Draft:Korvi Rakshand

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Korvi Rakshand
Born (1985-08-19) August 19, 1985 (age 40)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
EducationLL.B, University of London
Occupation(s)Social entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years active2007–present
Known forFounding the JAAGO Foundation and Volunteer for Bangladesh
Awards
Websitejaago.com.bd

Korvi Rakshand (Bengali: করভি রাখসান্দ; born 19 August 1985) is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and youth development organiser. He is the founder of the JAAGO Foundation, which provides free education to underprivileged children, and the creator of Volunteer for Bangladesh, a nationwide youth-volunteering platform. His work has been recognised internationally, including with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership (2023) and the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education (2016).[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Rakshand was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 19 August 1985.[2] He attended Scholastica and Mastermind School and later completed an LL.B degree from the University of London.[3] Growing up in Dhaka, Rakshand was exposed to socioeconomic inequality, which influenced his later focus on education and community service. A personal encounter with a homeless child motivated him to begin work in social development.[4]

Career

[edit]

JAAGO Foundation

[edit]

In 2007, Rakshand established the JAAGO Foundation with a small group of volunteers in Rayer Bazaar, Dhaka, starting with 17 students in a one-room classroom.[5] The organisation was registered as a non-profit providing free, English-medium education to children from low-income families.

Development and expansion

[edit]

JAAGO expanded steadily between 2007 and 2015, establishing additional schools across urban and rural Bangladesh. In 2011, the organisation introduced an online-based teaching model that linked qualified teachers in Dhaka with remote classrooms via video conferencing.[6] The project addressed teacher shortages in rural districts and became one of the country’s earliest large-scale uses of ICT for classroom instruction.

Collaborations and recognition

[edit]

By 2016, JAAGO operated 13 schools and received the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education for its digital schooling model.[7] The foundation later partnered with organisations including UNICEF, USAID, the Malala Fund, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on projects supporting digital learning and girls’ education.

Current activities

[edit]

As of 2025, JAAGO reports educating more than 30 000 students across Bangladesh through digital and physical schools.[8] The organisation also operates programmes focused on student nutrition, parental livelihoods, youth skills training, and climate awareness.

Volunteer for Bangladesh

[edit]

In 2011, Rakshand founded Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD), the youth wing of JAAGO Foundation, to promote volunteerism and civic engagement.[9] The network expanded to all 64 districts of Bangladesh and engaged over 50 000 volunteers in programmes related to education, environmental protection, public health, and disaster response.[10] In 2021, Rakshand was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the 181st Commonwealth Point of Light for his leadership in voluntary service.[11]

Challenges

[edit]

JAAGO and VBD have faced challenges including limited digital infrastructure in remote areas, resource constraints, and volunteer retention. Rakshand has stated that collaboration with local stakeholders and technological adaptation are essential for sustainability.[12]

Impact and legacy

[edit]

Rakshand’s initiatives are credited with expanding digital education and formal volunteer engagement in Bangladesh. Analysts have identified JAAGO’s digital school model as one of the first sustained applications of remote instruction in the country’s non-profit sector.[13] VBD has been cited by national media as Bangladesh’s largest youth volunteer network and has collaborated with government agencies on youth policy and community mobilisation programmes.

Awards and recognition

[edit]
  • Mosaic Talent Award (2010) – UK programme recognising young Muslim social entrepreneurs.[14]
  • Commonwealth Youth Award (2013).[15]
  • Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader (2015).[16]
  • Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (2015).[17]
  • UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize (2016).[18]
  • Commonwealth Points of Light Award (2021).[19]
  • Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award (2022).[20]
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award (2023) – Emergent Leadership category.[21]

Public engagement

[edit]

Rakshand has spoken at forums including UNESCO’s ICT in Education Laureates Conference, the Asia 21 Summit, and TEDx events in South Asia. His initiatives have been featured in *The Guardian*, *The Daily Star*, and *The Business Standard*.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Rakshand resides in Dhaka and continues to lead the JAAGO Foundation. He is involved in mentoring youth-led organisations and advocates for policies supporting technology-driven education and volunteerism in Bangladesh.[23]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Korvi Rakshand – Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2023". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  2. ^ Leach, Anna (24 July 2015). "How one homeless child inspired this Bangladeshi to help hundreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  3. ^ "Korvi Rakshand: JAAGO will expand into the international arena". Dhaka Tribune. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  4. ^ Leach, Anna (24 July 2015). "How one homeless child inspired this Bangladeshi to help hundreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  5. ^ "Face to Face with Korvi Rakshand, Founder, JAAGO Foundation". Future Startup. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  6. ^ Leach, Anna (24 July 2015). "How one homeless child inspired this Bangladeshi to help hundreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  7. ^ "JAAGO Foundation wins UNESCO ICT in Education Prize". The Daily Star. 2016. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  8. ^ Hossain, Miraz (31 August 2023). "Meet Korvi Rakshand, the winner of the 'Nobel Prize of Asia'". The Business Standard. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  9. ^ "Korvi Rakshand – Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2023". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  10. ^ Hossain, Miraz (31 August 2023). "Meet Korvi Rakshand, the winner of the 'Nobel Prize of Asia'". The Business Standard. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  11. ^ "Korvi Rakshand receives Commonwealth Points of Light award". Bangladesh Post. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  12. ^ "Korvi Rakshand: JAAGO will expand into the international arena". Dhaka Tribune. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  13. ^ Leach, Anna (24 July 2015). "How one homeless child inspired this Bangladeshi to help hundreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  14. ^ "Young Muslim social entrepreneur wins top UK award". Emel Magazine. 2010. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  15. ^ "Commonwealth Youth Awards 2013 finalists announced". Commonwealth Secretariat. 2013. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  16. ^ "Asia 21 Young Leaders Class of 2015". Asia Society. 2015. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  17. ^ "GDN Japanese Award 2015 winners". Global Development Network. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  18. ^ "JAAGO Foundation wins UNESCO ICT in Education Prize". The Daily Star. 2016. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  19. ^ "Korvi Rakshand receives Commonwealth Points of Light award". Bangladesh Post. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  20. ^ "Sheikh Hasina Youth Volunteer Award 2022 recipients". JAAGO Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  21. ^ "Korvi Rakshand – Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2023". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  22. ^ Leach, Anna (24 July 2015). "How one homeless child inspired this Bangladeshi to help hundreds". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  23. ^ Hossain, Miraz (31 August 2023). "Meet Korvi Rakshand, the winner of the 'Nobel Prize of Asia'". The Business Standard. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
[edit]