In Bangladesh, ensuring quality education and social inclusion for children with special needs remains a significant challenge. High costs of educational materials, limited institutional support, and persistent social stigma often prevent these children from reaching their full potential. At the same time, their parents frequently face emotional stress, social isolation, and misplaced blame. In response to these challenges, a student-led social entrepreneurship initiative, Shekhar Sathi, has emerged as a meaningful, impact-driven effort.

Shekhar Sathi focuses on making learning accessible, inclusive, and joyful for children with disabilities by producing and distributing affordable educational materials. The initiative offers a range of learning tools, including sensory books, materials for teaching Activities of Daily Living, visual cards, communication boards, and shape-and-colour-matching kits. These resources are carefully designed for children with autism, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders.

A defining strength of Shekhar Sathi is its commitment to affordability. All products are priced within the purchasing power of low-income families, ensuring that financial limitations do not become a barrier to education. Many parents have shared that learning materials which were previously unaffordable are now accessible because of this initiative.

At this stage, Shekhar Sathi’s impact clearly aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative directly contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education by promoting inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for children with disabilities. It also aligns with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by addressing systemic barriers faced by marginalised families, and with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by reducing parental stress and supporting children’s developmental needs. In addition, as a student-driven social entrepreneurship model, it contributes to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by fostering youth leadership and sustainable, community-based solutions.

Beyond educational materials, Shekhar Sathi places equal importance on addressing the emotional and social challenges parents face. In Bangladeshi society, parents of children with disabilities are often subjected to insensitive remarks and unfair judgements. To counter these attitudes, Shekhar Sathi actively shares parents’ stories and lived experiences. Through this approach, the initiative encourages society to recognise that disability is not a failure or a source of shame, but a natural part of human diversity.

Seven dedicated students proudly lead this social entrepreneurship initiative from leading institutions in Dhaka:

• Tawfique Elahi from Jahangirnagar University
• Rababa Huma Biswas from Proyash Institute of Special Education and Research
• Md Faizul Kabir Rabbi from the University of Dhaka
• Chaity Rani Ghosh from BRAC University
• Sayeed Anwar Shah from the Bangladesh University of Professionals
• Sadia Akther from Eden Mohila College
• Famida Faiza Trivy from the University of Dhaka

Photo: Courtesy

A representative of the Shekhar Sathi team stated,

“We are not only selling educational materials. We are building trust. Trust in children’s abilities and trust from society towards parents. Without both, an inclusive society cannot be achieved.”

Experts believe that initiatives like Shekhar Sathi demonstrate how student-led social entrepreneurship can drive meaningful, long-term change. By combining affordable learning solutions, real success stories of children, and authentic parental experiences, Shekhar Sathi is gradually emerging as a broader movement for inclusion and social awareness.

From the perspective of a conscious citizen, Shekhar Sathi illustrates a simple yet powerful truth. When empathy, thoughtful planning, and affordable solutions come together, the lives of children with special needs improve, and society’s understanding evolves alongside them.