Good Neighbours Bangladesh (GNB) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development (8th Edition) in recognition of its outstanding contributions to teacher development through the GNB education programme.
This esteemed global award is presented by UNESCO every two years to highlight innovative practices that significantly enhance the quality of teaching and learning worldwide.
UNESCO nominated 10 organisations in the world for this prize among near about 300 applicants. UNESCO announced three winners’ names at the event named World Teachers’ Day and UNESCO-Hamdan Award Ceremony, Paris, France. Good Neighbours Bangladesh (GNB) ranked first and Mr M Mainuddin Mainul the Country Director of Good Neighbours Bangladesh received the award on behalf of Good Neighbours Bangladesh.
After the award, the Country Director shared his brief feelings and thanked everyone including UNESCO and the Hamdan Foundation. He further said this achievement is a great recognition for our hard-working teachers who not only teach but also fight against all the discrimination, injustice, and inadequacy that has forced Bangladesh to fight against child marriage and child labour. So it is not only the civil society’s fight but the whole of Bangladesh including INGOs. Many thanks to UNESCO and the Hamdan Foundation for joining us in this fight. This is a great recognition and this achievement calls for greater responsibility by empowering teachers through capacity building for rights-based education in the 21st century.
GNB education programme is committed to providing a comprehensive and nurturing educational environment for children, especially the underprivileged, in Bangladesh. Through its six schools and 390 partner schools spread across thirteen districts. GNB serves 1,622 students, guided by 49 highly trained and dedicated teachers in its school. These schools focus on improving literacy rates in the region by offering both primary and continued secondary education to vulnerable children, many of whom have been deprived of their basic rights to education and a better quality of life.
Every year on average 1,900 teachers receive training by GNB. GNB’s teachers, who are the backbone of this initiative, have been recognised for their expertise, training, and unwavering commitment to delivering quality education tailored to each child’s unique needs. The organisation’s emphasis on fostering intellectual growth and innovation through test- and contest-based learning has also helped students engage deeply with their studies. Co-curricular programs such as scouting and innovative competitions, including the Word Master and Math Maestro, provide students with opportunities to develop both academically and socially.
This recognition by UNESCO underscores GNB’s vital role in empowering vulnerable communities through education. By preventing child marriage and child labour and offering a safe and supportive learning environment, GNB’s schools are not only improving literacy rates but also preparing children to become responsible and capable members of society.
Good Neighbours Bangladesh remains committed to expanding and strengthening its education programs, ensuring that every child has access to high-quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Good Neighbours is an international humanitarian and development non-governmental organisation with membership in General Consultative Status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). Good Neighbours Bangladesh, established in 1996, is operating 17 Community Development Projects (CDP) and five projects with specific programme (PSP) in 13 districts for child protection, education, health, women empowerment, income-generating activities, DRR, and Rohingya Emergency Response Project.
