UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Even before he received his high school diploma, Shah Rafayat Chowdhury knew he wanted to make a difference.

Inspired by his early days growing up in Bangladesh, Chowdhury — now a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences alumnus — approached his friends in the canteen of their high school about creating a new organization. Just 17 at the time, Chowdhury knew solutions were needed for the challenges faced by Bangladeshis, including the lack of access to safe drinking water.

Now, nine years later, Chowdhury is continuing to make his dream a reality.

Not only is his organization — called Footsteps — in full swing, but he also recently was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 for 2022. Additionally, he carried the Bangladeshi flag during the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit of 2022, an event connecting youth leaders around the globe.

Chowdhury said while he credits many factors for his and the organization’s success, his experience at Penn State was crucial not only in his own personal development but also in that of Footsteps.

"The main reason I came to Penn State was to learn how the first-world worked, where I could use the knowledge and experiences at Footsteps once I graduated and went back home,” Chowdhury said. “The University and its people — from students to professors — gave me support, perspective and most importantly confidence to excel in what I wanted to do with my dream of empowering communities through Footsteps in Bangladesh.”

The mission of Footsteps is simple: to empower communities by helping them build the right skills and technologies to overcome their social challenges, from issues with drinking water and sanitation to challenges of climate change and public health. And while Footsteps was already in motion by the time Chowdhury came to Penn State, he was able to use the skills and relationships he built at the University to continue advancing its mission.

While at Penn State, Chowdhury majored in community, environment, and development, through which he learned about and applied “the science of doing good,” as well as strategies to overcome challenges faced by communities abroad and here in the U.S. As a result of his efforts, he also was invited to participate in 2018's Young Leaders Programme at European Development Days.

Elizabeth Brady, associate teaching professor of communication arts and sciences and part of the Global Advisory Board for Footsteps, said she has fond memories of Chowdhury when he was a student in one of her public speaking courses.

“It is a distinct honor to teach long enough to watch your students have an impact in the world,” Brady said. “Every speech he delivered in my class included some aspect of the culture and needs in Bangladesh. It is terrific to see Footsteps continue to grow and respond to the needs in Bangladesh through the energy and guidance of Shah and his team.”

Since its inception in 2013, the organization has designed and implemented four holistic programs focusing on Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, and Public Health, impacting more than 318,000 people across 32 districts in Bangladesh. Chowdhury also has received several national and international accolades, including the 2020 Diana Award and the AFS Prize for Young Global Citizens.

But Chowdhury said the biggest achievement always will be the work they do on the ground, with real people.

“When a child runs up to us to say their water doesn’t smell anymore after we set up a water station in their school, or when we install solar panels and lighting in a family’s home after 18 years of darkness, that’s meaningful,” Chowdhury said. “When a young woman is empowered as a local paramedic after she receives an SOS medical box and first aid training from us, that’s what keeps us doing this work.”

Chowdhury said moving forward, he hopes the organization will continue to grow in its goal to help people and communities solve social challenges, and that the mission of Footsteps always will be to empower communities and change livelihoods across Bangladesh.

In the meantime, he has some tips for Penn Staters hoping to create change of their own.

“Always put your heart into it — do it for the love of people and the passion for solving problems, nothing else,” Chowdhury said. “Starting and running your own organization can be challenging, but if you are patient and keep working hard toward your dream, you will achieve it no matter the odds. Always believe in yourself, no matter what others say, because if you believe in your dreams and ambitions, other people will have the courage to believe in them, too.”