Girl Power project closing ceremony was held at Dimla upazila dated on 13th December, 2015 at the auditorium of upazila parishad. Honorable Parliament Member (MP), Md. Aftabuddin Sarker( Freedom Fighter) was present as a chief guest in the closing ceremony. Among the others Alauddin Ali, Executive Director, USS, OC of Dimla upazila,, Upazila Education Officer, Upazila Women affairs Officer, Chairmen of six working unions were present as special guests in the closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was presided over Md. Rezaul Karim, UNO of Dimla upazila. Pobon Malo, project coordinator of girl power project presented its target, achievements, progress, learning and challenges during implementation of the project. After a multimedia presentation an open discussion session was held and the participants actively participated in the discussion session. In the open discussion session president of upazila CSO network Swapon said that, “ Today we are going to close the activities of girl power project but it will remain in our actions and progress which we have learnt from the project. We the upazila CSO network will try to continue activities for the well being of girls and young women. If possible I will request USS to keep up the continuation”. Shyamoli Akter member of girls and women forum and also received advance karate training shared her feelings in such a way, “ I have been newly born through girl power project. I have learnt how to protect myself and I have been coaching some girls from my own initiatives. I thank USS and Plan International Bangladesh for raising voices of Girls and young women”. During sharing the feelings Ayesha Begum, CSO representative said that, “There are many organizations working here in Dimla upazila but Girl Power Project was very much extra ordinary project. I have made a wave and the wave is moving beyond Dimla upazila. I am grateful to USS for working to establish the rights of girls and young women. It is our hope that USS will try another similar project. In the speeches of chief guest Honorable MP said that, “ I have been involved for a long time with USS and Girl Power Project. The project has created a positive movement against child marriage in the communities as well civil society members. I can see its success through the girls who are speaking in front of me. Though USS is going to close the project but it will remain among us by working for the girls and young women. I gave special thanks to USS and Plan International Bangladesh and also requesting another such project so that we can make a good generation in future who will keep contribution for the development of our country from their end”. In the closing ceremony 170 participants from upazila government officials, Journalists, girls and young women members, CSO representatives, CPG members, UP members, local elite’s representatives and NGO representatives were attended in the closing ceremony. “It was a good opportunity for us that our girls and young women have been benefited through girl power project. The project has showed us a way to work for the rights of girls and children and with the assistance of GPP we have declared a child marriage free union. I am requesting USS for another such project so that we can cover more unions and gradually we can make a child marriage free upazila. I thank USS and Plan International Bangladesh for working for the rights of girls and young women” said UNO of Dimal upazila in his closing speeches.
Reported by:
Shahanaz Begum
Technical Officer, Girl Power Project, USS, Dimla.