The continuation of being engaged with the British Council not only developed my skills in delivering training, communication and leadership but also gave me strength in believing in myself.''
- Samira Bari Rifat, Customer Services Officer, British Council
While I was a student, I used to attend almost every event of my institution. I loved studying. I loved painting. I loved to do classical dance, debate, cultural programmes etc. To be acquainted with new things and new people were my favourite things to do. But after getting into university, I found out my priority of interest which is communicating with people. I realised that this interest started flourishing when I started debating, motivating people with logic, and communicating with people based upon critical thinking.
Apart from my studies, I started my first year of undergrad with Dhaka University Debating Society being their ‘Publication and Communication Executive’ where I got the information about 'Active Citizens Youth Leadership Training’. This training changed the whole shape of my skills and interest significantly till date.
While attending my one year long programme of the ‘Duke of Edinburgh's Award’ in 2012, the ‘Active Citizens Achievers’ Summit’ honoured my team by awarding us the best recognition in our social engagement due to the successful implementation of our very own initiated project which added an extra feather in that Edinburgh’s programme. This summit encouraged me to work more to develop my skills in some other sectors as well as helped me to know more about my responsibilities.
The year 2012 seemed a very dynamic one when in the middle of the year, I was selected in Commonwealth Fellowship named ‘Building Bridges Young Women Leaders' Fellowship’ at the United Kingdom where I demonstrated my interest in serving as ‘agents of change’ in my community, to share experiences, learn from each other and work together towards the common objective of improving the voice of young women.
It feels wonderful when someone attends a training one year before and become a trainer of that training afterwards! Getting back to my own city, in 2013, the British Council selected me as a facilitator of ‘Active Citizens’ yet again. I delivered the training programme to participants in their local communities to set them up in running their own social action projects.
The continuation of being engaged with the British Council not only developed my skills in delivering training, communication and leadership but also gave me strength in believing in myself. When I stepped into the third year of my undergrad level, I joined British Council Society team as a temporary staff. Active Citizens training sessions are carried out by Society team around the country. While experiencing the overall activities of the British Council all over the world along with its step by step procedures of all the services and undergoing through the proper implementation, it again made me realise that truly the British Council increases global connections by bringing about changes in social, educational, and cultural policy. Later on, I joined the Marketing and Communications team as a temporary staff where I got the chance to understand how this global institution truly builds trust worldwide.
This year, I joined the British Council as a full time permanent ‘Customer Services Officer’. I strongly believe in the tagline of the British Council which is ‘creating opportunities worldwide’ as I am the first Active Citizen who got the training back in 2011 and now got the opportunity of being a permanent staff to assist the customers with the overall services of the British Council. When I look back to my whole journey, I feel like the journey has just started and I believe it is going to be an amazing ride once again as my firm belief says that I am on the right track!