“Run for Her Resilience 2025” held today (25 November 2025) in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, to honour the courage of women living on the frontlines of climate change. The event was jointly organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and  Brighters with support from the Green Climate Fund’s GCA project. 

Around 100 young participants joined the 5-kilometre run, men carrying water pitchers to symbolise the daily reality of women in Shyamnagar who walk long distances to collect safe water due to the impacts of climate change.

The symbolic run was inaugurated at the Shyamnagar Upazila Parishad premises by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dedarul Islam.  Speaking at the event, he said, “Addressing climate challenges requires collective action. This run is a meaningful gesture of respect and awareness for climate-vulnerable women.”

By placing men in the shoes of women, “Run for Her Resilience” aimed to build empathy, spark conversations and promote community-wide recognition of the disproportionate burden women carry in securing water for their families.

Participants expressed how the experience shifted their understanding. “It was extremely difficult to carry the water, so I had to place it in a van. Today I finally understood how much hardship the women here face every day,” said participant Ashikur Rahman. Another participant, Meghla Mondol, reflected, “When I was a child, my mother used to leave us at home and walk long distances to fetch water. Now water is a little closer, but we still have to buy drinking water; it is expensive.” The event encouraged participants to see water scarcity not only as an environmental issue but also as a deeply gendered one.

UNDP Head of Communications Md Abdul Quayyum noted, “Women face the strongest impact of climate change. Highlighting their resilience through this initiative is both timely and necessary.” “Run for Her Resilience 2025” stands as a symbol of solidarity and compassion, recognising the struggle of Shyamnagar’s women and reinforcing the collective commitment to a more resilient future,” he further added. 

Among others, Md. Abdul Hannan, National Project Manager, GCA, Md Moniruzzaman, Knowledge Management Analyst, GCA,  Md. Peyar Uddin, Investigation Officer, Shyamnagar Police Station; SM Doleyar Hossain, Upazila Social Services Officer; Brighters Director Sohanur Amin; and youth representative Zeva were present.