Fifteen years of age and in the ninth standard of Police Line School in Dam Para, Chittagong, Mahawmudur Rahman is known as Shaun. He is a very active and enthusiastic member of the student forum at his school. Hustling around the class room of 30 students, Shaun has organised this particular student forum. The posters and materials have been put up with great care and it is apparent that the campaign had a profound significance for these students.

Shaun lives with his parents and younger sister. His elder sister is married and lives in Cox’s Bazaar. Shaun’s family is from Cox’s Bazaar too and they often visit his sister’s village, Ukhya. For Shaun, change has had to begin at home and from within his community. “In Bangladesh there are huge barriers for women and it is for this reason we are less developed. It is holding us back. I want my country to progress. I want to end all discrimination and violence against women. I have thought about this issue for a long time even before I heard about the ‘We Can’ campaign. Until I attended the workshop of the campaign, I did not know what to do about it or how to change it.”

This young boy has been instrumental in spreading the message of the ‘We Can’ campaign in Ukhya village of Cox’s bazaar. He was the laughing stock for some villagers and a messenger for the others. To the ones who were skeptical he said, “Violence against women is not a trivial issue, it is a matter of great consequence and the progress of the country depends on it.”

He has been active as a Change Maker among his peers. “I am not scared to be teased or made fun of. In fact, I think this whole process is very interesting. People tell me I am too young and incapable of handling issues relating to violence against women. On the contrary, I think I can handle them. I know this is important for the development of my country. My own family was a victim of patriarchal views. My father was not happy with my involvement with the campaign. But this was a year ago. My father now himself attends various workshops and conferences organised by ‘We Can’ and lends full support to me.”

Shaun’s brother-in-law used to beat up his wife (Shaun’s elder sister) on a regular basis. Even the ‘We Can’ materials Shaun had given them were thrown out. His brother-in-law claimed there was no need for the material in his house or in the village for that matter! Shaun asked him, “Would you wish this for your own sister? What if your own sister was being beaten up by her husband? Your wife is also human and she is my sister.” Shaun says the situation is now improving. He continues to talk to his brother-in-law.

Shaun is also working with six other families to sensitise them on issues relating to gender violence. He tells them, “Women and men are equal. Women work inside the home and men work outside. Both are important and both the sexes are equal”.

“The media needs to participate in this campaign and raise awareness among the people. If we all work together we can end violence against women. We should spread the word among the politicians, teachers and also among everyone. We should make it part of our culture. Issues like this must become part of state policy. Women too should be approached and educated about their rights.”