In a world where young minds face mounting pressures, from academic stress to societal expectations, equipping students with knowledge and skills for mental health and hygiene is no longer optional; it’s essential. When adolescents understand how to care for their minds and bodies, they don’t just thrive individually, but they become catalysts for change in their families and communities.
Yet, in places like Gazipur, Bangladesh, where resources are scarce and stigma persists, such education remains a luxury. This is where initiatives like Chittopot step in, transforming students into advocates who don’t just navigate their own challenges but light the way for others. By weaving mental health awareness with practical hygiene education, the project proves that when we empower youth with tools for self-care, we’re also building foundations for resilient, compassionate communities.
The Chittopot project, spearheaded by Azmiri, a Global Peace Women (GPW) Project Leader with the support of the Global Women Dream Grant, took place between November 2024 and January 2025. Azmiri recalls the spark that ignited Chittopot saying, “I saw students carrying invisible weights—stress from exams, anxiety about the future, and sometimes, simply not knowing how to care for their minds and bodies.”
Global Peace Women is a partner of Global Peace Foundation that fosters important leadership skills in women of all ages, highlighting the important role they play in building peace in communities around the world.
The Chittopot project brought its vision to life through three comprehensive workshops designed to address critical gaps in mental health awareness and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices among Gazipur’s high school students. Partnering with Rani Bilashmoni Govt. Boys High School, her team designed workshops that did more than teach; they transformed. The workshops focused on GPW’s values while addressing mental health and wellbeing, creating a safe space for students to discuss stress, anxiety, and the importance of emotional support systems. The workshops also delved into healthy living, nutrition, and WASH practices, culminating in reflection sessions where students developed personalized family hygiene plans—a tangible step toward lasting behavioral change.
Reaching 67 families and engaging 55 students, 5 mentors, and 7 volunteers, the project didn’t just impart knowledge; it fostered a movement. By training youth to become mental health and good hygiene advocates in their communities and promoting peer-to-peer learning, Chittopot turned participants into changemakers.
For Niloy, a Class 9 student, the workshops were revelatory: “This project opened my eyes to the importance of mental health. I now have strategies to manage stress better,” he reflects, describing how peer discussions replaced isolation with solidarity. Younger participants like Ridoy from
Class 6 discovered unexpected power in daily routines: “I never knew simple hygiene habits could prevent so many diseases,” he says, now championing handwashing at home. Even volunteers found themselves changed. Rad, who facilitated sessions, marvels at how “the interactive sessions made learning about mental health fun and engaging,” adding, “I feel more confident talking about my well-being now.”
These voices, once hesitant, now echo through Rani Bilashmoni Govt. Boys High corridors and Gazipur households, proving that when education addresses both mind and body, confidence and community bloom together. This initiative perfectly embodies GPW’s mission of strengthening families, weaving together dignity, leadership, and empowerment to create a ripple effect of wellbeing. From reducing stigma around mental health to improving hygiene practices, the project equipped Gazipur’s youth with the tools to build healthier lives and a stronger, more resilient community.
Learn more about GPW’s work in Strengthening Families.
