initiative and a sincere desire to spend time together. At the start of the day, we all took…

Some conversations start slowly with my own feelings. This conversation with Tamim Hossain of the Pechakola community was like that. He fell silent as soon as the topic of masculinity came up. It wasn't easy to start. He wasn't very open about this topic at first. That's when I realized that this discussion takes time and trust. However, as trust…

On December 8, 2025, a health awareness campaign was organized by the Pechakola community. The entire event was completely community-led. A month before the campaign, a SALT conversation was held with the community’s medical assistant, Sirajul Islam.…

On December 15, 2025 we were very happy and excited to go to Byaspur Community in Gopalganj to participate in the Grow Your Reader Foundation Community Knowledge Fair. From Bangladesh Rural Economic Development (BRED) Organization, I, Ashiq Bhai, Humaira Apa and Rowshan Apa started our journey at 5 am.

After a journey of about…

SALT-এর আলোয় গল্প বলা: পেচাঁকোলা কমিউনিটির যাত্রা পডকাস্টে

গত ২৫ নভেম্বর ২০২৫, আমাদের BRED team আলোকিত করি এর অফিসে একটি বিশেষ নিমন্ত্রণে অংশ নেওয়ার সুযোগ পেয়েছিল। SALT প্রক্রিয়ায় দীর্ঘদিন কাজ করলেও এ ধরনের পডকাস্ট সেশনে অংশ নেওয়ার অভিজ্ঞতা আমাদের জন্য সম্পূর্ণ নতুন ছিল। তাই দিনটির জন্য ছিল অন্যরকম…

November 26, 2025 was a special day for us.

That day, we went on a BRED team exposure visit to the Alokito Kori team community, which is located in the Taltala area of ​​Munshiganj district.

We…

November 19, 2025, was International Men's Day. To make the day meaningful, the children, adolescents, youth, and elderly members of the Pechakola Community decided to organize a joint discussion. Initiated by the young men of the Masculinity Team, the event gradually turned into a celebration.

Everyone chose the area in front of the Pechakola…

One afternoon in Pechakola community, the smiles of three young men told a story of profound change. Sani (19), Arafat (14), and Siam (12) now spend time together like close friends. Their warm relationship is filled with mutual respect, understanding, and sincerity. However, just a few months ago, an invisible wall of age based superiority and…

As the morning breeze gently sweeps through Pechakola village, the air is filled with the sound of laughter from young children heading towards Pechakola Government Primary School (No. 73). Among them is a girl named Dilruba Khatun (Nipa), only 11 years old. Born with a physical disability, she colors every day of her life with a new…

The second Knowledge Fair 2025, organized by Bangladesh Rural Economic Development (BRED) and supported by the Global Fund for Children (GFC), was a day filled with learning, inspiration, and connection.

The main objective of this event was to share the stories of learning, experiences, and positive change…

In the Pechakola community, the two neighborhoods—Eidmath Para and Sarkar Para—used to see each other as rivals. The youth wasted time on mobile phones, showing little interest in studies or sports. Among them prevailed a toxic masculinity—showing off strength, competing to defeat one another, and believing themselves to be the best.…

In today's Blog, I would like to talk about two young men who have not only listened to the topic of healthy masculinity, but also sincerely understood it. Their perspective made us think a lot. Ariful and Ibrahim, discussed personal masculinity. Later, we had a group SALT session with them, where healthy masculinity was discussed. In the session, they shared their perspectives and thoughts.…

In earlier days, there were some sensual ideas in the society for example, men does not mean crying, cooking is women's work, outsider's responsibility is man's. But times have changed, people's thinking is also changing.

Now the definition of masculinity is being revised through initiatives like the SALT process with a healthy, balanced and sympathetic approach. Today we are writing new history.

Toxic masculinity has emerged as a deep social problem in modern society. The…