In 2015, the Youth School for Social Entrepreneurs (YSSE) embarked on a journey to encourage young people to take up social entrepreneurship and tackle the numerous problems faced by our society. To celebrate its two years of operation this February, YSSE organised the day-long Next Generation Carnival 2017 at Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh.

Speakers from different sectors shared their personal experiences and views of the new generation of entrepreneurship. A panel led by Syed Fazle Niaz, Enterprise Advisor at International Labour Organisation Bangladesh, dissected what makes a successful startup ecosystem, while Special Guest Ibnul Syed Rana, Chairman and CEO of Nirapod Development Foundation, explored the importance of having the right kind of mentality when learning. The carnival was all about giving the youth better insight into the kind of environment they will be entering.

Guest of Honour, Sonia Bashir Kabir, Managing Director of Microsoft Bangladesh, shed light on the different way technology has fused with our culture and brought about revolutionary change. She expressed her aspirations to work towards providing technological tools to women in different corners of Bangladesh.

The evening ended with Chief Guest, Selima Ahmad, President of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) and Vice Chairperson of Nitol-Niloy Group, handing over the 2017 YSSE Awards and motivating the crowd with advice and words of inspiration.