Youth-Driven Change: Yusuf and Reflective Teens Bring Climate Solutions to Bangladeshi Classrooms

In Bangladesh’s coastal areas, where communities are increasingly impacted by climate change, a young changemaker, Yusuf Munna, is working tirelessly to empower the next generation to build resilience through climate action. Yusuf’s journey as a changemaker began in Matarbari, a small island by the Bay of Bengal, where he grew up watching river erosion, extreme weather, and industrial projects threaten his community. These early experiences shaped his understanding of climate issues, instilling a personal commitment to make a difference. “Growing up in Matarbari made climate issues personal for me,” Yusuf says. “It’s this responsibility that drives me to involve young people in finding practical, locally-driven solutions.”

Through his nonprofit, Reflective Teens Trust, Yusuf and his team have dedicated over a decade to crafting educational programs that promote climate literacy and sustainable practices in vulnerable communities. A core initiative of Reflective Teens Trust, the Climate Change Awareness & Solutions Project, empowers students to understand and address environmental challenges unique to their surroundings. In partnership with Innovision Consulting and as part of the Feed the Future Bangladesh Nutrition Activity Program, Reflective Teens now works with 15 schools across Khulna and Bagerhat, enhancing climate literacy and encouraging students to create solutions that serve their communities.

Bringing Climate Literacy to Education

Through Reflective Teens Trust, Yusuf and his team have designed hands-on workshops and educational materials that encourage students to identify climate issues in their own communities and brainstorm ways to address them. These programs are rooted in a simple but powerful belief: young people in under-resourced areas can play a significant role in protecting their environments if they are equipped with knowledge and tools. “When students see environmental issues in their neighborhoods, we want them to feel capable of contributing solutions that are both innovative and meaningful,” Yusuf explains.

The Reflective Teens approach to climate education is immersive and highly localized. In each workshop, students discuss the unique challenges their communities face, such as water scarcity, land erosion, or waste management, and develop community-based solutions. This hands-on approach allows students to see themselves as problem-solvers, building confidence in their abilities while instilling a strong sense of responsibility toward their environment.

Designing Community-Driven Solutions

Once students identify an environmental challenge, they work together to design practical, low-cost solutions that respond directly to the needs of their communities. For example, a recent project focused on creating affordable rainwater harvesting systems in a water-scarce area. Using locally available materials, students developed a system that collected and stored rainwater for their school, and soon, community members began adopting the same system at home. Each project is designed to be a model for the larger community, demonstrating that small, locally-driven solutions can make a meaningful difference.

Reflective Teens supports these efforts by providing students with materials, training, and mentorship from environmental experts. “The mentorship component is key,” Yusuf shares, “because it equips students with the technical skills and problem-solving abilities they need to bring their ideas to life.” By pairing students with mentors, Reflective Teens fosters a supportive environment where young people can develop not only practical skills but also essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.

Bringing Projects to Life and Inspiring Change

Yusuf’s work does not stop at helping students design solutions; Reflective Teens is also committed to bringing these student-led projects to life by providing resources and guidance for implementation. With each successful project, Yusuf’s team aims to inspire both the students involved and the broader community, showing how local action can contribute to resilience in the face of climate challenges.

Reflective Teens also works to promote climate-conscious practices beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for community members to learn from and replicate these solutions. By involving local leaders and parents, Yusuf is creating a culture of shared responsibility that amplifies the impact of each project. “We want these student-driven projects to inspire people throughout the community to be part of the solution,” he says.

A Vision for the Future

Reflective Teens Trust aims to inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens who feel equipped to tackle climate challenges, both now and in the future. Yusuf’s vision is clear: to nurture and support young people as leaders in their communities who can make a meaningful difference. By giving them a platform to take ownership of the issues around them, Yusuf is creating pathways for young Bangladeshis to develop resilience and cultivate the skills needed for a sustainable future.

In a world where climate change can feel overwhelming, Yusuf’s work shows that real, impactful change often starts with small, thoughtful actions. His commitment to climate education and youth empowerment stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when young people are given the knowledge, resources, and confidence to create solutions that benefit their communities. Through Reflective Teens Trust, Yusuf Munna is turning today’s students into tomorrow’s changemakers, helping them build a more resilient, sustainable Bangladesh.