Zubair’s Classroom

by Sams Arefin 

Over a million Rohingya people live in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, having fled violence in Myanmar in 2017. In Camp 15, Mohammad Zubair’s story shows what happens when child protection programming gives young people the tools they need to build a future. 

Zubair with his family arrived at Jamtoli Camp 15 in August 2017. The bamboo and tarpaulin shelters felt nothing like home. Most days he felt lonely. The trauma of what had happened when they left Myanmar stayed with him. 

Finding a Path Forward 

In 2018, Zubair went to the World Vision centre to play and pass time. He didn’t expect much. But as the days went on, he felt better when he was there. He studied at the centre for three years, completing primary level before moving to other schools in the camp. 

Everything changed in 2023 when Zubair joined the life skills sessions run by World Vision’s JF-FS&CPiE project. The three-month programme taught him about child protection, awareness raising, and practical skills he’d never encountered. “After the completion of life skills sessions, I learned so many important elements to understand the life cycle of a boy,” he says. 

He became serious about the work. He joined the Adolescent Support Group at the World Vision Shapla Centre, attending every meeting and session. He referred lots of children for case management. Sometimes he co-facilitated awareness sessions himself. By 2024, he was representing adolescents on the CBCP committee. 

Getting the Job 

Zubair had always wanted to be a teacher. His elder brother was the only teacher in their village back in Myanmar, and that influenced him deeply. His mother pushed education hard for all eight of her children. She’d studied until class nine before they had to flee, and the pain of not finishing drove her determination that her children would complete their schooling. Zubair also knew teaching made practical sense. When they return home, teachers have stable work and community respect. People consult them about all kinds of things. 

On 16 April 2025, Zubair interviewed for a teaching position with Jagoroni Chakra Foundation. It was his first job interview ever. He got the job. “Because it’s a teacher job with children, I can answer all the questions about child protection concerns,” he explains. “Basically, I can answer all the questions which I learnt from World Vision Bangladesh.” During the interview, he talked about PSEA, which he’d learnt in the group sessions, and about disabled children and nutrition. The training paid off immediately. 

Making a Difference 

Zubair now earns 13,000 taka (91 euros) a month. It helps, but it’s tight. Last month he spent 9,000 taka (63 euros) on two blankets for his younger sisters who were suffering in the cold at night. Still, he’s glad to contribute. “At the end of the day, I am really happy that with my income I can contribute to my family” 

The teaching job has changed how people see him. Neighbours ask his advice about the tokens they receive and the leaflets distributed around camp. Elders bring him kabin papers, marriage contracts, to check everything is written correctly.

“My profession has given me respect in the society, everyone now comes to me for advice,” he says. 

He still participates in World Vision programmes like tree planting and International Mother’s Day. He loves art and enters competitions at the centre. He won first prize in an art competition from the CiC office. 

What This Means 

Zubair’s path from participant to teacher shows what child protection programming can achieve. Three months of life skills sessions gave him knowledge that landed him a job and made him a community resource. The concepts he learned about safeguarding, disability inclusion, and protection weren’t abstract. They were immediately useful. 

The impact goes beyond Zubair. As a support group member, he brought other children into the system for help. As a teacher, he applies child protection principles every day. As the person neighbours turn to for advice, he helps families understand their rights and navigate camp administration. One young participant has become a source of change across the community. 

The programme worked because it gave adolescents real responsibility. Zubair moved from sessions to support groups to committees to employment. Each step built his confidence and skills. This wasn’t theory. It was practical preparation for work and leadership. 

In a place where displacement strips people of dignity and control, Zubair’s story matters. It shows that young refugees can build futures and contribute meaningfully when they get the right support. For the thousands of young Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, that’s not just hope. It’s proof