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| file photo sadat rahman |
Sadat Rahman, 17, was inspired to create a mobile app to help young people report online abuse after hearing about a 15-year-old girl who took her own life because of bullying.Mr Rahman's app, Cyber Teens, allows young people to report cyberbullying confidentially through a network of volunteers who then approach police or social workers, while also educating teenagers about online safety.Sadat was presented with the award today by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai during a ceremony in the Hague, the Netherlands. He was awarded the prize for his involvement in setting up a social organisation and mobile app "Cyber Teens" to stop cyberbullying and violence against children.
Last year, this award was won by climate activist Greta Thunberg. Malala Yousufzai herself is a previous winner of the prestigious prize.
Sadat beat two other finalists - 12-year old Ivanna Ortega Serret from Mexico, who fought water pollution, and 18-year-old Siena Castellon from Ireland, who created a website to help pupils with autism and severe learning disabilities."In 2017 Rohingya people sought refuge in Bangladesh due to violence in their country, I started organizing activities for them, it was then that I discovered the power of youth coming together [..]," Sadat was quoted as saying in the Hague.
"I feel proud to represent Bangladesh to the rest of the world with my work," he said while adding that his success will be "when no one needs to use my app and there will be no cyberbullying anymore."
