Kapaeeng Foundation

On 5 July 2015, Kapaeeng Foundation organized a whole day training titled “Leadership Training for Indigenous Women’s Network Member” at Apon Uddyog Foundation Training Centre, Dhaka. The training was organised with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation. The objective of the training was to address and flourish leadership skills among the indigenous women.

A total of 21 indigenous young women, most of who are students and member of different indigenous women organizations, with diverse ethnicity attended in this training programme.

In the inaugural session Mr. Wasiur Rahman Tanmay, Program co-ordinator of Manusher Jonno Foundation and Mr. Pallab Chakma, Executive Director of Kapaeeng were present and delivered speeches while Falguni Tripura, advocacy facilitator of Kapaeeng Foundation conducted the session.

In his speech Mr. Pallab Chakma pointed out that there is a big gap on the indigenous women leadership to continue the legacy of the indigenous women’s rights movement further. He expects that these kinds of trainings will prepare a generation of motivated women leaders who will be the frontier of the indigenous women’s rights based movement. Then, the special guest of the event, Mr Wasiur Rahman said that, he has been involved with indigenous peoples’ and their issues for long. He mentions that even among the minorities, indigenous women and children are the most vulnerable one. He appreciates Kapaeeng Foundation for taking the initiative of this training. He assured that MJF will support such activities of KF for making the women leaders aware about their rights.

In the training different issues were captured by our resource persons. The first session on an introduction to Gender was facilitated by Ms. Parboti Roy, lecturer at the North South University. Then Mr. Shajib Chakma, an indigenous rights activist has conducted a session on Current situation of indigenous women and women’s rights in the society. Just after him, Mr. Pallab Chakma, executive director of Kapaeeng foundation, has taken a class on Leadership and Bangladeshi women’s possession in leadership. Ms. Silvia Khyang, project coordinator of Kapaeeng Foundation facilitated on Women’s rights under the national and international legal mechanisms. Finally participants have evaluated the overall sessions.

On the closing session, Mr. Hiran Mitra Chakma, Manager of Kapaeeng Foundation, Mr. Pallab Chakma, Executive Director of Kapaeeng Foundation and Ms. Chaitali Tripura joint-convenor of Bangladesh Indigenous Women’s Network were present and delivered their speeches. In her speech Ms. Chaitali Tripura said that indigenous women in present generation are privileged and by default advanced by the blessings of technology. All the concerned women should get connected to each other by using all equipment and gadgets that are available, and must raise their voices jointly against any violence or injustice against indigenous women. Mr. Hiran Mitra Chakma said that all the knowledge and learning’s from this training should be implied individually and collectively.