Kastamonu, Turkey
The Arakan Humanitarian Association concluded the 10th Rohingya Students Forum on August 28. The event took place in Kastamonu and gathered 45 young participants. It ran from August 25 to 28 under the theme of turning memory into initiative. The Bahraini Humanitarian Association CAF also joined the effort.
The timing carried deep historical weight. The forum coincided with the ninth anniversary of the 2017 Rohingya genocide. Back then, widespread atrocities forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Today, the total refugee population in Bangladesh stands at 1.2 million. The organizers wanted to look past the tragedy. They focused on building youth awareness and community responsibility.
The program followed four main tracks. These included memory, transformation, effectiveness, and initiative. Participants reviewed the events of 2017 and the resulting social impacts. Several young attendees shared their personal experiences of displacement. They discussed how they continued their education after fleeing violence. The sessions highlighted the capacity of Rohingya youth to learn and contribute to society.
Practical activities formed a core part of the schedule. The CAF delegation introduced a volunteer challenge program. This module taught participants how to channel individual efforts into organized collective work. The attendees also held social sessions to exchange ideas and build communication networks.
Salim Al-Arakani serves as the Executive Director of the Arakan Humanitarian Association. He stressed the importance of using historical memory as a tool for action. He asked the youth to shift from being victims to becoming active initiators. He noted that education must lead to tangible benefits for their community.
The forum produced clear results. Four new community youth initiatives will launch soon. The association also presented its educational plan for 2025 and 2026. Several Rohingya graduates from Turkish universities received honors during the closing ceremony. This event marked the tenth in a series held in Turkey. Previous forums focused on cultural training and linking education to community duty. Rohingya observe August 25 each year to ensure the world remembers their history and identity.
