Our vision is to create a poverty-free Bangladesh driven by the next generation of home-grown leaders.
BYLC works to bridge gaps in society by uniting youth from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with leadership, problem solving and teamwork skills, and engaging them in community service and active citizenship.
BYLC Values
Respect for the individual
Patriotism
Tolerance
Gender equality
Teamwork
Transparency
About BYLC
The concept of a youth leadership center was originally developed at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in January 2008. The proposal for a month-long leadership program, Building Bridges through Leadership Training (BBLT), was jointly developed by Ejaj Ahmad, then a graduate student at Harvard, and Shammi S. Quddus, an undergraduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The proposal won the 2008 Kathryn Davis Projects for Peace Prize in March 2008.
Ejaj and Shammi jointly ran the pilot phase of BBLT in Chittagong in the summer of 2008 with technical and financial support from MIT Public Service Center. Building on the success and lessons learned from the pilot, the BBLT program was encapsulated within the framework of a non-profit organization, the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC). In October 2008, BYLC formed its Governing Board. In early 2009, it was registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms in Bangladesh as a non-partisan social venture committed to creating an inclusive, tolerant and just society by training the next generation of leaders.
Subsequently, BYLC developed relationships with several leading organizations such as BRAC and City Year (USA), and expanded its programs. It has since received support from the US Embassy and the British High Commission in Bangladesh for two of its programs. BYLC is currently holding talks with several local and international organizations to further enhance its programming efforts.
Advisor's Message
BYLC has developed an innovative curriculum that brings together young people from diverse backgrounds
and provides them leadership training, and opportunities to participate in community development. The young
generation of today will shape the future of Bangladesh tomorrow and this 'learning leadership by doing
leadership' model is an effective way to encourage program participants to think deeply about social problems
and take ownership of not just their own future but also of the future of the less-privileged people in society.
Contrary to popular belief, real leadership is not about position or authority – it is about creating
change in society by positively impacting the lives of others. BYLC's program is a brave attempt to raise
awareness and promote real leadership among Bangladeshi youth.
Dr. Gowher Rizvi
Honorable Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Recent Events
February 21, 2010
BYLC launches Young Scholars Program for underprivileged secondary school students.
Our vision is to create a poverty-free Bangladesh driven by the next generation of home-grown leaders.
BYLC works to bridge gaps in society by uniting youth from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with leadership, problem solving and teamwork skills, and engaging them in community service and active citizenship.
The concept of a youth leadership center was originally developed at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in January 2008. The proposal for a month-long leadership program, Building Bridges through Leadership Training (BBLT), was jointly developed by Ejaj Ahmad, then a graduate student at Harvard, and Shammi S. Quddus, an undergraduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The proposal won the 2008 Kathryn Davis Projects for Peace Prize in March 2008. 
BYLC has developed an innovative curriculum that brings together young people from diverse backgrounds
and provides them leadership training, and opportunities to participate in community development. The young
generation of today will shape the future of Bangladesh tomorrow and this 'learning leadership by doing
leadership' model is an effective way to encourage program participants to think deeply about social problems
and take ownership of not just their own future but also of the future of the less-privileged people in society.
BYLC's
Annual Report 2009 and
Audited Financial
Statements are now
available for download.
