Rijve Arefin, Bangladesh

Advocate and Strategist

I am a social impact leader, gender equality advocate, and youth development strategist with over a decade of experience leading programs and campaigns across 75 countries. My work sits at the intersection of grassroots mobilization and global policy, focusing on gender justice, WASH, climate resilience, human rights, and community-driven development, particularly in the Global South.

As the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Awareness 360, a youth-led nonprofit, I have helped design and implement initiatives that have empowered over 50,000 young changemakers to lead zero-budget social impact projects, reaching more than 3.1 million people globally. These efforts have strengthened youth leadership, civic engagement, and sustainable development in marginalized communities.

Alongside this, I work extensively in fundraising and resource mobilization for mission-driven organizations. To date, I have raised over 700,000 USD to support local NGOs, grassroots CSOs, and youth-led movements across the Global South — with a focus on supporting initiatives that are often underfunded or overlooked by mainstream funding mechanisms. My experience spans grant writing, donor engagement, proposal development, and sustainability planning.

I previously served as Vice Chairperson of the Commonwealth Students’ Association, representing over 640 million students across 56 Commonwealth nations. In that role, I contributed to advocacy for education equity, student rights, and youth participation in decision-making at national and global levels, including through the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

My experience includes collaborations with the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women, UNDP Asia-Pacific, CIVICUS, the Commonwealth Secretariat etc — where I’ve worked on programs related to gender equality, youth engagement, and development policy.

I’ve been fortunate to receive recognitions such as Forbes 30 Under 30, UN Women’s 30 for 2030, the Diana Award, and others — which have further fuelled my commitment to inclusive and sustainable change.

Thoughtfully written by

Articles by Rijve Arefin, Bangladesh

When Home Fell Silent, the World Became Our Voice

20 October 2025

Rijve Arefin, Bangladesh

Advocate and Strategist

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