Work

Impact Initiative, with the generous support of MAA International, implemented a humanitarian assistance program for the Rohingya community at Rohingya Camp-09 in Ukhia. Under this initiative, food packs and winter clothing items were distributed among 3,000 Rohingya families, directly benefiting approximately 12,000 individuals living in the camp. The food packs included essential nutritious items such as milk powder, Horlicks, soya oil, dry fish, dates, peanuts, flattened rice, and butter cookies. In addition, winter clothing support was provided to help vulnerable families cope with seasonal challenges. The winter package contained winter shawls for men and women, lungis, blankets, women’s dresses, petroleum jelly, and moisturizing lotion. The distribution program was conducted in a well-organized and dignified manner with the presence of representatives from the RRRC office, donor representatives, and officials from Impact Initiative. Their participation reflected a shared commitment to supporting displaced and vulnerable Rohingya families through coordinated humanitarian action. Speaking on the occasion, representatives emphasized the importance of collective efforts in ensuring the well-being, dignity, and protection of crisis-affected communities. The initiative aimed not only to address immediate nutritional and winter protection needs but also to bring comfort and solidarity to thousands of Rohingya refugees residing in the camp.

Impact Initiative, with the generous support of Feed the World, successfully distributed 2,000 Qurban meat packs among poor and vulnerable families across various districts of  Bangladesh. To carry out this noble effort, 8 cows were sacrificed in 8 different areas covering Dhaka, Jashore, Rangpur, Barishal, and Jhalokathi districts. The initiative aimed to ensure that disadvantaged families could also experience the spiritual joy and celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, a festival that symbolizes sacrifice, sharing, an d compassion. Beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude and happiness upon receiving the sacrificial meat, as it enabled them to prepare special meals and celebrate Eid with their loved ones. Through this humanitarian effort, Impact Initiative and Feed the World reaffirmed their commitment to supporting underprivileged communities and spreading the essence of Eid — unity, care, and generosity — across Bangladesh.

Impact Initiative came forward with the support for the Earthquick victim of Turkey’s Muslim brothers and sisters in need. The ISLAMISCHE GEMEINSCHAFT FÜR BILDUNG UND SOZIALES E.V. (IGBS)- Bangladeshi community in Hamburg, Germany supported IMI by donating as part of the initiative of strengthening brotherhood by virtue of collaboration, cooperation and mutual sharing of social responsibilities. The outcome of the 2 brotherly organizations- we have able to donate 500 PCS of Huddy Jacket which was handed over to the Coordinator of TIKA is the representative of the Turkish govt in Bangladesh. We hope, more collaborative effort and support will be extended in the future for the people in need. The CEO of IMI Enayet Hossain Jakaria said to the journalists during the handing over to the coordinator- “Turkey is one of our best friends & they come forward for Bangladeshi people each & every moment when they are in need. Considering those feelings of brotherhood, we felt to stand beside them in their needs. IMI & IGBS team come forward with a small amount of donation but we feel happy that we could able to stand beside our brothers and sisters of Turkey during the moment they have been suffering.Şevki Mert Barış, TİKA’s Coordinator in Bangladesh stated that TİKA would remain active in Bangladesh and that the sincere ties between these two nations were the greatest source of motivation for future activities. Barış said that this donation is a symbol of love and belongingness for the Turkey nation. He thanked IMI & IGBS team and the people who donated these necessary goods for the victim people.

Impact Initiative with the support of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Association of Bangladesh – China Alumni has distributed 3000 PCs of Blanket, 800 PCs of Winter Sheet, 500 PCs of Floor Mat and 1500 PCs of Hoody Jacket for Children among the cold-stricken people of Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Jashore, and Barishal district of Bangladesh. Second Secretary of the Embassy of China in Dhaka Ms. Lang Lang, General Secretary of the Association of Bangladesh – China Alumni Professor Dr. Md Shahabul Haque, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Impact Initiative Md. Enayet Hossain and Local Community Leaders were present in the distribution program.

With a view to keep the homeless warm in the winter, IMPACT INITIATIVE distributed 5000 blankets among cold wave victims in different parts of the country. The main beneficiary was the climate-vulnerable people of the Northern and coastal areas of Bangladesh including Rangpur, Kurigram, Ponchghar, Nilphamari, Jhalokathi, and Satkhira districts. The distribution program was conducted between 9th January to 15th January 2022 with the support of the IMPACT INITIATIVE team and volunteers. Rashida Khatun a Cyclone Amphan victim in Pratapnagar of Satkhira’s Assasuni Upazila was so happy to receive the winter gift from IMPACT INITIATIVE whose house was underwater and lost all her belongings. Although it is a tiny gift, bring a smile to her face as she got it in her need. People like Rashida feel that worthy people should come forward for their community in the time of their need. Golapi Begum, another climate victim of the river erosion of Bhurungamari thana under Kurigram district is a widow. She used to be vulnerable and had no resources to manage her belongings to protect herself from cold waves. It is to be mentioned that Bhurungamari is identified as one of the most vulnerable areas of the country lagging behind from the benefit of ongoing development activities of the country. She doesn’t have anybody to support to manage her livelihood let alone the comfort of the winter warmer. Winter warmer in the form of Blanket comes to her as a blessing from the IMPACT INITIATIVE. It is noted that the winter in Bangladesh can be pretty harsh and merciless for the underprivileged where the temperature drops to below 4 degrees in some of the areas in the northern part of the country. The poor often do have neither the resources nor the ability to fight against such a temperature drop. There has been a staggering loss of life. Every year a good number of people lose their lives due to the cold wave. Vulnerable fractions, such as the elderly or children, suffer the most during the cold waves. It is to be mentioned that the embassy of China in Bangladesh donated 5000 blankets for the cold wave victim of the country. The recipient people conveyed the gratitude of China govt. and hope the continuation of this type of donation will be extended in the coming days.

In Bangladesh, healthcare is offered either through government- run hospitals or through privately-run clinics. Bangladesh has one of the worst nurse-physician ratios. Lack of drugs, supplies and other facilities also plague the heath complexes. As a result, publicly funded health care system is used by only 25% of the population. Furthermore, Bangladesh has a dire situation of lagging medical and health professionals and assistants etc. Scarcity of medical personnel especially nurses make the health center face the most challenging situations. According to BDHS, the birth delivered at facilities is three times lower in rural area than urban area. The assistant proportion towards delivery is three times lower in rural than urban areas, which is much lower than SDG target up to 50 percent.

Ramadan is one of the most important months for the Muslims to acquire knowledge and worship for the almighty Allah (ST). Due to poverty and hunger, the poor people of Bangladesh cannot enjoy the Holy Ramadan with due sprit as they have to sale labor all day like rickshaw pulling, day laborer or house maid. Even though poverty compel them to send their young children to work for money to survive. Considering the sufferings of the poor people, IMI feels necessity to provide food packages among the poor people of Bangladesh as well as the Rohingya community staying in the country. In 2020, IMI implemented Ramadan food support program with the support of its donor MAA International and provided 30 days food packages for 35000 people so that they can enjoy Ramadan with 1month food security.

Under a post-lockdown optimistic scenario, the country’s overall poverty to increase by 25.13per cent, where rural poverty will be 24.23 per cent and urban poverty will be 27.52 per cent. People ran several scenarios – representing successive severity of lockdown – under the “wealth plus labor status” approach. In a scenario where there is an 80% drop in income for labor class in urban areas and 10% drop in income for labor class in rural areas in the “hard lockdown” exercise. If a 25% higher poverty line is considered, then an additional 16% to 20% of population would be in poverty in rural and urban areas. If we update our age-old poverty line accordingly, it will result in a much higher poverty where rural poverty would be 45%, and urban poverty would be 36%. Impact Initiative(IMI) team has the experience of implementing entrepreneurship project and had been implementing since March 2020 from the initial stages of COVID-19 affected in the country. After successful implementation of the project in 2020 IMI authority decided to implement again in 2021. IMI will support experienced youth to set up enterprises on their concerned trades. IMIwill ensurethey’re on job or theoretical training before start up the business. Moreover, IMI willteach them soft skills so to develop professional behavior and promote marketing on their products. Each and every youth who will receive indentureship support, train up 3 youths through on job training. It will help to make a saleable cluster basis entrepreneurship development followed by market linkage of their product in the locality. It is expected that after six months, 30 entrepreneurs will be fully self- reliant while another 90 youth will be trained up to set up their own enterprises. In this way, altogether 120 youth will be skilled in different trades as well as set up their enterprises to make their family financially self-reliant.