Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Zee Club of Dhaka III, a vibrant youth organization, has successfully raised 60,000 BDT (Bangladeshi Taka) for Thrive, a non-profit dedicated to alleviating child food insecurity in Bangladesh. Ayana Huq, a key organizer from the student-led club, shares insights into their impactful initiative and the pressing need to support vulnerable children in the region.
Empowering Youth: The Mission of Zee Club of Dhaka
The Zee Club of Zonta Dhaka III is a dynamic youth club operating under the esteemed Zonta Club of Dhaka. Comprised primarily of high school students, the club’s core mission revolves around women’s empowerment and providing vital assistance to underprivileged children in Dhaka and surrounding communities.
“Over the past few years, this club has led various initiatives such as collecting articles of clothing for children living in the slums and teaching underprivileged children through an after-school community programme,” explains Ayana Huq. Through these projects, the students have not only made a tangible difference but also gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by local children.
The inspiration for their latest endeavor, focusing on feeding hungry children, stemmed from a simple yet profound observation. Ayana notes, “While we were teaching these children and getting to know more about them, it came to our notice that they were the happiest during their recess time, when they were given snacks. The smile on their faces was genuine and unforgettable. From those little moments, we realized how important food was and also the lack of extremely needed attention in this area.” This realization ignited their passion to collaborate with Thrive and directly address the critical need for child nutrition in Bangladesh.
“Threads of Hope”: A Student-Led Fundraising Success Story
To achieve their fundraising goal, the Zee Club launched “Threads of Hope,” a creative and highly successful initiative. Club members designed custom tote bags and meticulously handcrafted over 300 beaded bracelets. These items were then sold at a stall during a school tournament.
“The response from our community was phenomenal — we sold out of all 150 tote bags and more than 300 bracelets on the very first day,” Ayana proudly shares. This overwhelming success underscores the power of community support and the dedication of the young organizers in their mission to combat child hunger.
Thrive Board Members, Amna Rahman, Sadia Moyeen, and Kanwal Baghat present a Certificate of Appreciation to Zee Club Members, Ayana (former Zee Club President) and Marissa (former Zee Club Secretary).
Community Collaboration: Recognizing Key Supporters
While “Threads of Hope” was entirely a student-driven project, Ayana emphasized the invaluable support received from their senior mentors. “We received a tremendous amount of support from our senior members of the Zonta Club of Dhaka III who also helped us achieve this level of success,” she stated, acknowledging the crucial guidance and assistance provided by the parent organization. This collaboration highlights the strength of intergenerational support in addressing social challenges.
A Call to Action: Supporting Vulnerable Children in Bangladesh
Ayana offered a compelling message to other organizations considering initiatives to help children in Bangladesh:
“Bangladesh is a country where there are countless opportunities to truly uplift communities and bring meaningful change. Children in Bangladesh represent around a third of the Bangladeshi population yet around 30 percent of these children still live on the streets without having access to proper food, water or sanitation facilities.”
She further detailed the socio-economic pressures on children: “Children in Bangladesh are often the ones who bear the brunt of the poverty cycle within their families. Many boys are sent to work in hazardous conditions at a very young age, while girls are often forced into early marriage simply because their families cannot afford to support them. Therefore even small contributions can have a transformative impact and help these families break from their cycle of poverty and be able to afford basic shelter and food for their children.” This powerful appeal emphasizes the potential for even small efforts to create significant, lasting change in the lives of disadvantaged children in Bangladesh.
Witnessing the Reality: Child Food Insecurity in Dhaka
As a resident of Dhaka, Ayana provides a poignant firsthand account of the daily struggles faced by children experiencing food insecurity.
“Around 23.6 million people in Bangladesh still face food insecurity, with the problem being far more severe in rural areas where access is limited,” she notes. Furthermore, Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, including “increasing number of cyclones, floods, and heavy rainfall each year,” exacerbates the challenges for families already struggling to meet basic needs.
Ayana shares her personal observations, bringing the statistics to life: “From a more personal experience, I can say that one can find a hungry child in almost every street of Dhaka. Every time I step out of a grocery store or go to a restaurant, there will always be a child saying ‘I haven’t eaten properly in so many days- please help me.’ When I am stuck in traffic sitting in the comfort of a car, a child will be knocking on the window urging me to buy stickers or flowers so they can buy food with that money.”
These everyday encounters, she concludes, underscore “the desperate need for one of the most basic human rights: food. Therefore even one proper meal a day can make a world of difference in the lives of these children.” Her words serve as a powerful testament to the urgent need for continued support for child welfare initiatives in Bangladesh.
