Rohingya Refugee Transforms from Laborer to Changemaker

At just 13 years old, Anayet has emerged as a beacon of hope in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, where child labor, neglect, and abuse are prevalent due to dire economic conditions. His journey began after receiving life skills training at a UNICEF-supported multi-purpose center, which equipped him to recognize and combat child rights violations in his community. Anayet's transformation was catalyzed by a caseworker named Salauddin, who encouraged his family to prioritize education over labor. Through the life skills sessions at the center, Anayet learned about the detrimental effects of child labor on physical and mental development. He successfully persuaded his father to allow him to stop heavy lifting work, leading to a significant shift in his family's perspective on education and child welfare. Inspired by his own experiences, Anayet took on the role of a peer leader, actively identifying and addressing cases of child labor, marriage, neglect, and abuse within his community. One notable instance involved a 12-year-old boy named Kamal, whom Anayet found struggling under the weight of heavy gas cylinders. After learning that Kamal's father was preventing him from studying, Anayet stepped in to advocate for the boy's right to education. Despite the ongoing challenges of life in the refugee camps, Anayet remains optimistic about his future and is determined to uplift his family and community. "I want to do good in life," he asserts, embodying the spirit of resilience and hope among the youth in the camps.