2020
Tanjila Mazumder Drishti
- Age: 32
- | She/her/hers
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Don't tell women what is right for them. Give them the opportunities and exposure so that they can grow to tell you what is right for them and their communities.
- Tanjila Mazumder Drishti
Bio
Tanjila Mazumder Drishti was born and raised in Bangladesh. She received a Master in Globalization, Business, and Development from the University of Sussex in 2018. As a Senior Manager at BRAC, Tanjila is responsible for leading an enthusiastic young team to oversee knowledge management, communications, partnership management, and advocacy efforts for BRAC’s health program that reaches 110 million people across Bangladesh each year. She is also an Alumni Advisor for Asian University for Women Support Foundation, supporting in fundraising and partnership management initiatives to ensure access to higher education for girls from the most marginalized and deprived communities in Bangladesh.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
In 2015, I was stationed in a remote village in Bangladesh where I witnessed a family give away their newborn daughter because they already had four daughters and couldn't take the "burden" of one more. Across the world, female foeticide remains a hidden crisis. In this very same world, as a female born in a patriarchal society, I was given the right to life and the right to education. I realized that I have a responsibility to ensure that girls in my community and my country can access opportunities to overcome the patriarchy like I did.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
I led a project called Pathways for Promise during 2016-2017, testing a one-of-a-kind intervention that created the opportunity of higher education for women working in RMG factories. Through this project, I created unique partnerships with global apparel brands and RMG factories in Bangladesh and selected 55 RMG workers from a pool of 3,000 who received a full scholarship to study at the Asian University for Women. These RMG workers are currently pursuing their undergraduate degree, while their families are being financially supported by the factory owners for the duration of their study. Many of these girls have already founded their own organizations and campaigns and are actively advocating for safe working conditions, justified wages, improved compliance, and menstrual health of workers in their respective factories. These 55 women are actively becoming a voice for the 3.4 million women working in RMG factories in Bangladesh.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
I am trained dancer and like dancing when I need to clear my head. I love listening to songs over a cup of good coffee. I love going on long drives. I enjoy meeting new people and listening to new perspectives.
Languages Spoken:
- Bangla (Advanced/Native)
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Hindi (Intermediate)
- English (Advanced/Native)
Publications:
Speaks On:
- multi-dimensional effects of child marriage
- data-driven referral system reducing maternal deaths in Bangladesh
- access to services for the urban poor
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- Business Research Methodology IBA – University of Dhaka
- Result Based Management MDF – Netherlands
- Public Health Challenges in Asia from Asian University for Women Bangladesh, Development and Cities IDS - University of Sussex
- Human Centered Design – UNLEASH Lab
- One Young World Ambassador
- SDG Global Talent – UNLEASH
- Ambassador in Action – One Young World
- 30 Emerging Leaders at BRAC (world's largest NGO) – BRAC Leadership Academy
- Youth Representative (Bangladesh) – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (2018)
