Youth Empowerment Discussion at Viqarunnisa

MR. FARROW: As-Salam Alaykum. I’m here to say that I am also seeing another Bangladesh. I have seen a young and vibrant and creative Bangladesh. (Applause.)

QUESTION: (Inaudible) as well here, and it’s really crazy to have a special advisor, a very young special advisor on a very sensitive issue like global youth issues, right here among us.

MR. FARROW: Thank you for the question, and it’s a good one. Bangladesh faces considerable development challenges, as we said, challenges that the United States is working hard, I think, to stand by Bangladesh as it reforms. I would say for young people to be actively engaged in their communities, even at the smallest level. If you recognize a problem, confront it. Join forces with other young people who are eager to confront it. I mentioned the extraordinary (inaudible) of young, first-time voters in Bangladesh’s last election, and the way that’s expected to rise in the next election.

So I think that we have clear evidence that young people have a formative and critical role to play in shaping this country, not just in future but right now.