From vision to victory: Team Rupantor’s expedition to women empowerment

How impactful is a vision when intertwined with innovation? Team Rupantor knows the answer. They secured a spot among the top 11 competing against approximately 150 national teams in the Shaping Tomorrow: Women’s Empowerment Innovation Challenge organized by Save the Children, receiving a fund of BDT 100,000. The team includes Wahida Osman Usha (Junior, Biotechnology), Nazif Muhammad (Senior, Biotechnology), K. M. Emmanuel Rinoy (sophomore, CS), Debosmita Dey (Junior, Biotechnology), and Abantika Mitra (Junior, Biotechnology).

Encouraged by their strong desire to address social issues, the team took on the challenge of assisting marginalised women in the Korail slum. Their creative model focuses on instilling entrepreneurship and providing pragmatic training, integrating the women into a cloud kitchen business model to break down the socio-economic barriers that they face. Regarding the inspiration behind this, they say, “Representing Brac University, we felt compelled to try something innovative.”

The team encountered numerous difficulties, particularly working within tight time constraints while balancing academic commitments. They stated, “The biggest challenge in developing our idea was the lack of credible data.” They added, “Another major challenge was aligning our brainstorming sessions and hypothetical ideas with the harsh realities faced by slum-dwelling women.” It was a moment of pure triumph when Team Rupantor won.

Their story stands as a testament to persistence and dedication, highlighting that with the right mindset, even the most significant challenges can be overcome. They humbly offer advice to future changemakers: “Passion and teamwork matter more than expertise. Be willing to learn, adapt, and stay committed to your vision. Challenges will arise, but tenacity holds the key to success.”