Empowering Female Students with Peacebuilding Skills

From September 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020, the Masjid Council for Community Advancement (MACCA), supported by USAID’s Obirodh: Road to Tolerance Program, empowered 25 female teachers from 20 informal madrasas to cultivate critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills in female students. This initiative addressed the urgent need to shield young women from extremist influences and equip them to reject violence through education and mentorship.

Key Activities

• Developed a customized curriculum on peacebuilding, leadership, and emotional intelligence tailored for madrasa students.
• Conducted two institutional orientations to align 20 madrasas with project goals and one two-day workshop for teachers in Dhaka, focusing on practical strategies to foster resilience and self-confidence in students.
• Trained educators to guide students in identifying and countering harmful ideologies through dialogue and community-led initiatives.

Impact

Over six months, the project created a ripple effect of change:

• 1,500+ female students gained skills to critically assess external influences and advocate for nonviolent solutions.
• 90% of participating teachers integrated peacebuilding modules into daily lessons, reporting improved student engagement and confidence.
• Students launched 15 community campaigns promoting social harmony in Dhaka’s marginalized neighborhoods.

“When women lead with knowledge and empathy, they become unshakable pillars of peace.”
– A Participating Teacher