“I have seen my people live through terrifying nightmares,” says Nur Ayesha, a 22-year-old refugee woman who has been living in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar since 2020.
She escaped the violence in Myanmar and arrived to Bangladesh with her parents where she now lives with her husband.
Nur was recently selected as a youth peace-builder for an initiative by ActionAid Bangladesh, through which she will receive training and support to become a peace ambassador among her peers. “I remember a time when many young men were planning to join armed groups. So, when I heard about the peacebuilding project, I immediately signed up,” she says. “I want to help my community speak out against violence and discrimination.”
She believes the initiative should expand to include more youth and offer additional skills such as driving which could help young people with means of livelihood.
Nur’s commitment to peace stems from personal experiences. Once when the armed groups came to her house she began screaming for help, forcing the group to flee when a crowd formed. “I keep telling my community that if we harm each other, no one will be able to save us.”
Nur also mentioned the daily struggles refugees face, explaining that they are fully dependent on the host community. “The rations we receive are not enough to cover our nutritional and basic needs. We rely on nearby markets for food, clothes and medicine, but we’re not allowed to go outside freely.”
Living in the camps does not protect Nur from harassment either. “A group of boys started bullying me once, when I was just standing by the road. I felt helpless. I thought, if they were my friends, maybe they wouldn’t have said such things.” Despite these challenges, Nur remains hopeful.
“I’ve seen how warmth, kindness and support can change lives. Sometimes, just sharing your problems helps,” she says. “That’s why this project is so important – it gives people a place to be heard and supported. I hope more opportunities like this will come in the future.” She added that this project is especially important for youth, who have the potential to change their future.
“Many young boys are spending their time doing nothing, especially those over 14 years old. In the camps, there is no formal education beyond grade six and no curriculum-based learning. As a result, a large number of young people are deprived of education. They don’t know their social responsibilities, and there are very limited activities for youth in the camps. This project can engage young people in meaningful ways and help them create positive changes in their communities.”
