Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center

Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC), the first leadership institute in Bangladesh, operates on the belief that with the right training and cultivation, the current generation of Bangladeshi youth can become the next generation of home-grown leaders, have high impact in private, public and civil sectors, and create a poverty-free Bangladesh. Conceptualized at Harvard University and MIT in 2008 and established in Bangladesh in 2009, BYLC has brought the best of global leadership education, adapted it to suit the learning needs of Bangladeshi youth, and made it available and pertinent to youth who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to receive such an education. We teach our program participants to comprehend leadership as an activity or process, not as a position of authority. When we look at leadership as an activity that mobilizes a group to make progress on a common challenge, this shift in mindsets opens up new and exciting opportunities for participatory development processes.

BYLC has a series of programs aimed at youth of different ages, with focus on different facets of public service and leadership. The Art and Practice of Leadership focuses on communication and group dynamics. Youth Leadership Bootcamp focuses on negotiation and helps participants to develop a deeper understanding of the workplace through industry visits to leading firms in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Our annual Youth Leadership Summit connects students and young professionals with experienced innovators and leaders from around the globe to help young people make informed career choices.

BYLC’s signature program, the Building Bridges through Leadership Training (BBLT) is a two-and-a-half month long leadership course, which aims to equip young people with teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills to bring about positive change in society. It enrolls 42 students from the three mediums of education, namely English, Bengali, and Arabic (Madrassa) mediums, in equal numbers based on a competitive application process. The current acceptance rate is 6-7% and selection criteria comprises of a written application as well as an interview. Ideal candidates are not only competent and qualified, but first and foremost have a demonstrated commitment to public service.