Manisha Meem Nipun (she/her/ze)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact.

I use environmental education as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and justice. Through Pathchola Foundation, I lead programs that connect climate awareness with livelihood opportunities for marginalized groups—particularly transgender women, sex workers, and youth from coastal and hilly regions of Bangladesh.

Our “Green Skill Development Initiative” trains community members in recycling crafts, sustainable sewing, digital literacy, and green entrepreneurship. We also conduct workshops on climate justice, SRHR, and mental health, linking environmental sustainability to human rights and gender equity.

By fostering climate-conscious livelihoods and youth-led community action, my goal is to build a Bangladesh where no one is left behind in the transition toward a sustainable future.

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like?

As a trans woman and sex worker, my life has been a journey of resilience against stigma, discrimination, and exclusion. Growing up in Chattogram, I saw firsthand how climate change and social inequality intersected—how marginalized communities suffered the most from floods, poverty, and lack of education. This inspired me to co-found Pathchola Foundation, creating safe spaces for the Hijra and gender-diverse community to learn, grow, and lead. My advocacy evolved from local volunteerism to international platforms, connecting environmental sustainability with human rights. Today, my motivation comes from seeing young people from my community become trainers, entrepreneurs, and climate advocates—proof that education can transform both people and the planet. 

How can people learn more about or support your work?

You can learn more about my work through Pathchola Foundation’s website, and follow our social media channels on Facebook  under “Pathchola Bangladesh.”

We welcome partnerships, funding collaborations, and volunteer support to expand our programs in green livelihood training, digital inclusion, and climate education for marginalized communities.

You can also invite me for speaking engagements or youth training on inclusive climate justice and gender equity, to strengthen local-global collaboration toward a fairer, sustainable world.

Every act of solidarity helps us sustain our mission: empowering the most excluded to lead in climate action.

A Little More About Me

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders?
Lead with empathy and inclusion—real change begins when every voice is valued and every identity is seen.

Who (or what) keeps you hopeful for the future?
The young transgender and gender-diverse activists in Bangladesh who transform pain into purpose and courage into community.

What is your superpower? Which of your qualities best fuels the work you do?
My resilience—born from lived experience—drives me to create hope and opportunity for others who are often left behind.

What’s your favorite food to celebrate with?
Hilsa fish curry with mustard and steamed rice.