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A young Bangladeshi educator and education entrepreneur has earned international recognition after receiving the prestigious ‘Confidence Spark Award’ at the Global Leadership Summit 2026 in Malaysia, highlighting Bangladesh’s growing presence in global youth leadership and innovation.
Joy Das, an educator, writer and founder of the education platform Learn With Joy, received the award in recognition of his leadership, presentation skills and innovative thinking during the three-day summit held from July 10 to 12 at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU).
The summit brought together more than 350 young leaders, students, researchers and professionals from 14 countries to exchange ideas on leadership, innovation, policymaking and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to the award, Joy received an internationally recognised participation certificate for his successful engagement throughout the conference.
Representing Bangladesh, Joy presented his team’s initiative, Project PureStep, in the “Expected Impact and Conclusion” session as the sixth speaker of his group.
The project focuses on improving children’s health by promoting healthy habits from an early age, assessing both short- and long-term outcomes and developing strategies for large-scale implementation. It aligns with SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG-4 (Quality Education) and SDG-17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Participants were evaluated by an international panel comprising Professor Farah Hanif (Malaysia), Dr Sarvinder Kaur Sandhu (India), Professor Fatmir Shehu (Albania) and Dr Nazmus Sayadat (Bangladesh). The judges assessed leadership ability, analytical thinking, presentation quality and the practical impact of proposed solutions before selecting Joy for the honour.
The summit was organised to encourage cross-border collaboration among emerging leaders and inspire innovative solutions to global challenges. One of its key organisers was Bangladeshi youth leader Fatiha Ayat, an international speaker who has addressed audiences at the United Nations, Harvard University, Concordia University and TEDx.
A resident of Kanaighat Upazila in Sylhet, Joy is currently studying English at Leading University while running Learn With Joy, through which he has been providing English language and IELTS instruction for more than five years.
This is not his first international recognition. Earlier this year, he received the Best Educator of the Year award at the 36th World School Summit 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
His latest achievement has further showcased the growing potential of Bangladeshi youth on the global stage.
The recognition reflects the increasing contribution of young Bangladeshis to international discussions on education, leadership and sustainable development, and is expected to inspire more aspiring educators and innovators to participate in global platforms.
