Friendship, a social organization, has been working to improve the living standard of the underprivileged people in the remote areas of Bangladesh, said speakers at a function on Friday.
They said the organization has already significantly improved the quality of life of a large number of underprivileged people in the remotest parts of the country in the last 20 years since its inception, said a press release issued on Friday.
They were speaking at a function at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, marking the 20th founding anniversary of Friendship, which started its journey in 2002 with a vision of building a world where people - especially the hard-to-reach and unaddressed - will have equal opportunities to live with dignity and hope.
Friendship's Founder Runa Khan, Co-Chair of Friendship International Marc Elvinger, Chair of Board of Friendship Bangladesh Salahuddin Ahmed and national and international chairs of boards of Friendship joined the celebration.
Speaking on the occasion, Runa Khan said: "I started the journey with not even a vision, I would say, I just wanted to start by trying to ease the suffering of people. That was my only target. I could not bear their pain, I could not bear injustice, and I could not bear that we have, and they don't".
The places, where Friendship started working in, were the hardest areas in Bangladesh to reach, she said, adding, but Friendship reached there though there was nobody else when it started work.
CourtesyNoting that if people are not deeply embedded with values, nurturing their ethics, nurturing their character, understanding responsibility, and humanity-humanity towards each other, Runa said: "Then no matter what we do, there will always be a missing element, and somehow the goal is not reached as strongly as it should have been".
Co-Chair of Friendship International Marc Elvingar said: “When looking at what Friendship has grown into since then (2002), scaling its operations quite significantly while sticking to its fundamental values of dignity, integrity, justice, quality and hope, it's quite obvious that (Runa) Apa made the right choice by setting up a network of her own at that time, and thereby creating direct relationships between Friendship in Bangladesh, and its donors and supporters in Europe.”
Chair of board Salauddin said: “I think what is special about Friendship is in its very name. They go out, like a true friend, an help those in need; and that is the difference that you find in Friendship, and the other NGOs. I'm only saying this because I found that myself, and I welcome the members of the press to take some time and go out to meet the people, and find out for themselves.”
Later, a special performance of Friendship's Char Theatre was staged similar to the plays they do in the chars about social issues like child marriage, dowry and basic rights.
Besides, a special exhibition was organized at the same venue, where the wooden boats of Bengal, handcrafted slow fashion products produced by char women, and dignity inspired artwork by Friendship schoolchildren and the award-winning buildings designed by architect Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury were displayed.
Friendship has been operating in the deltaic river basins of the extreme north, and the coastal and forest regions in the south part of the country, reads the press release.
It started operations with floating hospitals that offer essential primary and secondary healthcare to remote riverine areas.
CourtesyThese hospitals are further supplemented by satellite clinics, which are themselves supported by community medic-aides utilizing a proprietary mHealth app.
Earlier this year, Friendship's land hospital in Satkhira, Shyamnagar, won the “best new building in the world 2021” prize, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for its unique, eco-friendly design that harnesses the natural flow of wind, water and light to create a soothing, healing ambience for patients at the hospital that has up-to-date medical facilities.
Friendship also operates 80 legal information booths in as many chars, with trained paralegals that aid 300,000 people with their legal issues, ensuring access to legal services, and raising awareness about their rights, protections and civic duties as per the constitution of Bangladesh.
Consequently, cases of exploitation, child marriage, dowry, domestic violence, gender-based violence etc. are dealt with and prevented. Friendship has subsequently also opened legal aid booths in the district courts of Kurigram and Gaibandha.
In addition, Friendship uniquely also hosts char theatre performances, with actors and actresses who are selected, groomed and trained from the very communities they raise awareness for, regarding such social issues as the ones mentioned—child marriage, dowry, rights, gender issues etc.
