Non-Formal Education for Youth-Led Change: Youth Development Programming in Bangladesh
The collaborative research project Non-Formal Education (NFE) for Youth-Led Change—a partnership between the University of Leeds and the British Council—explores the transformative potential of NFE in empowering young people to lead meaningful social change. The research focused on Youth Connect, the British Council’s global youth leadership programme, which empowers young people through skills development, practical application of those skills, and wider ecosystem development.
Operating in over 35 countries, Youth Connect collaborates with local civil society organisations, universities, NGOs, and youth-led initiatives to inspire youth to tackle key local and global challenges such as climate change, conflict, employability, and alienation.
As part of this project, a global knowledge exchange workshop was followed by feasibility studies in Bangladesh and Ethiopia, alongside separate research conducted in Myanmar.
Spotlight on LEAD Bangladesh
The British Council’s Leadership for Advancing Development in Bangladesh (LEAD Bangladesh) programme was analysed for its impact on youth empowerment, social justice, and driving youth-led change. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with young participants, facilitators, partners, British Council representatives, and community members, the research uncovered valuable insights.
The report highlights LEAD Bangladesh as a flexible and inclusive model of non-formal education that has equipped young people with the tools to address pressing societal issues and inspire positive change.
Key features of the programme's success include:
- A needs-based design and contextualized training modules,
- Focus on active citizenship, gender equity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
- Participatory and engaging activities, and
- Social Action Projects (SAPs) that enhanced youth leadership, confidence, and practical skills while raising community awareness of social issues.
The study also identified challenges, including youth engagement, sustainability, and resource mobilisation, highlighting areas for improvement.