Recognizing the critical role of women volunteers to our society especially considering the COVID-19 situation, 15 women volunteers and women led initiatives have been awarded with ‘Inspiring Women Volunteer Award 2021’ today on Tuesday at LGED headquarters in Agargaon. 

Women take on 57% of volunteering globally. Volunteering strengthens women's participation, which helps to reduce inequality. With an aim to promote and recognize the valuable contribution of women volunteers, UNV Bangladesh, VSO Bangladesh, Plan International Bangladesh and ActionAid Bangladesh has jointly initiated award campaign. 

The first five ranked winners are Taheatul Jannat from Faridpur, Kamrun Nahar Koly from Dhaka, Tashnuva Anan from Dhaka, Arifa Jahan Bithi from Rangpur, Ayesha Akter from Noakhali. Each of the five winners received prize money worth BDT 1 Lakh to 10 thousand as per rankings. All fifteen winners received crests, certificates, and medals. 

The women volunteers have been selected for the recognition for their crucial volunteering contributions towards Covid-19 response in health, awareness raising, food distribution, innovation, working against gender-based violence, child protection, education, WASH, environment, mental health etc.  

Addressing the award giving ceremony as the Chief Guest, Ms Sultana Afroz, Secretary & CEO, PPPA, Prime Minister’s Office, said, Women volunteers are one of the first responders playing significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning, in Bangladesh and all over the world. They have strong contribution with greater positive outcomes. Even though having physical, social and economic constrains, they have enormously contributed to different sectors including health, nutrition, education, WASH, livelihood etc which deserves proper recognition and deserves honour. 

PPPA is strongly committed to support the women volunteers, their innovative ideas and participation in the national efforts to achieve national and global development goals and vision 2041 in the light of the national volunteer policy, she added. 

Taheat, one of the award winners, shared her experience saying, “I started volunteering since my college life. I wanted to do something for the society. Then I realized thousands of people in our country are facing multidimensional challenges just due to lack of awareness. I felt as a person I also have some responsibility towards the society. And one of the ways to pay the debt is to serve the disadvantaged people. 

She also added, receiving recognition of good deeds definitely gear up the spirit to continue the work. This award will inspire people, especially women like me who want to contribute to the world and strengthen their participation to bring social change. 

Among others, Ms. Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, Mr Dipak Chakraborty, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Mr Aktar Uddin, Country Coordinator, UNV Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. Tania Haque, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka were also present. 

Besides these, Dr Kazi Anowarul Haque, Former Additional Secretary and Policy Expert, Mr Abdur Rashid Khan, Chief Engineer, LGED, Ms Jolly Nur Haque, Director, Programme Development and Learning, Plan International, Mr Salahuddin Ahmed, Business Pursuit Lead, VSO Bangladesh and Ms Afsana Alim, Programme Officer, ActionAid Bangladesh attended the event.