On **22 July 2026**, RHSTEP’s **Aparajeyo Tarunno (Unlocking Youth Potential)** project organized an awareness program titled **“Inclusion and Gender Equity”** at the Aparajeyo Tarunno Office in **Mymensingh**. The initiative aimed to raise awareness among young people and encourage them to become responsible and active contributors to eliminating social discrimination, promoting gender equality and building an inclusive and equitable society.

The event was attended by **Naureen Samanta Soumi**, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Ananda Mohan College, Mymensingh, and **A. S. M. Golam Zakaria**, Regional Manager, Gender Justice and Diversity Program, BRAC, Mymensingh, as special guests. The session was chaired by **Resmina Haque**, Project Officer, while **Md. Ershad Mia**, Youth Officer, moderated the event.

The program began with a welcome address from the moderator, who greeted the guests and participants and provided an overview of the objectives and key discussion areas of the day.

**Mentor Farzana** led an important discussion on gender equality, equal rights and the need to build a discrimination-free social structure. She emphasized the importance of ensuring equal rights, dignity and opportunities for women and men in every sphere of society. She also encouraged participants to work collectively to challenge social stereotypes, negative attitudes and discriminatory practices and promote a fairer and more equitable society.

Participants actively shared their experiences and perspectives on different forms of discrimination and social barriers. They discussed their roles and responsibilities in promoting gender equality and building an inclusive society. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing positive values from the family level and ensuring equal respect and dignity for both women and men.

A key attraction of the event was an **awareness drama on social stereotypes and gender discrimination**. The drama was directed by **Mentor Jui**, with **Jui, Prabhat and Rabbi** participating as performers. Through a simple and engaging presentation, the drama highlighted common social stereotypes, gender-based discrimination and the negative consequences of unequal treatment of women and men. The performance generated considerable interest among participants and delivered a positive message about the importance of creating a discrimination-free society.

Special guest **Naureen Samanta Soumi**, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Ananda Mohan College, emphasized the importance of changing social and mental attitudes toward gender equality. She noted that equality is not only a matter of laws and policies but is also deeply connected to everyday behavior, attitudes and interpersonal relationships. She stressed the need to practice equality at every level of society, including within families and educational institutions.

**A. S. M. Golam Zakaria**, Regional Manager, Gender Justice and Diversity Program, BRAC, Mymensingh, highlighted the responsibilities of individuals and communities in advancing gender equality. He emphasized the need to increase awareness, ensure equal opportunities and actively engage the younger generation in efforts to eliminate gender-based discrimination. He further stressed that ensuring dignity, rights and meaningful participation for everyone, regardless of gender, is essential for building an inclusive and just society.

In her closing remarks, **Resmina Haque**, Project Officer, emphasized that achieving a discrimination-free and equality-based society requires positive changes in our thoughts, behaviors and social values. She highlighted the important role of young people in driving social change and noted that empowering youth with awareness and leadership skills can accelerate meaningful transformation.

The event concluded with appreciation for the guests, participants and everyone involved in making the initiative successful. RHSTEP’s **Aparajeyo Tarunno (UYP)** remains committed to continuing awareness-building initiatives that empower young people to promote **gender equity, social inclusion, equal rights and a more just and discrimination-free society**.