Friendship Founder, Runa Khan

A collection of features by or about Friendship’s founder, Runa Khan

1. BANGLADESH 2.0 – YOUTH FIRST Event – Friendship NGO 

A group of students from three Luxembourgish high schools came together for a special event in Luxembourg, to share their recent experiences in Bangladesh (December 2024). 

2. Caution and Rising Above ‘Youth washing’ at COP29 – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan shares her thoughts on COP29, and the takeaways from the Baku iteration of the conference in November, 2024. 

3. Innovation for Development (I4D) Forum Launched with Six Founding Partners Including Friendship – Friendship NGO 

Innovation for Development (I4D) forum launched to bring together six development organisations  geared towards propagating innovation in the development sector. (September, 2024) 

4. Changemakers of South Asia – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan meet with Global Shapers Kathmandu and Debate Network Nepal (DNN) during her trip to Nepal in August, 2024. 

5. Towards a New Dawn – Friendship NGO 

Friendship founder shares her hopes for a new dawn, in a new Bangladesh, following the student uprising in July, 2024. 

6. Towards a New Beginning – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan speaks about a new beginning for Friendship, for Bangladesh and for development spurred by hope and dignity. (August 2024) 

7. An Evening of Hope and Resilience with the University of Liege – Friendship NGO 

Launch of the UNI for Change platform by the ULiège Green Office, aimed at supporting the ULiège community in social and environmental actions. (April 2024) 

8. A greener future requires more than ‘transitioning away’ – Friendship NGO 

Back from COP28 in December 2023, Runa Khan discusses what is needed for a greener future, beyond semantics and politics. 

9. Human Rights Must Be Protected at All Costs – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan speaks at the National Humanitarian Conference, by the Centre de Crise et de Soutien, part of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. (December 2023) 

10. Youth climate practitioners unite for change – Friendship NGO 

Friendship hosts a meeting with youth practitioners, titled Road to COP: Amplifying the Youth’s Voices for COP28 (November 2023) 

11. Saleemul Huq was and will remain one of our strongest voices for the climate – Friendship NGO 

In memorial of Professor Saleemul Huq, one of the strongest voices for climate action as well as one of Friendship’s biggest supporters. (November 2023) 

12. The President of France Takes Tour on Friendship’s Flèche d’Or – Friendship NGO 

French President, Emmanuel Macron takes short tour on Contic’s Flèche d’Or  with Runa Khan. (September 2023)

13. Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2023 – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan attends the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2023 as a jury member chaired by former Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. (July 2023) 

14. One for All, All for One – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan joins the first global forum on One Sustainable Health held at the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France. (July 2023) 

15. One Sustainable Health for All; Combining Human, Animal and Environmental Health – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan attends the One Sustainable Health for All workshop as a guest of honour, discussing key insights with health professionals, researchers, and other actors. (June 2023) 

16. ‘It’s fascinating to see how communities adjust to very adverse conditions’ – Friendship NGO 

Franz Fayot, Luxembourg minister for development cooperation and humanitarian affairs joins Runa Khan on a trip to the northern char islands. (May 2023) 

17. When globalisation is still on – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan calls upon leaders for global solidarity despite economic shocks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (February 2022) 

18. Water World – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan and Principal Architect of Urbana Kashef Choudhury talk architecture using indigenous materials and knowledge at the Dhaka Lit Fest. (February 2023) 

19. LEGACY, notre héritage – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan celebrates the legacy of Friendship in Luxembourg at Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s screening of his film Legacy, notre héritage. (December 2022) 

20. Twenty Years of Friendship – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan pens down her emotions on the 20 years led by Friendship, how the organisation started, how far it went, and hopes for the future. (December 2022) 

21. Bringing up the Back – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan chairs a roundtable meeting organised by Prothom Alo and Friendship on improving the living standards of Northern char dwellers. (August 2022)   

22. Educating girls for a world where equality prevails – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan gets selected as an education champion as Malala Fund’s Education Champions Network launches in Bangladesh. (July 2022) 

23. Celebrating Women at Friendship – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan presents the Women of Valour Awards to four Friendship community staff for outstanding contributions to their communities on International Women’s Day. (March 2022) 

24. Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan echoes the capabilities of women and champions their resilence despite pressing challenges on International Women’s Day. (March 2022) 

25. Kicking the Carbon Habit – Friendship NGO 

Post COP26, Runa Khan addresses humanity’s addiction to unsustainable practices as a key factor in slowing progress against climate change. (November 2021) 

26. Frontline voices echo in Glasgow – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan attends the launching of Friendship’s Blue Mangrove Fund at the COP26 Benelux/EIB Pavilion in Glasgow. (November 2021) 

27. An Equal Healthcare – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan explains why the world needs healthcare that takes care of all living beings, rather than just humans. (August 2021) 

28. A Tool to Restart Their Lives – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan addresses the inaugural session of the International Dialogue on Migration 2021 organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). (May 2021) 

29. Des saveurs du Bangladesh en soutien à Friendship – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan joins Catherine Elvinger and Abbes Treff to take Bangladeshi cuisine to the customers of Aparti Catering and raise funds for Friendship. (April 2021) 

30. Empowered and Equal – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan expresses support for International Women’s Day theme women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world.

31. Empowered for a Brighter Future – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan shares her philosophy on imparting education to char communities in a high-level virtual webinar organised by Friendship Education Programme. (November 2020) 

32. Runa Khan at the closing session of the 5th National Humanitarian Conference of France, in the presence of the French President – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan speaks at the 5^th National Humanitarian Conference of Prance in the presence of the French President, Foreign Minister, and Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad. (December 2020) 

33. Communities Leading the Way – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan advocates for resilient communities in the chars who are creative, innovative, finding their own solutions, and taking command of their own lives. (November 2020) 

34. Ear to the Earth – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan dwells on humility and humanity when discussing the struggles of climate-impacted communities. (October 2020) 

35. Build for the crises to come – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan urges all to stay safe and protected during the Covid-19 pandemic but also not forget the impending climate crisis looming over the planet.  

36. Fighting To Save Lives – Building On The Community’s Strength – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan pays tribute to frontline community medic-aides, disaster volunteers, and paralegals who continue to save lives with new waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. (April 2020) 

37. In This Together – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan’s message on coming to grips with a global pandemic and showing global solidarity to save lives.  

38. A Brave New World – Friendship NGO 

After returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Runa Khan pens down her experience, her expectations, and her hopes for the future. (January 2020)  

39. Retour sur la conférence / Look back on the conference “Restoring dignity, maintaining hope. How much can a humanitarian organisation do” – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan attends the ‘Restoring Dignity, Sustaining Hope’ conference at the Banque de Luxembourg. 

40. Global Dignity Day Celebrated in Bangladesh and Around the World – Friendship NGO 

Runa Khan celebrates Global Dignity Day with students and eminent personalities at the KIB Convention Hall. (October 2019) 

41. Achievements and perspectives of Friendship Belgium 

Runa Khan shares the achievements of Friendship Belgium six months after its launch at the Cinema Palace in Brussels. (May 2019)