Initiatives

At our kick-off orientation, we were proud to welcome our 2024-25 Fellows, who joined us from nine cities across Canada, USA and Tanzania

This education session featured guest speakers Aimee Giselle Horchasitas-Tovar, Shamminaz Polen, and Yumi Parajuli. Discussions covered SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth). Speakers shared insights on healthcare equity, gender-based violence prevention, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. Key takeaways emphasized advocacy, grassroots initiatives, and inclusive approaches to driving sustainable development.

Facilitated by Aftab Ahmed, Director of Policy at BacharLorai, this session equipped fellows with essential skills for crafting impactful project proposals. An icebreaker exercise introduced grant-writing concepts through creative elevator pitches. Shagufe Hossain, Executive Director of The Women’s Centre of Halton, covered key proposal components, including problem statements, objectives, budgets, and SMART goals. Tasnia Khandaker Prova, Program Manager for Humanitarian Aid at BacharLorai, shared insights on resource allocation, realistic goal-setting, and partnership mapping. Key takeaways emphasized clarity in objectives, strategic budgeting, and the role of strong partnerships in successful project proposals.

Facilitated by Aaraf Ahmed, Director of Partnerships at BacharLorai, this session featured guest speakers Albaab Habib and Holly Clark, focusing on storytelling, donor engagement, and digital tools for fundraising. Aaraf emphasized the power of beneficiary-centered storytelling to inspire action. Albaab covered grant writing essentials, including the theory of change and logic models for crafting strong proposals. Holly provided insights on donor relations, highlighting personalized engagement and digital tools for long-term partnerships. Fellows gained actionable strategies to enhance fundraising efforts with empathy, creativity, and impact-driven approaches.

Facilitated by Apanuba Puhama, this session featured guest speakers Carina Schmid, Victoria Verdeja, and Tahmid Khan, focusing on strategic communication, advocacy, and the launch of the Global Impact Fund. Carina emphasized empathetic communication and the strategic use of social media, providing tools like budget templates and content calendars. Victoria highlighted the power of storytelling in crafting compelling narratives that drive engagement, using real-world marketing examples. Tahmid introduced the Global Impact Fund, outlining its structure and encouraging fellows to apply their communication skills to maximize project reach. Key takeaways included the role of social media in advocacy, the importance of precise messaging, and the impact of storytelling in driving action.

A workshop on public speaking and data storytelling featured Aji Fatou Gaye from UN Women and Dr. Coretta Jonah from Equal Measures 2030. Participants gained insights into effective communication, audience engagement, and the use of data visualization and storytelling to support advocacy and professional growth.

The Amar Bag initiative, in collaboration with It's Humanity Foundation, promotes menstrual health in Nilphamari, Rangpur. Through dignity kits and workshops, it addresses hygiene needs, combats stigma, and empowers women and girls in climate-vulnerable areas while fostering widespread awareness and long-term advocacy for menstrual equity.

In Scarborough, the Bangladeshi diaspora struggles with mental health stigma and limited access to care. This initiative, in partnership with Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS), offers resources and safe spaces to foster awareness, promote help-seeking, and support individuals in navigating systemic barriers and cultural challenges.