Good Neighbors Bangladesh (GNB) has been awarded the prestigious Unesco-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development (8th Edition) in recognition of its remarkable contributions to teacher development through its GNB Education Program.
The Unesco-Hamdan Prize, a global award presented every two years, recognizes innovative practices that significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning worldwide.
Out of nearly 300 applicants, Unesco nominated 10 organizations for the prize, and on Saturday, during the World Teachers' Day and Unesco-Hamdan Award Ceremony in Paris, France, GNB was announced as one of the three winners, securing the top position.
M Mainuddin Mainul, country director of Good Neighbors Bangladesh, received the award on behalf of the organization.
In his acceptance speech, Mainul expressed his gratitude to Unesco and the Hamdan Foundation, saying: "This achievement is a great recognition for our hard-working teachers who not only teach but also fight against all the discrimination, injustice, and inadequacy that has forced Bangladesh to combat child marriage and child labor."
He further emphasized that the fight for education is not only a challenge for civil society but for the entire nation, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs).
"Many thanks to UNESCO and the Hamdan Foundation for joining us in this fight. This is a great recognition and calls for greater responsibility by empowering teachers through capacity building for rights-based education in the 21st century," he added.
GNB’s Education Program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and nurturing educational environment for underprivileged children in Bangladesh. The organization operates six schools and partners with 390 schools across 13 districts, serving 1,622 students and employing 49 highly trained and dedicated teachers in its own schools.
Each year, an average of 1,900 teachers receive training from GNB, focusing on delivering quality education tailored to each child’s unique needs.
The organization's commitment to fostering intellectual growth through test- and contest-based learning, alongside co-curricular activities such as scouting and innovative competitions like WordMaster and Math Maestro, has enabled students to thrive academically and socially.
Unesco’s recognition of GNB underscores the organization’s critical role in empowering vulnerable communities through education. By preventing child marriage and child labor, and offering a safe and supportive learning environment, GNB’s schools are not only improving literacy rates but also preparing children to become responsible members of society.
Good Neighbors Bangladesh, established in 1996, operates 17 Community Development Projects (CDPs) and five specific program projects in 13 districts, addressing child protection, education, health, women’s empowerment, income-generating activities, disaster risk reduction, and the Rohingya Emergency Response Project. GNB previously won the MDG 2 award in 2007.
Good Neighbors is an international humanitarian and development NGO with General Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), committed to ensuring every child has access to high-quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.