Friendship hosted their ninth Global Dignity Day event this year with a month long programme and a closing ceremony, organised at the Krishibid Institution on October 26.
Global Dignity was established by concerned global citizens who met as Young Global Leaders at the World Economic Forum HRH Prince Haakon of Norway, Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant of Operation HOPE (US). The organisation claims itself to be an autonomous, non-profit, non-criticism and non-partisan group that works to help youth, adults and every individual, to become their best self and help others to achieve the same. They consider dignity as the most powerful tool for an individual and help empower it through their courses of activities.
''Every human being has the right to lead a dignified life" - with this slogan at the heart of the initiative, 65 countries participated in this event to help engrave the values of dignity in all individuals around the world.
The month long event hosted sessions of training and mentoring students and teachers of different governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations. Among which, there were 78 Friendhip schools, 78 Adult educational centres, 21 Governments schools and a few renowned private schools and organisations such as, Scholastica, Leaping Boundaries and Jaago.
The teachers and students along with the hosts carried out several activities to spread the word and their motto. Some of them gathered together to form a human chain in three upazilas to recognise Global Dignity Day. The hosts organised a boat with festive decorations to rally the water bodies in the northern char regions on the Jamuna River. The event was a great success as it has been in the past years. But this time, over 400,000 students and people participated.
The closing ceremony at the Krishibid Institution was hosted in the presence of the State Minister of Finance M A Mannan as chief guest. Anisul Huq, Mayor of Dhaka City corporation, was present at the occasion as the guest of honour. Runa Khan, country chair of Global Dignity Bangladesh and founder and executive director of Friendship along with Henrik Width, chargé d’affaires of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka, Her Excellency Sophie Aubert, the ambassador of France to Bangladesh as well as other notable civil society members and heads of organisations were present at the closing ceremony as well.
The event was carried out through sharing of opinions among the guests and hosts as well as children (from underprivileged families) brought in from different areas. They all openly shared what Dignity means to them.
"Self-respect is a path to Dignity. It is through this concept of self-respect and respect for others that nations are built on. Nations that can stand up on its own feet stands with the strength of dignity and self-respect." - M A Mannan, State Minister of Finance
"The strength of dignity and self-respect transcend the human condition. Every individual understands dignity at a separate age and in different ways. But it is the strength of individual dignity that goes on to build societies and nations. Individual dignity, personal dignity, collective dignity and national dignity are all linked." - Annisul Huq, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporation
"Never take more away from a person than what you’re giving them. When you help the poor, give them your help in a manner that is not rude or disrespectful because otherwise you take away their dignity. And when you take that away you are leaving them worse than how they were in the first place. People can live with poverty but they cannot live without dignity and hope." - Runa Khan, country chair, Global Dignity Bangladesh