Past Initiatives (Before 2020)
In the past, BDKWWF has successfully completed several impactful projects, supported by dedicated volunteers. A few of these are highlighted below:
Helping Monon (2019)
Monon, a seven-year-old boy in Bangladesh, was diagnosed with leukemia approximately three years ago. After going through multiple cycles of chemotherapy, he was determined cancer-free. However, last year, the disease relapsed, and since then, the seven-year-old has been treated for the disease in Bangladesh and Thailand.
Amount donated: $2,100
Various People in Need (2014-2017)
Foundation members, including the young members, enthusiastically participated both locally and internationally in many voluntary activities, such as distributing winter clothing among the most vulnerable, supporting poor families with financial donations for matrimonial matters for their daughters, providing financial assistance to meet medical expenses, and supporting orphans.
Amount donated: $2,800
Fort McMurray Wildfire (2016)
The Fort McMurray wildfire in 2016 forced the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history. More than 88,000 people were forced from their homes, causing damages amounting to billions of dollars.BDKWWF members, along with communities across the country, showed remarkable generosity in supporting the wildfire evacuees.
Amount donated: $2,000
Helping Cancer Patients (2014-2016)
Cancer is always a frightening word for anyone, anywhere in the world – rich or poor. This was true for Nizam, Samiruddin of Khulna and Dr. Shahnaz of Bangladesh Agricultural University, who were diagnosed with this dreadful disease and had to undergo prolonged, expensive chemotherapy. Eventually, the financial burden became unsustainable, forcing them to turn to their family and friends for help. BDKWWF stepped forward to support them during their difficult times.
Amount donated: $4,255
Food Drive (2014)
In 2014, and every year since then, our youth volunteers have helped raise hundreds of non-perishable food items for food banks in the Kitchener-Waterloo area
Amount donated: $550
Kidney Dialysis Machine and Bed (2014)
One of the foundation’s great achievements was setting up a kidney dialysis unit in Bangladesh in cooperation with the Sonar Bangla Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization (3351 Tracy Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA). The foundation members raised a target donation amount of $6,000 CAD in a short time. The money was sent to Sonar Bangla’s account and was used to establish a kidney dialysis unit at the Imdad-Sitara Kidney Dialysis Center in Bogra to provide affordable dialysis services to the poor. The unit was dedicated to the Kitchener-Waterloo Bangladesh Welfare Foundation.
Amount donated: $6,000
St. Mary’s Hospital, Kitchener (2013-2014)
In 2013, the BDKWWF made a small donation to St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener, one of the finest hospitals in the region providing cardiac care to patients, to purchase new intravenous pain pumps to control the flow of medicine to patients in critical condition. The donation was made in memory of our foundation member, Mrs. Mehnaz Khan.
Amount donated: $2,500
Earthquake and Flood Victims (2010-2014)
As part of our global initiative, the BDKWWF extended humanitarian support to people affected by devastating cyclones, floods, tsunamis, or earthquakes. Our members donated generously to help alleviate the suffering of people in different countries, either independently or through various Canadian organizations, such as the Red Cross and UNICEF.
Amount donated: $2,565
Blankets for Winter (2013)
Millions of people in the northern areas of Bangladesh suffer in near-freezing cold without the shelter of a blanket, let alone a home. BDKWWF volunteers distributed hundreds of warm blankets to those most impacted by the harsh winter conditions.
Amount donated: $1,250
Sabbir – A School Teacher (2011)
Sabbir, a primary school teacher in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, badly needed a kidney transplant but had no financial capability to afford such an expensive surgery. The BDKWWF came to know of his story through an email chain and raised $1,600 CAD to help him. The donation was delivered to his hospital bed at BIRDEM, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2011.
Amount donated: $1,600
Flood Shelters – Sidr (2009)
In 2008, a devastating cyclone, Sidr, hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes and livelihood, and many lost their lives. Foundation members came forward during this crucial time to help fellow people in their native country. In cooperation with other charity organizations of Bangladeshi origin in North America, like ORCA, the BDKWWF’s members raised a significant amount of money to build flood shelters for the cyclone evacuees in Bangladesh.
Amount donated: $10,525
