Fresh from our visit to Bangladesh, comes some good news from the Association for Community Development (ACD). ACD and its founder, Salima Sarwar* have both been selected to receive the UN-Habitat Award for Gender and Rights-Responsive Sustainable Cities in Asia and the Pacific.

The award acknowledges excellence and innovation in the creation and implementation of either programs or policies in urban communities and cities throughout Asia and the Pacific. And this was certainly borne out by what we saw.

Angori, 15 dropped out of school as her family needed her to earn and income. She became involved with ACD 12 months ago and attended life-skills based education, and training on vegetable cultivation. After her training and with the help of ACD, Angori took a small loan of $29 to plant guava trees.

Her friends supported her and helped her care and water the trees. Angori travels to market about one hour away to sell the guava fruit, this income has helped her family immensely and Angori hopes that one day soon she’ll be able to return to her studies.

It is this type of work that creates lasting solutions to poverty in communities around the world. IDEX congratulates Salimar Sarwar and ACD for receiving the UN-Habitat Award.

*Photo courtesy of Jan Stürmann.

Labels: ACD, Bangladesh

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