32 varsity students get fellowship to conduct social research on COVID-19
Dhaka University-based ‘SAVE Youth Bangladesh’ has offered Youth Promise Fellowship for 32 youth researchers to conduct social research on COVID-19 in the united states.
The researches or programs will be conducted by students of country’s nine public universities on the different areas of socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on society with an try to inspire and engage the youths as agents of change in the communities.
The Youth Promise Fellowship program is being implemented by SAVE Youth Bangladesh and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), funded by UKaid.
Conducting the research project, the students will be promoting counter- messages in protecting against misinformation, rumor, hate speech, and social stigma linked to COVID-19, said Aynul Islam, moderator of the project also Associate Professor of Dhaka University.
This fellowship will empower students’ voice and promote counter-message against COVID-19 related social stigma, rumour, and hate speech, he added.
This fellowship provides students with financial support of Tk 5,000 per month initially for six months started from April 24.
The support will be increased in future predicated on their performance, said Aynul Islam.
The findings of the study can be utilised to solve various issues of society in future, said Amina Yasmin, a fellowship recipient of Barishal University.
It could also help the students utilise the time through the lockdown period which made them concerned about their studies, she added.
“Many youths, interested to work for the country, have emerged to fall back from such work due to financial crisis but I think it could be a blessing for them,” said Mahtab Uddin, a fellowship recipient of Chittagong University.
“I have already been working as a volunteer right from the start of COVID-19 outbreak. This fellowship will inspire me to work for the city,” he added.
“Such kind of opportunity is rare for all of us and it could help me to work for the marginal people of our area,” said Tuhin Chakma, another facilitated student of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The awarded 32 students are from Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Barishal University, Islamic University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University and Jagannath University.
