Life often seems unfair. The difference between what the economically privileged consume as opposed to what the less fortunate have access to, is vast.
Dhaka serves as a prime example, as huge amounts of food goes to waste on a daily basis from numerous parties at restaurants, hotels and convention centres. Meanwhile, a multitude of homeless people search for morsels to sustain themselves every day.
There is hardly any room for the gap between the rich and poor in the existing economic system to be replaced overnight. Some people, however, still believe the plight that plagues the less fortunate members of society can be improved, if not completely changed.
This small initiative, called Project Food Banking, was started by a group of young people named Procheshta Foundation working relentlessly to feed underprivileged people with food left over from events in Dhaka.
Comprised mostly of university students, the organisation collects and packs uneaten food that is served to people who are unable to afford such luxuries.
One of the five founding members of the project, Ikram Uddin Abir, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The idea for this project came to me after I visited a slum in Tejgaon for a census back in 2011. The people hardly had access to three meals a day, let alone other basic human rights.”
Project Food Banking was launched in May, 2016.
Project Food Banking, was started by a group of young people named Procheshta Foundation working relentlessly to feed underprivileged people with food left over from events in Dhaka
Mahmud Hossain Opu/DHAKA TRIBUNEProchesta Foundation's journey began in February 2013 by founding a small school at Begunbari, Tejgaon with 11 students with a view to spreading education among children from slums.
The school has more than 200 regular students, while the foundation has more than 300 volunteers.
A second school has been opened at Tejgaon Rail Gate area.
“Several corporate houses offered to sponsor Project Food Banking in exchange of their title sponsorship as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but we refused those offers as we never wanted to see our dream getting commercialised,” added the project’s founder.
The organisation would appreciate citizens of Dhaka to cooperate by aiding in the packing and transport of the food.
Ikram said: “There are two ways the food is collected. Sometimes people contact us to collect their leftovers and sometimes we contact people to preserve excess food from events.
“We work in Dhaka, dividing the capital into different zones. Whenever we get a call from any event, we contact our zone leader,” said Co-founder of Prochesta Foundation Atisha Rahber.
The initiative has garnered positive results.
The organisation also introduced a blood bank recently as a part of their initiative to help people gain easier access to blood during emergencies.
Call 01842002023 to get involved in this humanitarian enterprise to help alleviate hunger.
