Keshab Roy, an 18-year-old student of Jaldhaka BMI College in Nilphamari, has recently won the Youth Courage Award for Education for the first time by the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
He was the only boy among seven other recipients of the award, announced on July 12, the Malala Day, at the United Nations office in New York. The award has been introduced by the UN to recognise young boys and girls, who have played courageous roles in promoting education.
Apart from Keshab, youths from Nepal, Pakistan, Morocco and Sierra Leone and two others from India won the award.
Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the UK and currently the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Global Education, in a letter addressed to Keshab, wrote: “I would like to congratulate you as an inaugural honouree of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education’s Youth Courage Award for Education. Because of your actions to stand up for the right of every girl and boy to go to school and learn, I would like to recognise you as a leader and role model for youth across the globe.”
Keshab is the president of Rangdhanu Shishu Forum (RSF) of Kaimari Union, a children’s organisation, formed and patronised by Plan International Bangladesh.
He has been creating awareness on education and the ill effects of child marriage in his Union.
“I along with other RSF members have been making door-to-door visits, holding meetings, taking part in rallies, performing street plays to persuade parents to send their children to school.”
Keshab wants to work for the children’s welfare after completing his studies.
