In the heart of Dhaka, where the city pulses with energy, classrooms in underserved communities have often remained stagnant, overlooked by many. Yet, in 2016, a quiet revolution began to unfold, led by a man with a vision to radically change how education is perceived and delivered. That man was Zillul Karim, the co-founder of Light of Hope, an organization that has since touched the lives of countless children across Bangladesh. Together with a group of passionate friends, Karim sought to dismantle traditional educational boundaries, replacing them with creativity, innovation, and a child-centric approach.
Karim’s journey to founding Light of Hope was not a conventional one. After spending years in the corporate world, he realized that the true key to social mobility wasn’t wealth or status—it was education. But the kind of education Karim envisioned was different from the rote learning so often seen in Bangladesh’s classrooms. He wanted to create an environment where children’s curiosity was nurtured, and where education wasn’t confined to textbooks but was instead an interactive, dynamic experience that could spark their imaginations.
With that mission in mind, Light of Hope set out to develop and implement educational tools that actively engaged children in their own learning process. The organization introduced innovative, hands-on programs in schools across the country, sparking a new era of learning for children from low-income families who had previously been denied access to these kinds of opportunities.
It wasn’t long before Light of Hope’s unique approach caught the attention of the wider community. In 2018, the organization celebrated one of its most significant milestones: a partnership with MetLife Foundation and Sesame Workshop Bangladesh to launch the “Dream, Save, Do: Financial Empowerment for Families” initiative. This program used beloved characters from Sisimpur, the Bangladeshi adaptation of Sesame Street, to teach financial literacy to children and their families in a way that was both fun and easily digestible. The program’s impact was highlighted during the annual Environment Day Celebration for Children, where participants were encouraged to engage in eco-friendly activities while learning the value of saving. This initiative not only empowered families to think about their financial futures but also instilled a sense of environmental responsibility in the younger generation.
However, perhaps the most profound contribution of Light of Hope came in the form of its work in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Here, amidst the trauma and uncertainty of displacement, Karim and his team collaborated with Save the Children to establish solar-powered schools. These schools were a lifeline for Rohingya children, many of whom had been robbed of their childhoods by conflict. Supported by USAID, these schools used the power of solar energy to broadcast educational programs featuring Sisimpur characters, providing a rare sense of joy and normalcy in an environment fraught with hardship.
For Karim, Light of Hope’s work in Cox’s Bazar represents the pinnacle of what education can achieve—it’s not just about academics, but about giving children the tools to dream, to imagine a future beyond their present circumstances. Through innovative technology and creative content, these programs offered more than just learning; they provided hope.
Zillul Karim’s vision for Light of Hope goes beyond improving education in Bangladesh. It’s about empowering children, regardless of their socio-economic background, to think critically, dream big, and become the architects of their own futures. Whether through interactive financial literacy programs or solar-powered classrooms in refugee camps, Light of Hope is lighting the way forward, one child at a time.
For Karim, education is the ultimate tool for social change, and his work is a testament to the belief that when given the right resources, every child has the potential to thrive. Light of Hope stands as a beacon, not just for Bangladesh, but for any community looking to harness the transformative power of education.
