The evening began with an introduction to the National Committee of Aga Khan Foundation (Bangladesh), followed by a warm welcome from the Chairperson of the National Committee, Ms. Dilshad Dossani. “Over nearly 39 years, perhaps the most important work that we have undertaken has been supporting and nurturing local civil society organizations, helping them grow into stronger institutions with greater organizational and technical capacity to better serve their beneficiaries,” remarked Ms. Dossani.
The main portion of the evening consisted of presentations by AKF(B)’s local partner organizations on the programs they are implementing with the support of the Foundation and its donors.
Mr. Towhid Khan, Manager, Office of Professional Development at the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre. Mr. Khan spoke about the Linking Youth to Employment in Bangladesh project, which provides youths with career development and professional skills both face-to-face and through an online portal called BYLCx. The project also links BYLC graduates to employment in the formal sector, again through face-to-face efforts and an online portal called ConnectEd. The project is supported by the Rizwan Adatia Foundation.
Ms. Ahlam Ahsan, Project Manager at Phulki, presented the Urban Childcare Project, which runs full-day childcare centres for children of low-income working women in and around Dhaka city. These centres provide integrated services to children aged two to six years, including age and developmentally appropriate early learning; care services including bathing, napping, feeding; nutritious snacks; access to free or subsidized healthcare services through partner organizations; and a mini-library to support early literacy efforts. The project also provides monthly sessions for parents and caregivers on key issues such as health and hygiene, nutrition and positive discipline. Ms. Ahsan emphasized the success of the model in improving children’s development and parental knowledge, as well as in improving the quality of life of low-income working families.
Dr. Badiul Majumdar, the Country Director for The Hunger Project – Bangladesh, presented the Strengthening Voluntary Civil Society Leaders for Social Action project, which trains and supports the work of 150 civil society leaders who work on a voluntary basis for the benefit of their communities. The project trained them on how to tap into local resources through community philanthropy; how to identify and systematically help the poorest families in their communities; how to advocate for the rights of the poorest and women and girls, and on issues of concern to the communities to local government; how to link eligible citizens to state social support services; and how to use internet and social media to amplify their work. The project represents an innovative model on how to catalyze sustainable community development, and is supported by the Rizwan Adatia Foundation.
Finally, Mr. Rafiqul Anam, the Client Representative for the Aga Khan Academy, Dhaka project, gave an update to the Jamat on the construction of the Academy in Dhaka.
The presentations were followed by a delicious Thai dinner and a lively musical evening by a well-known local singer for the enjoyment of the Jamat and external guests.
Jamati members found the event to be both informative and entertaining, and gave positive feedback. Most were delighted to learn about the good work of the Foundation in Bangladesh and praised the initiative taken by the National Committee in organizing the event.
