For 67 talented yet financially struggling university students, these words capture the profound impact of the latest scholarship distribution by the Lions Scholarship Trust. Held yesterday afternoon at the Halima Rokeya Hall of the Lions Foundation on Zakir Hossain Road, the event was a powerful reminder of how community support can alter the trajectory of a young person’s life.
A permanent project of Lions Clubs International District 315-B4, the Trust has been a beacon of hope since 2018, helping brilliant students from underprivileged backgrounds fight against the odds to pursue higher education. Out of the 67 university-level recipients this year, 25 received new scholarships, while 42 received continuations of their previous support. Each student receives a total of 24,000 Taka annually (paid as a monthly stipend of 2,000 Taka directly through banking channels).
A Ceremony of Resilience and Hope
The distribution ceremony was chaired by Lion Mostaq Hossain and graced by Lions District Governor Kohinoor Kamal as the chief guest. Former Governor Lion M.A. Malek, Lion Nazmul Haque Chowdhury, and First Vice District Governor Lion Mosleh Uddin Apu addressed the gathering as special guests. Moderated by Lion Mohammad Hasan Mahmud Chowdhury, the event also saw the presence of Trust Secretary Lion A.H.M. Kafil Uddin, Lion Engineer Mujibur Rahman, Lion Jahedul Islam Chowdhury, Lion Hasan Akbar, and other esteemed members.
As recipients took the microphone to share their journeys, the room was filled with deeply moving stories of perseverance. Many spoke candidly about how their families, facing extreme poverty, had once pressured them to abandon their studies-with some even facing the prospect of working as daily wage earners, bus conductors, or rickshaw pullers. Instead, backed by the love and guidance of Lions members, these students are now charting a different course and pledging to pay it forward by supporting others in need.
Stories of Indomitable Spirit
- Mohammad Mizan, a visually impaired student in the Department of International Relations at Chittagong University, shared his heartbreaking yet inspiring reality: “I lost my mother when I was in class one, and my father after I got admitted to college. I don’t even have eyes. Still, I am studying in university with difficulty. This scholarship money from Lions will help me a lot.”
- Shanu Akter Nadi, breaking barriers as the first student from her remote area in Khagrachari to attend a university, expressed her determination: “I want to show the way to many more people like me in my area.”
- Another recipient studying Finance and Banking at Chittagong University noted how overcoming family pressure and funding their own tuition has been made significantly easier through the Trust’s backing.
Whether studying in general universities, medical colleges, or engineering institutions, these students share a common thread: extraordinary academic talent paired with profound financial hardship. Their childhoods may not have been colorful, but the Lions Scholarship Trust is helping them paint a brighter future.
Building a Legacy of Education
The journey of the Lions Scholarship Trust began in 2015–2016. Responding to the call of ‘Education for Excellence’ initiated by Lion Mostaq Hossain during his tenure as District Governor, District 315-B4 established a permanent welfare project.
Starting with an initial fund of 43 lakh Taka collected from members and placed in a Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR), the Trust utilizes the generated profits to fund these scholarships annually. Through the continuous addition of donor and life members, the FDR fund has now grown to an impressive 1 crore 5 lakh 85 thousand Taka, supplemented further by direct sponsorships from various individual Lions Clubs.
As these 67 scholars step forward into their futures, the Lions Scholarship Trust continues to prove that when a community stands by its youth, barriers turn into stepping stones.