"I drove my car here today, and I bought the car very recently with the money I earned from freelancing," said a very confident Sonia Talukdar. She was sharing her success story as a freelancer. She was talking about how she turned around after her completion of IT skill-based training courses with CodersTrust. 

It's not just Sonia. Shakil, Bristi Bagchi, Soumen Mandal, and a few others were sharing their success stories. They are all alums of CodersTrust. They have been trained by CodersTrust during its journey in Bangladesh for 10 years now. After receiving training in various aspects of ICT from the mentors of Coders Trust, now they are either mentors themselves, successful entrepreneurs, or successful freelancers in the global marketplace. 

More than 100 such alums showed up at CodersTrust's Banani office on August 1 to join the inaugural ceremony of CodersTrust Alumni Association. Aziz Ahmad, founder and chairman of CodersTrust, declared the opening by unveiling the logo and alumni card for the association. 

Nazrul Islam Khan, former education secretary and one of the advisors of CodersTrust, former Director of FBCCI Mehedi Ali, and business leader Mahbub Islam Runu were among the guests. 

While sharing about her journey Sonia Talukder said that she was forced to leave the army due to family reasons. Then after working in the private sector for some time, she joined with Bangladesh University of Professionals. But couldn't continue after the birth of her second child. The only reason for leaving jobs was to manage the household! But this talented woman didn't want to stop. And so she found a way to manage the house and build her future by herself while raising children, that is freelancing. And CodersTrust extended its hand to her. "They taught just holding my hand and I am a successful freelancer today by capitalizing on that learning," Sonia said about the mentors at CodersTrust. 

"Recently I bought a car with my own earned money and drove it myself today to join this program," she added.

Shakil Ahmed said that he has not only bought a car but also has built his own house with the money he earned from freelancing. He has developed his own business and now over a hundred people work with him. Not only for himself, but he is contributing to making hundreds of other people self-reliant. Shakil is grateful to CodersTrust for everything.

"It was CodersTrust that created me and guided me first as a freelancer and then as an entrepreneur," he said. 

Soumen Mondal said that he learned from the mentors at CodersTrust and is now a successful mentor himself. He has trained more than 500 trainees and also has earned mentionable money from the marketplace, which has given him a better life. 

Bristi Bagchi learned graphic design. She now works with the Bangladesh Cotton Development Board. All the design work there is now being done by me. At my workplace, I am always praised by my superiors, Bristi said.

She didn't forget to mention about CodersTrust's contribution to this achievement. 

Farhad Hossain, while telling his story, said that the opportunity to work on it is very important besides acquiring skills. Farhad Hossain is now working as a graphic designer with a Canadian buying house.  

Aziz Ahmad delivered a keynote address to CodersTrust alumni at the event. He urged everyone to learn more advanced and modern aspects of IT skills. 

There is no alternative to up-skilling and re-skilling to prove yourselves in the global market and keep pace with the changing world, said Aziz Ahmad. To gain confidence and credibility, we all have to move forward through self-determination and self-dedication, he added. 

Aziz Ahmad believes that through the Alumni Association, the network among the trainees will be enhanced, and they will be able to come to each other's cooperation selflessly.  

CodersTrust Advisor Nazrul Islam Khan advised freelancers to work in groups. He said that if each person acquires skills in separate subjects and they come together and take initiative, the chances of success increase. Expressing hope that the Alumni Association would bring everyone closer, Ni Khan said that through this, more trainees will get an opportunity to be trained at CodersTrust and they will be benefited. And with that, the reputation of CodersTrust will increase, and above all the country itself will be benefited, he added. 

Business leaders Mehedi Ali and Mahbub Islam Runu congratulated the alums of CodersTrust after hearing about their success stories and thanked CodersTrust. They also hope to be there for CodersTrust in any future need. 

In his speech, CodersTrust CEO Md. Shamsul Haque urged all to establish uninterrupted communication through the Alumni Association. 

"CodersTrust is expanding its horizon in new areas and the opportunities that are being created in those areas will have more beneficial for CodersTrust's alums," said Ataul Ghani Osmani.

On the opening day of the Alumni Association, the Banani campus of Coders Trust was decorated with colorful balloons and festoons. The alumni spent several hours on their beloved campuses after a long time and expressed their desire to strengthen their connections amongst themselves through the Alumni Association.