Student Profile
- Name: Tanisa
- Grade: 4
- School: Chainda Government Primary School
- Location: Ramu, Cox’s Bazar
Creating safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments is a key objective of the “Promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Schools: Building on What Children Value and Aspire to Do and Be” project. Through student-led platforms such as the LIKE Club, the project seeks to strengthen students’ awareness, confidence, and ability to contribute to positive change within their schools.
Tanisa, a Grade 4 student from Chainda Government Primary School in Ramu, is one of the students whose experience reflects the project’s intended outcomes.
Before joining the LIKE Club, Tanisa rarely spoke in front of others and often felt hesitant to express her opinions. Participation in classroom discussions and group activities was limited, and she lacked confidence in communicating with peers and teachers.
Through regular engagement in LIKE Club sessions, Tanisa participated in discussions and activities focused on gender equality, social inclusion, respect, and positive peer relationships. These sessions provided a safe space where students could share experiences, learn from one another, and build confidence.
As a result, Tanisa experienced significant personal growth. She now actively participates in classroom discussions and feels confident expressing her views.
“Before joining the LIKE Club, I was afraid to speak in front of others. Now I can confidently share my opinions and participate in different activities.”
The LIKE Club also increased her understanding of bullying and its impact on students. Through interactive learning activities, Tanisa learned to recognize bullying behaviors and the importance of creating a respectful and supportive school environment.
“I did not know what bullying was before. Now I understand what bullying means and why it is harmful.”
Beyond her personal development, Tanisa has observed positive changes within her school community. She noted that boys and girls previously interacted less and often felt uncomfortable sitting or working together. Today, students collaborate more openly and respectfully, reflecting a more inclusive school culture.
“Earlier, boys and girls did not sit together and felt shy interacting with one another. Now we work together without hesitation. Bullying has also decreased in our school.”
Tanisa’s story illustrates how the LIKE Club contributes to the project’s outcomes by strengthening students’ confidence, increasing awareness of gender equality and social inclusion, and promoting positive behavior change. Her experience provides evidence that participatory, student-centered approaches can help create more inclusive and supportive learning environments.
As the GESI project continues to document and generate evidence on effective approaches for promoting inclusion in schools, stories LIKE Tanisa’s demonstrate the potential of the LIKE Club model to inform future scaling and adaptation efforts across diverse educational contexts.
Key Outcomes Demonstrated
- Increased student confidence and self-expression.
- Improved awareness of bullying and respectful behavior.
- Enhanced interaction and collaboration between girls and boys.
- More inclusive and supportive school environment.
- Evidence supporting the effectiveness of student-led GESI initiatives.
Sayeda Nure Nabila Tabassum, Project Manager, RDRS Bangladesh.