Recent & Ongoing Initiatives (Since 2020)

Under Construction

At BDKWWF, we strive to make a difference through the work we do, even in a smaller capacity, both in our community and beyond. Some of our recent and ongoing initiatives are highlighted below. For more detailed updates, please visit the News & Events section on our website.

Disaster Relief Efforts

  • BDKWWF donated C$3,125 to the Chief Advisor’s Relief and Welfare Fund in September 2024 to support flood-affected communities in Bangladesh.
  • BDKWWF donated C$2,000 in October 2023 to Islamic Relief Canada for emergency relief to support the victims of the Morocco earthquake
  • In April 2023, BDKWWF donated C$2,500 for earthquake relief in Türkiye and Syria through the Turkish Culture and Folklore Society of Canada, KW representative.
  • BDKWWF donated C$570 to the Canadian Red Cross in October 2022 for Hurricane Fiona relief efforts in Eastern Canada.
  • In July 2022, BDKWWF collected and donated C$3,000 to support SUST – Students of Physics Dept. in their flood relief efforts in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Health and Wellness Support

  • BDKWWF makes regular annual donations of C$150 to each of the following organizations to support their important causes: the Canadian Red Cross, the Cancer Research Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Grand River Hospital Foundation.
  • In September 2022, BDKWWF donated C$1,365 for Sheikh Abdul Kalam’s heart surgery in Gopalganj, Bangladesh.
  • In February 2022, BDKWWF donated C$7,747 for Dr. Habibullah Tamal’s kidney transplant at Chittagong Medical College, Bangladesh.
  • In April 2021, BDKWWF donated C$3,700 to a young girl in Kushtia, whose both parents were fighting cancer.
  • In 2020, BDKWWF donated C$1,500 to a cancer patient in Cambridge, ON.
  • In 2020, BDKWWF donated C$500 to Monica Place,Waterloo along with many hygiene products for mothers and infants.
  • BDKWWF donated C$500 for a cancer patient in Bangladesh in 2020.

Crisis Relief & Support

  • BDKWWF donated C$3,125 to the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation to support the victims of the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement.
  • BDKWWF donated C$1,500 to Islamic Relief Canada in April 2024 to aid the war-affected people of Gaza.
  • BDKWWF donated C$2,230 to Anwara Begum from Rangpur, Bangladesh, to help her build a new house after becoming homeless due to the pandemic.
  • In 2021, BDKWWF donated C$1,600 to The Canadian Red Cross to help India’s fight against COVID-19.
  • In July 2021, BDKWWF donated C$800 to help a young boy in London, ON, whose family members were killed in a terrorist attack.
  • In June 2021, BDKWWF donated C$6,730 to the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) to help the Palestinian people affected by the conflict in Gaza. This amount included C$1,470 added from the leftover Zakat Fund.
  • In February 2021, BDKWWF donated C$500 to HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre towards the recovery of damage caused by a fire in their premises at Waterloo Inn.
  • BDKWWF donated C$2,000 to Grand River Hospital to support frontline hospital staff in 2020.
  • In 2020, BDKWWF raised around C$7,000 to help the pandemic-affected people of Bangladesh, which was distributed to the severely affected people of Rangpur, Chandpur, and Kushtia districts.

Empowerment & Community Development

  • Dr. Monzur Kabir Scholarship: Established in 2021 in memory of Dr. Monzur Kabir, a valued BDKWWF member, this scholarship supports a deserving student in Bangladesh.
    • Currently, its first recipient, a second-year medical student, receives C$1,500 annually to cover his educational and living expenses.
  • Income Generating Project of BDKWWF: BDKWWF offers funding up to C$500 to help individuals or families start small businesses. Up to C$3,000 can be distributed annually under this project.
    • In 2021, the first recipient used C$200 to buy a van for his mobile tea business in Dhaka.

Food Drives

BDKWWF typically hosts two food drives annually: one during the holiday season and another during Ramadan. The organization donates food and funds to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region to support families in need. Below are the contributions from recent years:

  • A donation of C$1000 was made in December 2024 as part of BDKWWF’s Holiday Food Drive.
  • BDKWWF’s 2023 Holiday Food Drive donated 810 lbs of food, worth C$1100 on December 20, 2023.
  • In December 2022, BDKWWF’s Holiday Food Drive raised C$1,460 through generous donations.
  • In April 2022, as part of our Ramadan Food Drive, BDKWWF donated 556 lbs of food items (434 meals) worth C$700.
  • In May 2021, BDKWWF donated 937 lbs of food (732 meals) as part of our Ramadan Food Drive, worth C$1,088.
  • In 2020, BDKWWF donated a total of 1,745 lbs of food, worth C$2,482.83, in three phases.

Zakat Donation

  • In 2024, BDKWWF raised C$18,022 in zakat donations for various causes in Bangladesh. The contributions helped fund cornea replacements, supported orphanages, assisted the elderly, cancer patients, and those with heart and lung diseases, and provided educational and wedding support for young individuals.
  • In 2023, BDKWWF collected C$12,300 in zakat donations to support various orphanages in Bangladesh. The funds also helped cover medical expenses for patients in need, provided education for young girls, and contributed to building a house for a poor woman.
  • In April 2022, BDKWWF collected 210,000 BDT to sponsor three orphans in different districts of Bangladesh through ORCA Homes.
  • In 2021, around C$16,000 in Zakat money was donated to various orphanages, COVID-19 relief efforts, housing needs for individuals, and to support Palestinian people affected by the conflict in Gaza in June 2021.

Community Engagement

  • Canadian Blood Services
    • BDKWWF members regularly participate in Group Blood Donation events organized for Canadian Blood Services in Kitchener-Waterloo.
  • Community Get-Togethers
    • BDKWWF arranges family get-togethers and Eid reunion parties from time to time.
  • Elderly Walking Group
    • In February 2022, BDKWWF arranged indoor group walks for the elderly at RIM Park, Waterloo.
  • Consular Assistance Services
    • BDKWWF actively participated in organizing the Bangladeshi Consular Camp in Waterloo on January 25, 2025, assisting the community with various consular services.