Dear Volunteers,
As community activists, we often wonder what "change" is. We look for answers, plan these miraculous ground-breaking plans and pour funds into places we believe can result in sustainable changes.
Frequently, amidst the chaos of changing the world, we forget that the first step is changing ourselves and the people who surround us in our daily lives. We overlook the power we have to make small, beautiful changes that go a long way in people's hearts.
When 1° Initiative launched "100 Smiles", it aimed to recreate that feeling of small changes. The idea was generated by a member, shared with the group and finalized with inputs from everyone. What began as a random thought mobilized into a massive initiative, more than what we had expected - but always dreamed of.
Yes, the project has been immensely successful. From 9am in the morning, teams in different parts of Dhaka gathered and dispersed to share the joy of Eid with children less fortunate than ourselves. Over 130 volunteers participated - and distributed bangles, caps, toys, trinkets, tennis balls, chocolates, toothbrushes and so on to children on the streets. Together, we put henna on the kids' hands, painted their faces, played with their toys and giggled at everyone's lame jokes. Together, we learnt to brush our teeth, wash our hands before eating and after coming out from the toilet, and the values of teamwork and sharing. In a matter of only 5 hours, we were able to bring a glittering, precious smile on the faces of nearly 500 children.
That is the power of small changes.
500 smiles and counting. It might seem like a small number, but trust us, it's a big start.
Thank you for able to create this feeling. When we had every option to go on Eid shopping, hang out with friends, sleep at home or browse Facebook - we chose to be under the baking sun and colour the city orange. We chose to let children become a part of our lives, and they in turn, trusted us to become a part of theirs.
This is where change begins. Thank you for being the change. :)
Note, 1° Initiative believes in small changes and your ideas. We encourage youth empowered initiatives, and our projects go from building libraries across the country and facilitating leadership building workshops to planting a tree in the patch of soil amidst urban concrete. If you're interested to become a regular member, please feel free to drop in your CV (with a brief paragraph explaining why you want to work with us) at our inbox. You're always welcome.
You can also stay tuned with our projects by joining our page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dhaka/1-Initiative/73014605660?ref=ts) and group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2319458809) on Facebook. :)
We wish you a wonderful Eid.
Welcome to the family! :D
Love,
The 1° Crew
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