The sharing of warmth

While many Dhakaites were busy getting ready to celebrate the New Year's eve, South Asian Youth Society (SAYS) chose the last day of 2013 to launch one of its most successful projects of recent times, "Sharing Warmth - Connecting Humans for a Humane Cause."

After spending ten grueling days to collect funds, finding sponsors and other interested community organizations to join their cause, and buying winter clothes and blankets, the young SAYS members reached out to the winter-affected people of Kurigram, Netrokona and Mymensingh.

On Jan. 10, SAYS distributed 6,000 pieces of warms clothing and blankets in Mymensingh and Netrokona, marking the end of the first phase of their project. On Jan. 18, the members distributed another 2,000 pieces of warm clothes and blankets in three different areas of Kurigram, one of the districts hit worst by the recent spells of cold wave.

They also distributed winter clothes and blankets among the 96 students of Rikta Akter Banu Budhhi Protibondhi Bidyaloy, a school for autistic children in Kurigram. The organizers later took a long boat ride to donate clothes and blankets among the inhabitants of "Oshtomir Char," one of country's remote islands.

In addition to collecting funds from those living in the country, SAYS used PayPal to collect money from their friends, family and well-wishers residing abroad.

"A blanket costs only Tk. 200. Many of us use Tk. 200 to buy a cup of coffee. But a blanket bought for Tk. 200 can save a life," said Towfique A. Khan, president of SAYS.

Founded in 2008, SAYS is a regional organization working toward promoting youth empowerment, community development, civic education, active citizenship, and peace and prosperity among youths of South Asia. The organization currently has 260 members and 1,000 volunteers, known as young change makers.

By Wara Karim

January 28, 2014
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