Dhaka's youths helping children dream bigger

On a quiet winter morning in Dhaka, the sun struggles through the fog as children's laughter fills a schoolyard. Small hands press soil around young saplings. Inside a bright classroom, children turn book pages with wide eyes, discovering stories far beyond their textbooks.
In a city known for traffic jams, polluted air and endless concrete, these simple moments feel almost rare. Can fresh air and books really change a child's future? And can young people help reshape how the next generation grows up?
A group of determined and passionate Bangladeshi youths from Dhaka believe they can.
According to the World Health Organization, most dwellers in Dhaka breathe air that poses serious health risks. In recent years, Dhaka has repeatedly topped global air pollution rankings. Children are amongst the worst affected. Growing up amid dust, fumes and scarce green spaces puts their health and development at risk.
At the same time, many city schools lack proper libraries. For children from low-income families, books beyond the curriculum are often a luxury. UNICEF has long highlighted that early access to reading builds confidence, imagination and learning skills. Without it, children's cognitive growth suffers.
Faced with these problems, a group of young volunteers from Global Shapers Dhaka Hub, endorsed by the World Economic Forum, decided not to stay silent. Last December, they went to Rayerbazar Government Primary School, which serves around 1,200 students, most from low-income households. Their aim was straightforward but ambitious: help children breathe easier and dream bigger.
Through the Treelionaire initiative, students did more than planting trees. Each child became a guardian of a sapling. They learnt how trees clean the air, support life and protect the climate. More importantly, they learnt responsibility. Caring for a tree became personal.
The relaunch of Treelionaire also linked local action to a global problem. Around 15 billion trees are cut down worldwide each year, far more than replanted. In cities like Dhaka, where green space is shrinking fast, even small efforts can matter. For many students, this was their first time planting a tree. Environmental educator Ahsan Rony guided them, showing how their actions connect to climate resilience and a healthier city.
Just a few steps away, another quiet transformation was unfolding. Under the Libraries Inspiring Future Together (LIFT) initiative, a school library came to life. Shelves filled with more than 300 children's books, donated by Annesha Prokashon. Curious fingers traced colourful covers. Smiles spread as stories opened new worlds.
An interactive storytelling session led by Nahiyan, founder of Books with Nahiyan, turned reading into play. Children laughed, listened and spoke freely. It was a reminder that a book is not just paper and ink. It is a door. And every child deserves the chance to open it.
For many schools like Rayerbazar, functioning libraries are rare. This effort aimed to ensure children are not limited to exam-focused textbooks only. Now, these students have a quiet space to read, think and imagine. For some, it is their first real friendship with books.
Both initiatives share a simple belief: children deserve better. They deserve clean air, shade from trees and the freedom to read for joy. They deserve opportunities, regardless of where they are born.
More than a third of Bangladesh's population is made up of young people. These efforts show that youths are not just talking about change-they are shaping it.
And perhaps, somewhere inside that Rayerbazar classroom, a future writer, teacher, scientist or environmentalist is already taking their first step.
Sakib Sharif is a media and communications
professional who promotes youth-led initiatives.
sakibsharif999@gmail.com