In an interview, Sifat-E-Azam, Executive Director of the KK Foundation, elaborates on the organisation’s programs and what sets it apart.
In our pursuit of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it is imperative that progress and development happen across all echelons of society. How is the KK Foundation (KKF) promoting inclusive opportunities for underprivileged and disadvantaged groups in Bangladesh?
At the KK Foundation, we firmly believe that progress and development must occur at all levels of society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. We proactively promote inclusive opportunities for underprivileged groups in Bangladesh in various ways. While developing projects and programmes for the foundation, we prioritise these objectives and strive to include these groups at every stage. Although numerous organisations are working towards achieving the SDGs, KKF is unrivalled in its commitment to the cause.
Could you please tell us about KKF’s current projects?
One of our prominent programmes is Joy Shokol Shishur – an entity where 100 disadvantaged children receive safe shelter, nutritious food, clean water, health and hygiene facilities, fundamental education, and vocational training. This single programme contributes directly to seven SDGs (SDG1, SDG2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6 and SDG 10). If you examine similar programmes in other locations, you will notice that they only provide education, food, or shelter. However, Joy Shokol Shishur is responsible for fulfilling all these needs.
The KKF Education – Learn for a Better Tomorrow programme was established to provide non-formal education to 100 residential children. Within six months, children can learn basic literacy and numeracy through this programme designed specifically for homeless children who move from place to place. This programme contributes to SDG 4 and SDG 10, focusing on quality education and reducing inequalities.
Another programme we have is Swapner Hut, which trains and employs impoverished individuals to create quality products. The motto of this programme is ‘By the destitute, for the destitute.’ We also have Project U-Turn through tailoring entrepreneurship under KKF Foundation’s Qard-e-Hasanah/ Zakat/ Humanitarian Response Program. This programme helps marginalised communities affected by COVID-19 by providing sewing training and job placements to Dhaka City mobile sex workers who want to leave the profession due to social stigma, risk, or external forces. The Joy Shokol Shishur programme also rehabilitates children of working women with children.
Lastly, our Project Safe Motherhood programme trains midwives in remote villages to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Fifteen unskilled midwives received six months training and modern equipment for natural birth. The effort had remarkable results as the mortality rates plummeted after training. Our Qard-e-Hasanah Program, which has two projects – Project Shufola and Project Swanirbhor – provides interest-free loans and training to marginalised farmers under Project Shufola and other professionals under Project Swanirbhor. We also offer tube wells and reservoirs in vulnerable areas of the country under our Mayeen project, which supports SDG 6 of ensuring safe water for all.
Project Swanirbhor by the KKF takes a novel approach to empowering the underprivileged population to become self-dependent. Could you elaborate on the project, its vision, and its inspiration?
Project Swanirbhor helps destitute people become self-sufficient with interest-free loans and training from KKF. The foundation uses Qard-e-Hasanah, a collateral-free benevolent loan, instead of interest, which is forbidden in Islam. After a successful pilot project with 18 Bangladeshi farmers during the pandemic, the foundation expanded to 1500 destitute farmers and professionals. KKF also accepts zakat and charity donations from practising Muslims to help vulnerable groups. If funds allow, KKF will expand its projects to other vulnerable areas of Bangladesh.
What has been the impact so far of Project Swanirbhor since its official launch in November 2021?
The projects, Shufola and Swanirbhor, are currently being implemented in Dhaka, Erendabari, Jamalpur, Keraniganj, Tongi, Gazipur and Mymensingh. If funds are available, we intend to enhance our activities in other vulnerable parts of the country. The Qard-e-Hasanah project offers impoverished farmers and other professionals interest-free loans. The program has already helped 1550 families in seven districts, and KKF plans to expand to other parts of the country, including working with ‘Tiger Widows’ in the southern part of Bangladesh.
Photograph: Courtesy of KKF
