yeah I think it’s very ironical that you brought in someone who started a project
brought in someone who started a project
brought in someone who started a project called leaping boundaries then gave her
called leaping boundaries then gave her
called leaping boundaries then gave her a carpet and said don’t step outside the
a carpet and said don’t step outside the
a carpet and said don’t step outside the boundary so my name is sho goofy and I’m
boundary so my name is sho goofy and I’m
boundary so my name is sho goofy and I’m gonna be talking about something that’s
relatable for most of us I think but
relatable for most of us I think but before that has anybody here watch the
before that has anybody here watch the
before that has anybody here watch the movie the rise of the Guardians
movie the rise of the Guardians
movie the rise of the Guardians wonderful I was hoping for it was
wonderful I was hoping for it was
wonderful I was hoping for it was actually fearing much less many less
actually fearing much less many less
actually fearing much less many less hands but okay so do you guys remember
hands but okay so do you guys remember
hands but okay so do you guys remember the character Jack Frost right that guy
the character Jack Frost right that guy
the character Jack Frost right that guy so um he was this character whose
so um he was this character whose
so um he was this character whose greatest suffering in life was that
greatest suffering in life was that
greatest suffering in life was that nobody believed in him because nobody
nobody believed in him because nobody
nobody believed in him because nobody could see him haven’t we all felt like
could see him haven’t we all felt like
could see him haven’t we all felt like that at some point in our lives that we
that at some point in our lives that we
that at some point in our lives that we were invisible
you have just okay
you have just okay so in 2012 I read an article on the star
so in 2012 I read an article on the star
so in 2012 I read an article on the star campus which made me see someone that
campus which made me see someone that
campus which made me see someone that I’d never really seen before I’ll quote
I’d never really seen before I’ll quote
I’d never really seen before I’ll quote from it
more sheep is an expert at navigating a
more sheep is an expert at navigating a taller boat through channels of bonds
taller boat through channels of bonds
taller boat through channels of bonds indicator officially he can stand and
indicator officially he can stand and
indicator officially he can stand and balance himself perfectly on the
balance himself perfectly on the
balance himself perfectly on the otherwise dangerously swaying boat he
otherwise dangerously swaying boat he
otherwise dangerously swaying boat he fights with his cousin to grab the
fights with his cousin to grab the
fights with his cousin to grab the fishing net to catch fish standing on
fishing net to catch fish standing on
fishing net to catch fish standing on low foothills other times
low foothills other times
low foothills other times he likes playing cricket with his
he likes playing cricket with his
he likes playing cricket with his friends Majid Morel had appeared for his
friends Majid Morel had appeared for his
friends Majid Morel had appeared for his Alim exams equivalent to HSE exams a few
Alim exams equivalent to HSE exams a few
Alim exams equivalent to HSE exams a few months back from bug dear Ally mattress
what does that say about more sheep does
what does that say about more sheep does it say anything at all other than those
it say anything at all other than those
it say anything at all other than those three words bug dear Ally madrasah
three words bug dear Ally madrasah
three words bug dear Ally madrasah what’s there that’s different about him
what’s there that’s different about him
what’s there that’s different about him from you and I see I went to an English
from you and I see I went to an English
from you and I see I went to an English medium school and I’d never really
medium school and I’d never really
medium school and I’d never really interacted with anybody from a madrasah
interacted with anybody from a madrasah
interacted with anybody from a madrasah before so before I read this article I
before so before I read this article I
before so before I read this article I had thought very little about the sector
had thought very little about the sector
had thought very little about the sector and I didn’t know much about the sector
and I didn’t know much about the sector
and I didn’t know much about the sector and when I did give it some thought I
and when I did give it some thought I
and when I did give it some thought I only thought of them in the context of
only thought of them in the context of
only thought of them in the context of how they’re different from us and how
how they’re different from us and how
how they’re different from us and how we’re different from them not that
we’re different from them not that
we’re different from them not that there’s anything wrong with being
there’s anything wrong with being
there’s anything wrong with being different but I guess the difference was
different but I guess the difference was
different but I guess the difference was something I wanted to understand a
something I wanted to understand a
something I wanted to understand a little bit better I ended up narrowing
little bit better I ended up narrowing
little bit better I ended up narrowing it down to language I thought it was
it down to language I thought it was
it down to language I thought it was obvious
obvious
obvious if English mediums taught most of its
if English mediums taught most of its
if English mediums taught most of its curriculum in the English language and
curriculum in the English language and
curriculum in the English language and Bengali mediums
Bengali mediums
Bengali mediums taught most of its curriculum in the
taught most of its curriculum in the
taught most of its curriculum in the Bangla language then madrasahs who were
Bangla language then madrasahs who were
Bangla language then madrasahs who were teaching our kite fika and Quran in
teaching our kite fika and Quran in
teaching our kite fika and Quran in Arabic would otherwise be referred to as
Arabic would otherwise be referred to as
Arabic would otherwise be referred to as Arabic mediums and that’s what made them
Arabic mediums and that’s what made them
Arabic mediums and that’s what made them different language
and I had a thought back then it’s a
and I had a thought back then it’s a well-established linguistic theory that
well-established linguistic theory that
well-established linguistic theory that multi-link walls have stronger healthier
multi-link walls have stronger healthier
multi-link walls have stronger healthier grain trains than monolinguals in other
grain trains than monolinguals in other
grain trains than monolinguals in other words they’re cognitively sharper so any
words they’re cognitively sharper so any
words they’re cognitively sharper so any notions that I may have had about these
notions that I may have had about these
notions that I may have had about these kids being intellectually inferior to us
kids being intellectually inferior to us
kids being intellectually inferior to us because they were learning three
because they were learning three
because they were learning three languages had to be dispelled
languages had to be dispelled
languages had to be dispelled they had no basis
about 16 to 18 percent of her secondary
about 16 to 18 percent of her secondary school population is accounted for by
school population is accounted for by
school population is accounted for by madrasa students that’s about eighty
madrasa students that’s about eighty
madrasa students that’s about eighty eight thousand eight hundred and
eight thousand eight hundred and
eight thousand eight hundred and fourteen students in total there’s
fourteen students in total there’s
fourteen students in total there’s clearly not that many in employment so
clearly not that many in employment so
clearly not that many in employment so what was going on here
what was going on here
what was going on here where did all this intellect disappear
where did all this intellect disappear
where did all this intellect disappear why did it disappear
now because I think because I went to an
now because I think because I went to an English medium school and I graduated
English medium school and I graduated
English medium school and I graduated far far from a foreign University and
far far from a foreign University and
far far from a foreign University and because we part we come from a part of
because we part we come from a part of
because we part we come from a part of the world that was colonized by English
the world that was colonized by English
the world that was colonized by English speakers I got stuck somewhere in an
speakers I got stuck somewhere in an
speakers I got stuck somewhere in an english-only zone so I thought English
english-only zone so I thought English
english-only zone so I thought English was their problem that they weren’t
was their problem that they weren’t
was their problem that they weren’t learning the language but enough that if
learning the language but enough that if
learning the language but enough that if I taught them English all their issues
I taught them English all their issues
I taught them English all their issues would be resolved I was wrong of course
would be resolved I was wrong of course
would be resolved I was wrong of course and it took me about seven months and
and it took me about seven months and
and it took me about seven months and two very large political movements one
two very large political movements one
two very large political movements one of them bringing hundreds of Mikasa
of them bringing hundreds of Mikasa
of them bringing hundreds of Mikasa students onto a platform for a cause
students onto a platform for a cause
students onto a platform for a cause that they did not fully understand they
that they did not fully understand they
that they did not fully understand they did not fully comprehend to realize that
did not fully comprehend to realize that
did not fully comprehend to realize that English was an act or that it wasn’t
English was an act or that it wasn’t
English was an act or that it wasn’t enough
I I was born in Iran and I grew up there
I I was born in Iran and I grew up there up until I was about 6 years old and as
up until I was about 6 years old and as
up until I was about 6 years old and as a child I used to speak fluent Farsi the
a child I used to speak fluent Farsi the
a child I used to speak fluent Farsi the first thing I did when I came here when
first thing I did when I came here when
first thing I did when I came here when I moved to Bangladesh was I forgot Farsi
I moved to Bangladesh was I forgot Farsi
I moved to Bangladesh was I forgot Farsi deliberately
that was my way of owning my Bengali
that was my way of owning my Bengali identity I thought if if I kept that
identity I thought if if I kept that
identity I thought if if I kept that part of my irani identity alive then I
part of my irani identity alive then I
part of my irani identity alive then I would be unable to fully embrace being
would be unable to fully embrace being
would be unable to fully embrace being Bangladeshi so I chose to forgo that
Bangladeshi so I chose to forgo that
Bangladeshi so I chose to forgo that part of my identity now in a lot of ways
part of my identity now in a lot of ways
part of my identity now in a lot of ways these students were growing up in this
these students were growing up in this
these students were growing up in this system of education I faced with a
system of education I faced with a
system of education I faced with a crisis that’s quite similar to six year
crisis that’s quite similar to six year
crisis that’s quite similar to six year old Rufus there studying in a system
old Rufus there studying in a system
old Rufus there studying in a system that’s largely based on religious values
that’s largely based on religious values
that’s largely based on religious values that seem to be in conflict sometimes
that seem to be in conflict sometimes
that seem to be in conflict sometimes with mainstream society’s values so
with mainstream society’s values so
with mainstream society’s values so they’re growing up with an identity
they’re growing up with an identity
they’re growing up with an identity crisis particularly now this prices goes
crisis particularly now this prices goes
crisis particularly now this prices goes back to the days of our liberation war
back to the days of our liberation war
back to the days of our liberation war in 1971 or even before actually the
in 1971 or even before actually the
in 1971 or even before actually the Nagas which when the language movement
Nagas which when the language movement
Nagas which when the language movement first happened in 1952 particularly for
first happened in 1952 particularly for
first happened in 1952 particularly for students in Allium addresses this crisis
students in Allium addresses this crisis
students in Allium addresses this crisis is very real because they have a
is very real because they have a
is very real because they have a religious bearing on their education we
religious bearing on their education we
religious bearing on their education we think of them as different from us and
think of them as different from us and
think of them as different from us and then because they have a secular bearing
then because they have a secular bearing
then because they have a secular bearing on their education in the sense that
on their education in the sense that
on their education in the sense that they’re learning English language and
they’re learning English language and
they’re learning English language and math and science they’re seen often as
math and science they’re seen often as
math and science they’re seen often as improper mattresses by those who are
improper mattresses by those who are
improper mattresses by those who are religiously oriented
now don’t get me wrong I think identity
now don’t get me wrong I think identity crisis is a beautiful thing
crisis is a beautiful thing
crisis is a beautiful thing but before I get to that I’ll quote some
but before I get to that I’ll quote some
but before I get to that I’ll quote some statistics there was a report that was
statistics there was a report that was
statistics there was a report that was published by the National Bureau of
published by the National Bureau of
published by the National Bureau of Asian Research the project report was
Asian Research the project report was
Asian Research the project report was titled views from the madrasa Islamic
titled views from the madrasa Islamic
titled views from the madrasa Islamic education in Bangladesh and it reported
education in Bangladesh and it reported
education in Bangladesh and it reported that 47 percent of our respondents
that 47 percent of our respondents
that 47 percent of our respondents expressed feeling isolated and
expressed feeling isolated and
expressed feeling isolated and marginalized in society as compared to
marginalized in society as compared to
marginalized in society as compared to call me mattresses and the reason I said
call me mattresses and the reason I said
call me mattresses and the reason I said identity crisis is a beautiful thing is
identity crisis is a beautiful thing is
identity crisis is a beautiful thing is because I think identities need to be
because I think identities need to be
because I think identities need to be fluid that they’re meant to be fluid it
fluid that they’re meant to be fluid it
fluid that they’re meant to be fluid it teaches us that we can be many things at
teaches us that we can be many things at
teaches us that we can be many things at the same time but we have to learn to
the same time but we have to learn to
the same time but we have to learn to negotiate that space within ourselves
negotiate that space within ourselves
negotiate that space within ourselves and in order to do this we must broaden
and in order to do this we must broaden
and in order to do this we must broaden our horizons step out of our comfort
our horizons step out of our comfort
our horizons step out of our comfort zones
zones
but what often gets in the way of
but what often gets in the way of stepping out of our comfort zones is
stepping out of our comfort zones is
stepping out of our comfort zones is this fear fear of the unknown
it’s no secret that there’s a certain
it’s no secret that there’s a certain sense of fear associated with the stream
sense of fear associated with the stream
sense of fear associated with the stream of education or those who study in the
of education or those who study in the
of education or those who study in the stream of education we think that they
stream of education we think that they
stream of education we think that they teach hate and intolerance within these
teach hate and intolerance within these
teach hate and intolerance within these institutions but the truth is we don’t
institutions but the truth is we don’t
institutions but the truth is we don’t know what’s being taught in these
know what’s being taught in these
know what’s being taught in these institutions and they don’t know what to
institutions and they don’t know what to
institutions and they don’t know what to expect from us because what we don’t see
expect from us because what we don’t see
expect from us because what we don’t see we don’t understand and what we don’t
we don’t understand and what we don’t
we don’t understand and what we don’t understand we fear
so when my project first shut down seven
so when my project first shut down seven months into operation was because I had
months into operation was because I had
months into operation was because I had been unable to conquer that fear I’d
been unable to conquer that fear I’d
been unable to conquer that fear I’d been unable to earn enough trust I’d
been unable to earn enough trust I’d
been unable to earn enough trust I’d been unable to create enough hurt enough
been unable to create enough hurt enough
been unable to create enough hurt enough trust for them to overcome the fear of
trust for them to overcome the fear of
trust for them to overcome the fear of the unknown
the unknown
the unknown so last year in 2013 I started leaping
so last year in 2013 I started leaping
so last year in 2013 I started leaping boundaries with a fresh perspective of
boundaries with a fresh perspective of
boundaries with a fresh perspective of thing on things I realized that the kind
thing on things I realized that the kind
thing on things I realized that the kind of identity crisis that was faced by
of identity crisis that was faced by
of identity crisis that was faced by these students could only be solved by
these students could only be solved by
these students could only be solved by giving them visibility in order to
giving them visibility in order to
giving them visibility in order to create an alternative to this fear
create an alternative to this fear
create an alternative to this fear driven narrative and we called it
driven narrative and we called it
driven narrative and we called it leaping boundaries because we wanted to
leaping boundaries because we wanted to
leaping boundaries because we wanted to help these kids overcome these social
help these kids overcome these social
help these kids overcome these social barriers to represent themselves on
barriers to represent themselves on
barriers to represent themselves on platforms platforms where they were seen
platforms platforms where they were seen
platforms platforms where they were seen platforms where they could represent
platforms where they could represent
platforms where they could represent themselves platforms where they were
themselves platforms where they were
themselves platforms where they were able to feel worthy platforms where they
able to feel worthy platforms where they
able to feel worthy platforms where they were able to reaffirm their sense of
were able to reaffirm their sense of
were able to reaffirm their sense of self-worth and their identities
self-worth and their identities
self-worth and their identities and we do this
by giving them training to build their
by giving them training to build their capacity and then developing and then
capacity and then developing and then
capacity and then developing and then helping them develop a much needed
helping them develop a much needed
helping them develop a much needed coping mechanism so we start with
coping mechanism so we start with
coping mechanism so we start with English language because language is so
English language because language is so
English language because language is so central to our identities and because we
central to our identities and because we
central to our identities and because we work with Alia Macross as we worked with
work with Alia Macross as we worked with
work with Alia Macross as we worked with the government curriculum but we we use
the government curriculum but we we use
the government curriculum but we we use our own teaching training works up what
our own teaching training works up what
our own teaching training works up what work with workshop style methods to help
work with workshop style methods to help
work with workshop style methods to help them think more creatively then we move
them think more creatively then we move
them think more creatively then we move on to soft skills communication skills
on to soft skills communication skills
on to soft skills communication skills cultural intelligence and emotional
cultural intelligence and emotional
cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence things that we consider so
intelligence things that we consider so
intelligence things that we consider so basic but that’s not so basic for so
basic but that’s not so basic for so
basic but that’s not so basic for so many of us we’ve only started giving
many of us we’ve only started giving
many of us we’ve only started giving them psychosocial support so they can
them psychosocial support so they can
them psychosocial support so they can develop that much-needed coping
develop that much-needed coping
develop that much-needed coping mechanism so that their psychosocial
mechanism so that their psychosocial
mechanism so that their psychosocial needs can be understood and met and we
needs can be understood and met and we
needs can be understood and met and we have just partnered with the tech
have just partnered with the tech
have just partnered with the tech academy to provide them with ICT
academy to provide them with ICT
academy to provide them with ICT training so they can access information
training so they can access information
training so they can access information better and process information better
better and process information better
better and process information better and when they’re ready they link to
and when they’re ready they link to
and when they’re ready they link to platforms where the world can see them
platforms where the world can see them
platforms where the world can see them and understand them and win where
and understand them and win where
and understand them and win where they’ll understand and see the world a
they’ll understand and see the world a
they’ll understand and see the world a little bit better
the project has been running for almost
the project has been running for almost three years now and we’ve had some
three years now and we’ve had some
three years now and we’ve had some success so this is my success story
success so this is my success story
success so this is my success story these are our three girls Habiba Khadija
these are our three girls Habiba Khadija
these are our three girls Habiba Khadija and Tania who made it to be yl C’s
and Tania who made it to be yl C’s
and Tania who made it to be yl C’s building bridges to leadership training
building bridges to leadership training
building bridges to leadership training and not only did they make it they
and not only did they make it they
and not only did they make it they performed brilliantly those who have
performed brilliantly those who have
performed brilliantly those who have watched have also seen that girls from
watched have also seen that girls from
watched have also seen that girls from madrasas are able to talk about
madrasas are able to talk about
madrasas are able to talk about menstruation menstrual hygiene
menstruation menstrual hygiene
menstruation menstrual hygiene so the this girl is a shop and she’s the
so the this girl is a shop and she’s the
so the this girl is a shop and she’s the sherlocky cherie of dhaka division more
sherlocky cherie of dhaka division more
sherlocky cherie of dhaka division more recently namesakes from libras
recently namesakes from libras
recently namesakes from libras international Maria and Maria talked
international Maria and Maria talked
international Maria and Maria talked about dignity and told their dignity
about dignity and told their dignity
about dignity and told their dignity story at a plenary discussion organized
story at a plenary discussion organized
story at a plenary discussion organized by friendship so they talked about what
by friendship so they talked about what
by friendship so they talked about what hindered and restored their dignity
this is a picture which is a very poor
this is a picture which is a very poor quality but this was a picture of an
quality but this was a picture of an
quality but this was a picture of an essay that one of the boys we work with
essay that one of the boys we work with
essay that one of the boys we work with wrote for an application form for the BB
wrote for an application form for the BB
wrote for an application form for the BB LT and on being asked to think of an
LT and on being asked to think of an
LT and on being asked to think of an imaginary superhero who was born and
imaginary superhero who was born and
imaginary superhero who was born and raised in Bangladesh and who would solve
raised in Bangladesh and who would solve
raised in Bangladesh and who would solve the country’s needs he wrote about
the country’s needs he wrote about
the country’s needs he wrote about bangla boon to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the
bangla boon to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the
bangla boon to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the somebody want to clap it’s okey to clap
somebody want to clap it’s okey to clap
somebody want to clap it’s okey to clap just saying so um this is a comment that
just saying so um this is a comment that
just saying so um this is a comment that we got on our Facebook page it for some
we got on our Facebook page it for some
we got on our Facebook page it for some reason this is it’s not showing but in
reason this is it’s not showing but in
reason this is it’s not showing but in his first comment the commenter
his first comment the commenter
his first comment the commenter expresses disbelief that this essay
expresses disbelief that this essay
expresses disbelief that this essay could be from a madrasah student at once
could be from a madrasah student at once
could be from a madrasah student at once we explained what this was about
we explained what this was about
we explained what this was about in his second he says I have seen other
in his second he says I have seen other
in his second he says I have seen other relevant photos and discovered myself
relevant photos and discovered myself
relevant photos and discovered myself astonished that I didn’t have any idea
astonished that I didn’t have any idea
astonished that I didn’t have any idea that students from Madras uh could think
that students from Madras uh could think
that students from Madras uh could think in such an imaginable way I really admit
in such an imaginable way I really admit
in such an imaginable way I really admit that this has changed my perception nice
that this has changed my perception nice
that this has changed my perception nice work thank you have a little bit left to
work thank you have a little bit left to
work thank you have a little bit left to say we still have to deal with fear and
say we still have to deal with fear and
say we still have to deal with fear and trust issues we’ve obviously made taken
trust issues we’ve obviously made taken
trust issues we’ve obviously made taken leaps forward if I may say so but we
leaps forward if I may say so but we
leaps forward if I may say so but we still have to deal with fear and trust
still have to deal with fear and trust
still have to deal with fear and trust issues and I have to work every day take
issues and I have to work every day take
issues and I have to work every day take baby steps every day to make the world
baby steps every day to make the world
baby steps every day to make the world believe in them and make them believe in
believe in them and make them believe in
believe in them and make them believe in me but
me but
me but I have to add I have to tell people that
I have to add I have to tell people that
I have to add I have to tell people that um one day these kids may grow up to be
um one day these kids may grow up to be
um one day these kids may grow up to be adults with completely different value
adults with completely different value
adults with completely different value systems from you and I but right now
systems from you and I but right now
systems from you and I but right now they’re just kids and that’s all they
they’re just kids and that’s all they
they’re just kids and that’s all they are and that’s what this is about
are and that’s what this is about
are and that’s what this is about this is about making that transition
this is about making that transition
this is about making that transition from love from fear to love because
from love from fear to love because
from love from fear to love because that’s what that’s all the miracle is
that’s what that’s all the miracle is
that’s what that’s all the miracle is really and in order to do that we have
really and in order to do that we have
really and in order to do that we have to make the unseen seen the unknown
to make the unseen seen the unknown
to make the unseen seen the unknown known so instead of fearing each other
known so instead of fearing each other
known so instead of fearing each other we can learn to love each other and we
we can learn to love each other and we
we can learn to love each other and we don’t have to be stuck feeling like Jack
don’t have to be stuck feeling like Jack
don’t have to be stuck feeling like Jack Frost all of us can be whoever we want
Frost all of us can be whoever we want
Frost all of us can be whoever we want to be thank you
”
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