Inter-School Connectivity Project 2025 Launched
Friendship News Desk
18 February, 2025
Friendship launched the fourth phase of the Inter-School Connectivity Project (ISCP) on 23 January, marking the International Day of Education. Over 1,400 students from 40 schools in Bangladesh, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Switzerland participated, discussing climate change and cross-cultural collaboration.
The Learning Planet Festival, which has been a hub for education, culture, and environmental discourse since 2020, hosted the launch. Friendship’s ISCP is recognised for its unique approach in connecting students from climate-vulnerable Bangladesh with peers from developed nations. Professor Ainun Nishat PhD, Professor Emeritus at Brac University, attended as the Chief Guest.
Preparing Empathetic Leaders
Friendship, an international social purpose organisation, empowers youth in climate-vulnerable communities with knowledge and action. Since ISCP’s inception in 2021, the initiative has fostered cross-cultural engagement, overcoming geographic and linguistic barriers.
This year, 16 Friendship Secondary Schools, 2 public schools from Gaibandha and Kurigram, 13 schools from France, 1 from Switzerland, 1 from Belgium, and 7 from Luxembourg will collaborate in a six-month knowledge-sharing programme.
Climate Change as a Shared Responsibility
The ISCP launch featured a roundtable moderated by French journalist Donovan Hawker on how connected learning can turn climate awareness into action. Climate youth influencers and previous ISCP participants contributed to the discussion.
Brig. Gen. Ilyas Iftekhar Rasul, Senior Director and Head of Education at Friendship, addressed the students, followed by Friendship’s founder Runa Khan, who emphasised that character-building is as vital as academics. She urged youth to take responsibility beyond activism. HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium highlighted the need for young people to grasp ecological issues, as they can influence societal change.
Chief Guest Professor Ainun Nishat encouraged students to study climate trends, praising ISCP’s role in enriching their knowledge and fostering confidence. He stressed that connecting Bangladeshi students with European peers would enhance global awareness and cooperation.
ISCP 2025 continues to bridge cultures and empower young leaders, reinforcing the collective responsibility to tackle climate change.
