The Transformative Power of Skill Development: My Journey with the Rohingya Community

When I first entered the sprawling camps of Cox’s Bazar, I was struck by the scale of despair and the urgent need for solutions. The Rohingya people, having fled unimaginable circumstances, needed more than just humanitarian relief—they needed hope, dignity, and the prospect of building new lives. Over the years, my work with FAO, Shushilan, and Livelihoods and Skills Development Sector (LSDS) partners has convinced me that skill development is one of the most powerful tools for positive change in this context.​

Skill development is not merely about employment—it is the gateway to self-worth, independence, and inclusion. In our projects, I have witnessed how vocational training reshapes the lives of refugees, especially women and youth who were previously excluded from the workforce. Paid work leaves lasting effects: it lifts the mental health and self-esteem of individuals, reduces poverty, and helps families find stability.​

But perhaps most significantly, skill development builds bridges where walls once stood. My curriculum designs and training efforts have emphasized inclusion, creating pathways for Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi hosts to learn—and grow—side by side. Shared training spaces and joint enterprises foster trust, dialogue, and mutual respect, transforming suspicion and competition into cooperation and social cohesion.​

I have seen men’s attitudes shift when women participate in vocational programs and earn their own incomes—households become happier, and harmful social norms begin to soften. Youth engaged in purposeful work become ambassadors of peace, eager to contribute to their communities rather than fall prey to hopelessness or frustration.

For policymakers and practitioners, my message is clear: invest in skills, invest in people. Tailored, holistic skill development initiatives do more than build capacity—they invigorate hearts and minds, knit communities together, and lay the groundwork for a more resilient future.

Cox’s Bazar and the Rohingya response is not just a humanitarian challenge. It is an opportunity to showcase how human potential, unlocked by skills and guided by empathy, can heal wounds and forge unity amidst diversity.

Skill development, in my experience, is the key to empowerment and social harmony—an inspiring lesson that Bangladesh can share with the world.