Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women organized an event titled, “Shakti Celebrates: I Dared to Dream” on 10 March, 2020 in celebration of International Women’s Day. To celebrate the beauty of womanhood, this program was held into two sections and these are – WE Celebrate and WE Dialogue.
The inspiring stories of 4 of Shakti members have been showed in the “WE Celebrate” part. Their stories portrayed not only how they have become successful entrepreneurs with the help of Shakti but also how they have overcome enormous difficulties in lives with their strong inner power.
In the “WE Dialogue” session, there was a panel discussion on “Challenges in Pursuing Our Dream: The Way Forward.”
The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Imran Ahmed, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programs of Shakti Foundation. The panelists were -
· Mr. Atiqul Islam, Honorable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation
· Ms. Naheed Ezaher Khan, Honorable Member of Parliament
· Ms. Judith Herbertson, Head of DFID Bangladesh
· Mr. Imran Matin, Country Director of International Growth Centre
· Ms. Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder and CEO of SBK Foundation
· Ms. Humaira Islam, PhD, Founder and Executive Director of Shakti
To commemorate the birth centenary of our father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shakti has taken initiatives to make more impacts on women’s lives with WE Declare. Ms. Humaira Islam, PhD, Executive Director of Shakti declared 7 initiatives to empower women -
1. Graduate 1,000 microentrepreneurs into women led enterprises
2. 5 lac sanitary napkins at 1 taka each
3. Ante and postnatal checkup at minimal cost
4. Free vitamin supplements for pregnant women
5. Free neonatal checkup
6. Scholarships upto HSC to ensure no girl is left behind
7. Women’s Rights Awareness campaigns against violence and harassment
To make Bangladesh more women friendly, the panelists in WE Dialogue expressed their commitment to work for women empowerment in the present scenario within their capabilities.
16 Days of Activism Against
Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to
challenge violence against women and girls. Initiated in 1991 by the first
Women's Global Leadership Institute. The campaign runs every year from 25
November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
As a part of this global campaign, Dhaka North City Corporation organized “16 days of Activism Fair 2019” at Gulshan Youth Club Field on 29-30th November with the slogan -"সবাই মিলে সবার ঢাকা, নারী পুরুষ সমতা, রুখতে পারে সহিংসতা"
The initiator of the Campaign was our honorable Mayor Atiqul Islam, DNCC. The fair was inaugurated by the first-ever Honorable Woman Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP. All the high officials of different government agencies and NGOs were present on the occasion.
Shakti Foundation – Being an organization working on women empowerment for the last 27 years, portrayed different initiatives in this regard at their stall. Different Products made by shakti members were also sold at the fair to establish more sales channels for them.
Among other participants – UNDP, Action Aid, Water Aid Brac, Sajida Foundation, World Vision etc. were present portraying their activities in this regard.
With a vision to recognize the microentrepreneurs supporting economic fortunes of the country, the launching of “15th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) program” was held on 24th November, 2019. The launching ceremony was chaired by the high-level Advisory Council and Screening committee members led by Ms. Rokia A. Rahman, Managing Director Arlinks Ltd. & Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government.
Alike last year, "15th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) " will be once again organized by Shakti Foundation. Credit and Development Forum (CDF) stands as the strategic partner of the event. Humaira Islam, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of Shakti Foundation, was present on the occasion to provide her foresight guideline.
The Week-long PKSF Unnayan Mela 2019 took place at Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Dhaka on November 14, 2019.
Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair and spent some time at Shakti Foundation's stall while visiting the fair. She appreciated various products made by Shakti members and was informed about different programs and activities of the Shakti foundation.
During her visit at Shakti’s stall, Mr. Imran Ahmed, Deputy Executive Director of the Shakti Foundation was present to inform her about shakti's various initiatives to empower women.
We, on behalf of Shakti Family, convey our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to our Honorable Prime Minister. Your invaluable feedback and guidance will motivate Shakti Foundation to go further with its philanthropic activities on national development.
"Let's take an oath for a world free from hunger"
Inspired by this theme, Shakti Foundation organized a food distribution program for underprivileged children on the occasion of "World Food Day 2019". The event was organized in collaboration with “Ek takay ahar” of bidyanondo foundation.
Bhasantek, Rayerbazar, Arambag and Airport – team Shakti were present in these locations of Dhaka city and distributed food among approximately 600 participants.
The first ever “Branch Managers Convention” of Shakti Foundation took place on 24th August, 2019. Total 408 branch managers from all over the country participated in this event. The Founder and Executive director Humaira Islam, Phd was present on this occasion to enlighten the team. The Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programs Mr. Imran Ahmed provided his insightful guidance for the team to work with dedication and discipline.
“Amra Shakti Dol, Amra Shakti Bol” – with this inspirational slogan, the target was set that “Shakti Foundation will reach among the top five microfinance institutes of Bangladesh within next three years.” Branch managers expressed their valuable opinions and feedbacks in the event on how to improve performance. The convention ended on a positive note that we will work with utmost Honesty and integrity to foster growth of Shakti Foundation.
Telenor Health A/S signed an agreement with Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women to form a strategic partnership whereby the Telenor Health A/S will provide Digital Health Care Solution(TONIC) along with OPD Coverage to the employees of Shakti Foundation.
From Telenor Health Sajid Rahman (CEO), Andrew Smith (CCO),Mohammad Mobydur Rahaman Head of B2B Loyalty & Partnership, Mahmud Afsar Lead Manager B2B Sales, M. Arifin Anik Key Account Manager B2B Sales. From Shakti Foundation Ms Humaira Islam Phd, Founder & Executive Director, Mahfuzur Rashid Deputy Executive Director, Ms Asma Begum Head of HR along with other Senior Management members were present at the signing program. "
As part of Citi’s ongoing commitment to the field of microfinance, Citi Bangladesh, with the support of the Citi Foundation, launched the 14th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) program. The CMA program is jointly being organized by Shakti Foundation AND Citibank, N.A., Bangladesh along with the strategic partnership of Credit and Development Forum (CDF). The launching ceremony, held at a renowned hotel in Dhaka on 24th of October was inaugurated by the high-level advisory and screening committee chaired by Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank. It was also attended by the National Advisory Council Members, Ms. Rokia A. Rahman, Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government, Mr. N. Rajashekaran, Managing Director and Citi Country Office, Citibank, N.A., Bangladesh and Dr. Humaira Islam, Founder Executive Director, Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women.
Since 2005, CMA seeks to highlight the achievements of the most innovative microentrepreneurs in Bangladesh. The goal is to raise awareness of microfinance, particularly among microentrepreneurs who could benefit from it; to recognize and celebrate the contributions that microentrepreneurs bring to the world economy; and to highlight best practices in microentrepreneurship.
The 28th Annual General Meeting of Shakti Foundation was held at the Shakti Bhaban on 27 September, 2018. The meeting was chaired by our Chairperson Mahbuba Akter Mahmud.
Dr. Nilufar Banu, Tahira Huque, Moammad, Khalid Shams, Professor Nazrul Islam, Khondokar Mozammel Huque, Justice Tofazzol Islam, Mahera Khatun, alauddin Abul Majid, Dr. Taufique Ali and Humaira Islam PhD were also present on the occasion.
iDE - Bangladesh and SHAKTI Foundation for Disadvantaged Women have signed a joint venture agreement to collaborate with the objective to establish financial mechanisms to support women entrepreneurs of Women’s Economic Empowerment through Strengthening Market System (WEESMS) Project.
This JVA between the two organizations is considered as an agreement regarding “how” the parties will collaborate to introduce the rural women entrepreneurs of WEESMS to Shakti, build their capacity on Financial Literacy, and use Shakti Foundation as an Access to Finance solution provider for the entrepreneurs through the partnership.
The objective of the JVA is to establish a road map for the aforementioned rural entrepreneurs using Shakti Foundation’s platform of microfinance.
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