A Re-WET workshop in Dhaka trained 25 youth and community leaders in advocacy, climate communication and campaign design to advance community-led wetland restoration, resilience and environmental action.
Against the backdrop of worsening wetland loss, urban flooding and rising climate stress in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, a day-long capacity-building workshop was held on Saturday to strengthen the skills of young climate advocates in advocacy, communication and campaign design for community-led environmental action and nature-based solutions.
The workshop, titled “The Art of Advocacy, Outreach, Media & Movement Building,” was organised under the Climate Impacted Dwellers-led Agroecological Stewardship for Restoring Wetlands (Re-WET) project and hosted by YouthNet Global at the Padakhep Institute of Development & Management (PIDM) in Dhaka. The programme brought together 25 youth and community leaders, including urban growers and representatives from the Korail informal settlement.
The initiative is supported under the Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and administered by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The programme supports locally led environmental restoration initiatives across Asia and Africa, including Bangladesh, by strengthening community-driven climate resilience efforts.
Youth Strengthen Skills in Climate Advocacy and Communication
The workshop aimed to strengthen the advocacy, communication and campaign-building capacities of youth leaders, urban growers and community representatives from the Korail informal settlement. It focused on wetland restoration, climate justice, rights-based communication and locally led environmental action in Dhaka.
Organisers said the initiative was designed to equip grassroots actors with practical tools to shape public narratives, document community experiences and influence decision-making through strategic communication and collective action.
Hands-On Learning Through Storytelling, AI and Campaign Design
The day-long programme combined documentary screenings, interactive exercises, expert-led sessions, group discussions, artificial intelligence-based learning, content creation activities and structured action planning.
Participants explored how storytelling, social media, graphics, video production and community evidence can be used to raise awareness, counter misinformation and strengthen environmental movements at the local level.
Grassroots Voices Emphasise Movement Building
The workshop opened with a session on movement building and strategic communication led by Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global. He emphasised that climate movements emerge from lived experiences and gain strength when connected across communities and platforms.
“Local experiences must be translated into strong public narratives if we want real change in climate action,” he said, underscoring the importance of youth-led advocacy in linking grassroots realities with national and global policy spaces.
Participants discussed how environmental narratives are shaped and sustained over time, with an emphasis on building long-term, community-rooted movements capable of influencing public discourse and policy.
A second session on environmental and climate communication was facilitated by S M Shahin Alom, focusing on message framing, audience engagement and accessible storytelling for climate advocacy.
Korail Farmers Highlight Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
Urban farmers’ leader from Korail, Shahiduzaman Shyamal, shared field experiences from the settlement, describing how the area has changed since the beginning of Re-WET activities and how agroecological practices are contributing to a healthier local environment.
He highlighted the presence of biodiversity, including frogs, bees, snakes, birds, chickens and ducks, noting their role in improving ecological balance. Participants also learned about floating gardens and pesticide-free cultivation practices that support fresh and safe food production.
Shyamal emphasised that wetland restoration is not only an environmental intervention but is also closely linked to food security, livelihoods and community resilience in informal settlements.
AI and Digital Media Drive New Campaign Innovation
The workshop also explored the growing role of emerging technologies in climate communication. A dedicated session on artificial intelligence in advocacy and outreach was facilitated by tech consultant Rehanuz Zaman, who highlighted how digital tools can strengthen storytelling, improve outreach efficiency and support youth-led climate campaigns.
Participants discussed how AI-supported approaches can help grassroots organisations expand their communication reach and respond more effectively to misinformation and information gaps.
In a creative campaigning session, Ahmad Udoy, founder of Film by Asif, guided participants through visual storytelling and content production techniques, emphasising that effective climate communication requires both technical quality and emotional relevance.
“Good content connects with people’s lived realities and turns awareness into action,” he said.
Participants also developed group campaign ideas addressing wetland protection, urban flooding and environmental awareness in vulnerable communities.
Participants Develop Action Plans for Community Campaigns
In the final session, participants developed year-long communication and outreach action plans facilitated by Mohaiminul Islam Zipat, translating training inputs into structured community-based strategies for climate advocacy.
Key outcomes included an improved understanding of advocacy and communication tools, the development of group action plans for Re-WET promotion and a renewed commitment to community-centred wetland protection and youth-led climate action.
Participants finalised group plans with clear roles, timelines and responsibilities. They also developed ideas for social media content, including reels, photo stories, graphics and short documentary concepts to support Re-WET outreach.
A content calendar for Re-WET promotion and Korail community storytelling was introduced alongside follow-up mentoring on AI-supported campaign design, ethical communication and content production. Participants were also encouraged to engage policymakers, media and stakeholders through community-centred messaging. Documentation through photos, videos, attendance records and reflection notes was emphasised to ensure continuity and accountability.
The programme concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony attended by Re-WET Project Manager Asif Moinur Chowdhury alongside Sohanur Rahman and Arifur Rahman Shuvo, recognising participants’ commitment to advancing climate resilience and community-led environmental action.
Re-WET Links Community Action With Global Climate Support
The workshop was conducted under the Re-WET initiative, Climate Impacted Dwellers-Led Agroecological Stewardship for Restoring Wetlands, a collaborative programme focused on restoring Dhaka’s urban wetlands in response to rising risks of flooding, heat stress and environmental degradation.
The initiative is implemented in partnership with the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Smith College, River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), Prochesta Foundation and YouthNet Global.
Korail Model Shows Community-Led Wetland Revival
At the centre of the initiative is the Gulshan-Banani Lake area near the Korail settlement, where the Nogor Abad cooperative is demonstrating a community-led model of ecological restoration.
More than 100 urban farmers are engaged as environmental stewards, cultivating over 30 crop varieties on previously degraded land and transforming the area into a productive green commons.
Organisers said the model demonstrates how community ownership, combined with technical and institutional support, can restore degraded urban ecosystems and build resilient livelihoods.
Dhaka Wetland Loss Underscores Urgency for Action
Experts warn that the rapid loss of urban wetlands in Dhaka is closely linked to worsening flooding, rising temperatures and declining livability in low-income settlements.
In this context, initiatives such as Re-WET, supported through REDAA and other global partnerships, are increasingly seen as part of a broader shift toward locally led climate adaptation and nature-based solutions in rapidly urbanising cities.
As Bangladesh faces intensifying climate pressures, organisers said the skills gained through the workshop will help participants strengthen advocacy efforts, shape policy conversations and scale grassroots climate solutions beyond their immediate communities, positioning youth as key actors in urban climate resilience.
