Korvi Rakshand has received the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia's Nobel Prize. At the age of 21, he founded the JAAGO Foundation with seven friends to provide education to underprivileged children. In an exclusive interview with Nawaz Farhin Antara of Dhaka Tribune, the Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and founder of JAAGO Foundation speaks about his future plans for the foundation.
What are you and the organization currently working on?
I am now focusing on addressing Bangladesh's climate problems. Alongside initiatives such as improving education, offering scholarships, promoting youth development, and empowering women, we are planning to address various challenges faced by the impoverished population in Bangladesh.
How does it feel to be recognized for your work with JAAGO Foundation? Does receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award influence your organization?
Receiving this award is undoubtedly a great honor. Previous recipients of this award have been distinguished individuals, so being included in that list is a significant achievement for people like us. However, I would like to emphasize that I didn't receive this award personally; it was awarded to our organization, JAAGO Foundation, for its outstanding work. This recognition also comes with increased responsibility. Furthermore, it opens up new opportunities. We can now expand our work beyond Bangladesh, potentially into countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, using the same model. In that case, it would be a source of pride for Bangladesh.
Our future plans involve addressing various challenges in our country. We have initiated projects focused on skills-based education, climate change, and good governance and democracy for the next five years. Climate change is one of our key priorities, and while we have already begun work in Dhaka, we aim to expand these efforts nationwide.
Currently, our organization employs 600 people. We remain committed to serving the underprivileged, spreading education, and inspiring youth to effect positive change in society. Our ambitions extend not only within our country but also into the international arena.
Your organization, JAAGO Foundation, played a significant role in spreading e-learning to remote areas in Bangladesh. How did this initiative begin?
When we established a school outside Dhaka in 2007, we noticed that the academic performance of the children was subpar. The primary issue was a shortage of skilled teachers, and educators from Dhaka were reluctant to work in these remote areas. In 2011, we embarked on online teaching through Skype as a solution. Surprisingly, even younger students took to this method eagerly. People who engage in online learning tend to be quite astute. Back then, there were no alternatives like Zoom or Google Meet; Skype was our only option. Interestingly, when we first introduced this concept in 2011, some people scoffed at the idea of learning through online platforms.
Many people in Bangladesh know about JAAGO Foundation, but can you elaborate on the organization's work?
My journey with JAAGO Foundation began when, as a student, I ventured outside Dhaka and encountered three children playing with plastic bottles by the roadside. I asked if I could join their play, and they told me they collected these bottles all day to earn money for food. One of the girls even asked if I could take her with me, as she had no one else in the world. This marked the beginning of JAAGO Foundation in 2007, with the initial goal of teaching English to underprivileged children. Although initially we had 70 friends willing to contribute their time and money, only seven of us persevered. It was challenging to gain the trust of the slum communities; some were suspicious of our intentions or thought we aimed to convert their children to Christianity. One contributing factor was my name. We started with just 17 children, and when they asked about promotions to the next class, we realized they envisioned our initiative as a school. That's when we established our first school in the Rayerbazar slum. Over the years, I recognized the need to expand our efforts beyond Dhaka, leading me to venture beyond the city.
The original aim of JAAGO Foundation was to focus on children and education. However, witnessing the enthusiasm of the youth, we diversified our efforts, addressing various other issues, including youth development and women's empowerment. Various ideas emerged, and we subsequently established a platform called "Volunteer for Bangladesh" to bring together proactive individuals who could collaborate on projects. Currently, 50,000 youths across 64 districts in Bangladesh work towards various goals through this platform. Each district's youth elect their leaders and decide on their objectives. Our journey has continued for many years.
Our work encompasses two types of education: mainstream quality education and bridging the learning gaps for dropouts. Additionally, we provide skill-based education to students who are unable to complete traditional studies. There's a significant distinction between certificate-based and skill-based education, and we aim to empower 55,000 youths with these skills.
How does JAAGO Foundation provide financial aid to students?
In 2020, we obtained NGO licensing, enabling us to collaborate with various international organizations. Prior to that, our work relied on individual support. Back then, donors contributed TK500 per month to cover the educational expenses of a child. Currently, we partner with organizations such as UNICEF and USAID, and many donors prefer to remain anonymous. We are now reaching 13,500 children in Bandarban with the support of UNICEF, helping those who dropped out during the COVID-19 pandemic to return to school.
Our journey spans 16 years, and many of the children who started in our programs as preschoolers are now attending universities. However, we have noticed a decline in the number of girls pursuing higher education, as their support diminishes. Last year, we awarded scholarships to 100 girls, and this year, we have extended it to 160 recipients. These scholarships cover their four years of university education, and we plan to continue supporting new female students each year.
Currently, 4,500 students attend schools run by JAAGO Foundation, and three students are pursuing higher education abroad with scholarships after completing their studies with us. Another 30 students are pursuing higher education within the country.
