Proper nutrition forms the bedrock of human development, and our comprehensive nutrition program extends its benefits not only to children but also to adults and the elderly within underprivileged communities. Nourished children, being well-fed and adequately nourished, exhibit enhanced growth, learning capabilities, and active participation in community development. They possess heightened alertness, even during times of crisis. Regrettably, the most impoverished and vulnerable children within disadvantaged communities face insurmountable barriers in accessing the nutrition they require to not only survive but also thrive. Shockingly, approximately one in three children under the age of five suffers from malnutrition.
To address this critical issue, we have implemented a monthly grocery event for the children attending our three school branches. During these events, the families of these children receive a grocery bag containing a month’s supply of essential food commodities. Moreover, we extend this support to beneficiaries of our livelihood programs. Furthermore, we extend our reach beyond our direct beneficiaries, providing grocery bags to other vulnerable residents of suburban and slum areas adjacent to our benefitted communities. Through our nutrition program at the OBHIZATRIK Foundation, we have been able to positively impact the lives of over one million individuals.
Our impact
At a Glance
In 2014, the OBHIZATRIK Foundation launched the Joy of Giving program, aimed at providing diverse forms of assistance and support in terms of food and nutrition for underprivileged communities. This program encompasses various initiatives, including Ramadan Sehri, Iftar, and Grocery packages consisting of essential items such as rice, pulses, chickpeas, oil, sugar, salt, and vermicelli packets. Through this program, we have organized several impactful events, including “Sobar Jonno Iftar” and “Seheri Deen.” In “Sobar Jonno Iftar”, we provide nourishing meals for breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. In “Sehri Deen”, we offer pre-dawn meals to support individuals fasting during Ramadan. To date, we have provided sehri and iftar meals to over 1.5 million individuals annually. The Joy of Giving not only extends a person’s life but also brings immense satisfaction by making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. The act of giving generates a profound sense of joy and amplifies one’s own happiness.
In addition to these events, each year we also provide Qurbani meat to approximately 50,000 underprivileged individuals who lack the means to participate in the Qurbani Eid festival sacrifice. This gesture ensures that they can partake in the festivities and experience the joy of this auspicious occasion.
A quotation by Winston S. Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give,” resonates deeply with our commitment to this noble initiative. It serves as a constant source of inspiration, motivating us to be part of this virtuous endeavor.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing crisis of child malnutrition, wreaking havoc on families’ livelihoods, disrupting the availability and affordability of nutritious and safe diets, and straining the delivery of essential nutrition services, with dire consequences for the most vulnerable children. To tackle this crisis head-on, we launched the Bina Poysar Bazar initiative, a free vegetable market aimed at supporting low-income individuals who struggled to cover their expenses due to job losses amid the pandemic. We partnered with Standard Chartered Bank, a renowned financial institution, to carry out this noble endeavor. Through various distribution points, we provided an array of vegetables free of cost. This project has benefited over two lakh individuals, significantly mitigating the impact of the pandemic on their nutritional well-being.
An exemplary project under our organization’s umbrella is “Amar Dawat” (Food Hanger), which operates in collaboration with Amar Daraz, a social initiative of Daraz Bangladesh Ltd. As the operating and managing partner, the OBHIZATRIK Foundation plays a pivotal role in this endeavor, aimed at alleviating hunger and reducing the sufferings of the underprivileged population in Bangladesh. This project exemplifies our expertise in designing and executing impactful interventions that address the root causes of food insecurity and destitution.
Another noteworthy collaborative initiative is “Appayon”, a community kitchen established in partnership with Muslim Charity UK, Bangladesh. This project aims to serve food to people with utmost respect, treating them as our own and extending assistance to the best of our capabilities. We have established a kitchenette within our Obhizatrik School premises in Mirpur, where our dedicated volunteers and senior students prepare and serve weekly meals to anyone in need of a nutritious and satisfying meal, free of cost.
As we forge ahead with unwavering determination, we remain committed to creating sustainable and enduring impacts, fostering a brighter and healthier future for all individuals within underprivileged communities. Our expert-driven approaches and innovative solutions position the OBHIZATRIK Foundation as a catalyst for transformative change, bringing hope and nourishment to those who need it most.
