Rokeya Khatun decided that middle-age was not too late to turn her life around, despite her circumstances. © Friendship by Iffat Ara Sharmeen,27 February, 2025 43-year-old Rokeya transformed her land and home into a sustainable space to escape poverty, but her...
Women Empowerment
Friendship Community Medic-Aide Shabana Begum Wins Best Social Worker Award
Shabana Begum (pictured right) is a Friendship Community Medic-aide who received the "Best Social Worker" award for her contributions to her community. © Friendship by Iffat Ara Sharmeen17 February, 2025 On 9 December 2024, Shabana Begum, a Friendship Community...
Friendship Observes Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Cervical cancer Awareness Sessions, VIA Screenings and CBE tests conducted to detect cancer in rural women Friendship Community Medic-aides raise awareness on women’s health issues such as cervical and breast cancer in Sordarpara, Kurigram Sadar, Kurigram. ©...
A Little Confidence Goes a Long Way
Two women from marginalised char islands take reign over their fate, despite overwhelming circumstances through the help of the Friendship Farmers Club The Friendship Farmers Club helps agricultural workers connect and share knowledge, information, experiences and...
A Heartwarming Reunion
Tales of joy, friendship, and warmth reverberated through the Friendship Centre in Gaibandha on 2 January 2025, as Friendship School alumni celebrated their first-ever grand reunion by Iffat Ara Sharmeen, 2 January, 2025 The remote char islands of...
Friendship FCMs Support National HPV Vaccination Campaign in Remote Areas of Bangladesh
680 Friendship Community Medic-aides (FCM) provided extensive HPV vaccination coverage in remote river islands, coastal regions, and wetlands. The FCMs use Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) materials while assisting with the campaign. © Friendship...
Friendship Community Paralegals Win the Joyeeta Award
Hosn-e-ara Akhter Hasi is one of the recipients of the prestigious award. © Friendship by Iffat Ara Sharmeen21 December, 2024 Hosn-e-ara Akhter Hasi and Arzina Akhter won the prestigious Joyeeta Award at an event in Chilmari, Kurigram on 10 December for their resolute...
When Girls Realise Their Vision for the Future
Celebrating the accomplishment of two Friendship School students for the International Day of the Girl Child Girls are often deprived of opportunities, education, jobs and the agency to determine their future. That needs to change.© Friendship by Iffat Ara...
The Vital Need for Comprehensive Healthcare
OB-GYN Expert, Professor Jelle’s Take on Cervical Cancer Screening by Iffat Ara Sharmeen,October 7, 2024 PRESCRIP-TEC researcher and obstetrics and gynaecology expert Professor Jelle Stekelenburg recently visited Friendship’s working areas in northern Bangladesh. He...
Char theatre
A cultural lifeline and catalyst for social change in remote char communities by Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman,October 8, 2024 The char lands of northern Bangladesh are a unique landscape, formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers like the Brahmaputra, Jamuna,...
Friendship School Alumni Meet and Greet
The Youth of the Chars Share Their Stories of Hope The youth alumni came to the Friendship head office for the meet and greet with senior staff on 26 September 2024. © Tawhid Bin Haque/Friendship by Iffat Ara Sharmeen,October 7, 2024 In a heartwarming get-together...
Innovation for Development (I4D) Forum Launched with Six Founding Partners Including Friendship
Friendship founder Runa Khan front and centre at the launching of the Innovation for Development (I4D) forum in Dhaka, along with heads and representatives of the other organisations and their copies of the Innovation Book. © Ayon Das/Friendship by Iffat Ara...