People in Bangladesh were looking ahead to a bright future for their country, on the heels of a decade of remarkable economic growth. But they now find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis. Ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic reach deep and were made only worse by Cyclone Amphan in May 2020 and then the devastating floods since July, putting Bangladesh on the brink of a severe humanitarian crisis. Many have lost their livelihoods during the lockdown, and significant parts of the population are at risk of possible starvation. They need our help, urgently.
We are a diverse international group of volunteers fundraising for Bangladesh, to help them fight hunger as they deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, an event we truly hope remains as rare if not rarer than once in a hundred years.
In addition to raising awareness and collecting donations, we care deeply about making the most of a donor’s money. So we have convened a team of students, academics, a professor specializing in economic development, and individuals with ground experience volunteering in Bangladesh to research and thoroughly vet NGOs and grassroots volunteer groups on behalf of the donors.
COVID-19 lures us into insular, isolationist thinking as we wonder how we can best protect ourselves and our families. Others’ needs feel more secondary, especially as those others feel further away than ever due to the suspension of most tourism and air travel, and as our hardships at home drown out concerns for hardships abroad. But we also know that those communities most at-risk and disadvantaged pre-virus, both domestically and abroad, are experiencing the impact of COVID-19 with disproportionate severity. The moral imperative to give, to reject that insularity, is stronger than ever. Not only do we know and trust the Bhuiyan family and Nourish Bangladesh, we also believe they’re uniquely positioned to direct funds to high-impact, grassroots efforts to mitigate hunger in Bangladesh. We’re excited to support them in their efforts to support Bangladeshis.
Northfield, MN, USA
Cape Cod, MA, USA
