“I am a teacher; if I say something to my students, to their parents or anyone …they listen to me.” Amina is not only a teacher but also a ‘drama activist’. She is devoted to using her power to improve the lives of women around her and raise awareness about gender equality and violence against women.

At first, she herself thought that domestic violence was a normal situation to live with. “I did not understand what violence against women was. I did not expect there to be anything like women’s rights. It is only when I saw a drama by a campaign ally that I realised the gravity of the matter. My husband accompanied me too but understandably he was more reluctant to appreciate the idea.” Eventually, Amina Khanam managed to convince him. As a result her husband who is a businessman has become a Change Maker himself.

She has no idea how many people she may have impacted because she is always inviting her students and their families to various cultural shows and meetings on gender equality and violence against women. In her school, the Bemorta Girls High School, she teaches girls from standard six to ten. Every month there is a discussion about violence against women in the school compound and her students and many times their parents and relatives come willingly, “They come willingly because they want to know how to make their life peaceful. The cultural programmes are always on holiday afternoons and it is entertaining at the same time it is educational so people enjoy it.”

Amina Khanam wants the campaign to spread. She says, “If this campaign was more widespread it would benefit more families around Bangladesh. We must pressure the government to change their policies. Cases of violence against women must be dealt with seriously and the punitive action is necessary. I also hope that the campaign can be taken to the media. It would greatly help spreading the message that we can together end all violence against women.”