Congratulations Rafayat

While reading the news, sometimes it can feel like the media concentrates only on the bad things of life, rather than the good. But more or less, good things do happen.

A 24-year-old environmentalist and social entrepreneur becoming the first Bangladeshi to win the AFS Prize for Young Global Citizens is such a piece of good news that has made us really proud.

It is immensely gratifying that Rafayat was selected from thousands of candidates from around the world for this year's prize for his outstanding contribution to the development sector as Co-Founder and President of Footsteps Bangladesh. The award comes with a cash prize of $10,000.

What is more praiseworthy is that Rafayat has decided to utilise the money to expand the reach and impact of Project Trishna, one of Footsteps' key social ventures creating safe water access across Bangladesh.

Winning the prestigious AFS prize at the age of only 24 years shows that Bangladeshi youths have all the qualities to compete globally. What they need is just a bit of encouragement.

Badsha Faysal

Jurain, Dhaka

[email protected]