Our daily life has reduced the opportunity for physical activity. Children are also not different from it. As a result children are suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes, insomnia and other diseases.  Lack of enough open space is one of the major reasons behind this. They have negative impact on their mental health as well. In one hand, usually children do not take part in required physical exercise for not having sufficient space at home and enough playgrounds in cities. On the other hand, children may do necessary physical exercise like walking to school every day. Again, huge traffic jam is another great issue in Dhaka city, which turns into severe at the time of going to and coming back from schools. However, it is possible to reduce through going to school on foot. As a result, walking to schools will help children to be physically fit and in the same way environment will be less polluted and transportation cost will be saved. Speakers spoke up about the issue on 04 August 2016 on awareness training program in Rayerbazar High School at Dhanmondi for students about safely going to school through walking.

With effort of Rayer Bazar High School and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and with the slogan Walk to School to keep body and mind feet, and Want safe walking environment for keeping Health well, about 300 students of class four to ten from Rayer Bazar High School took part on this training program. Through the training program, it is found that 99% students go to school on foot and most of their homes are on distance for five minutes from their school. Again, the students shared that there are so many obstacles on their ways of walking. Among the challenges reckless driving, honking, getting clothes dirty with mud from wheels of cars, driving cars on narrow roads, huge traffic jam are severe.

In the training, Atiqur Rahman, project officer of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, mentioned that doing physical exercise for one hour everyday is very essential for us. As we do not get such facility in city, we can ensure our wellness through walking. In addition, he provided examples from other countries like infrastructure in foreign country is built with preference of pedestrians. If same thing happens in our country, here the pedestrians will be inspired on walking and thus,  traffic jam and demand for energy will be reduced.

Speakers added that most of the students of Rayer Bazar areas go to nearby schools. Therefore, an example will be created through establishing safe and easygoing walking environment. Next, this will be an idol for other areas too. That is why, people from community need to come forward. Consciousness need to grow up in students and guardians as well. Besides, it is necessary to work together with related ministries of government from corporations and departments and educational ministries too.

Headmistress of the school, Meherunnesa opened the training program. Project officer of Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, Atiqur Rahman was the training facilitator. Moreover, assistant advocacy officer of WBB Trust Naima Akter, Tanjida Huq, teachers, and students from Rayer bazar school also were present in the training program there.