Projects underway or designated as Future Initiatives 

We at Symbiosis Canada support a number of projects in Bangladesh that are currently underway or in the planning stages. The following are just a few examples to inform Canadians how they too are able to join in a remarkable partnership aimed at improving the lives of the people of Bangladesh. The principles of human dignity, respect and self-reliance are always central to any project under Symbiosis’s sponsorship. It is our hope that you will feel as inspired to help as we are.

A local village staff person acts as a change agent by mentoring, providing support and arranging for resources to be dispensed to groups wanting to organize into co-operatives. Such initiatives have been shown to improve the lives of individuals and their families by reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency through education and skill development. Co-ops offer and house classes on literacy or provide education on hygiene, nutrition and preventative health. By attending a class on starting a small business, individuals apply what they have learned thereby generating their own income, savings and investment. They can become shopkeepers, farmers, raise animals or drive rickshaws. Skills such as sewing (in the garment industry or as a home cottage industry) or fish pond cultivation also create potential employment. Meanwhile programs such as cataract removal permit visually impaired individuals to become employable and provide for their families. These are some of projects you can be a part of when you give support through your donation to Symbiosis Canada. 

By consulting and working cooperatively with our partners in Bangladesh, Symbiosis Canada identifies enterprises which underscore the principles demonstrated above. It is important to keep in mind that ideally any project sponsored is viable and sustainable. The old adage expresses it well by saying “give a man a fish and he is fed for a day, teach him to fish and he feeds himself for a lifetime”. However natural disasters do occur and from time to time measures which distribute relief through aid, food, building materials and expertise are urgently required. Geographically Bangladesh is a low lying country and prone to floods as well as cyclonic storms and tornadoes. When such disasters strike in areas where Symbiosis is operating we will respond and work together with other agencies whose mandate is to provide emergency food etc. This may involve making appeals to the broader community of Symbiosis donors and sponsors to send support to affected areas. 

We at Symbiosis Canada do not operate projects directly. We have neither the organizational or logistical capacity, however we achieve our passion of bringing lasting benefits to the disadvantaged by sponsoring the specific projects as set out by Symbiosis Bangladesh. This organization operates in 11 districts and has been active for 13 years. With its approximately 200 staff it is well equipped and competent to operate its 25 projects. You can learn more about the origins and unique relationship between Symbiosis Canada and Symbiosis Bangladesh by clicking on “About Us ”.

In December 2008 Peter Vanderkooy of Symbiosis Canada travelled to Bangladesh. In a conversation with Akand, Country Director of Symbiosis Bangladesh the benefits of the two groups working together are highlighted below.

  • with a level organization, overhead costs are kept to a minimum. This means services are delivered in the most cost efficient way possible and ultimately more funds can be distributed and dedicated ‘ to working on the ground’;
  • there is direct accountability between the Bangli managers and the Canadian funders through all the stages of the project. A well managed information system is in place to keep everyone well-informed and up-to-date;
  • by identifying groups who are at the greatest risk of poverty, deprivation, discrimination, exploitation, poor health or lack of education, Symbiosis can work with some otherwise ignored sectors of society such as garos, harijans, former prostitutes, nomadic snake charmers; and
  • wherever possible through our working together we can promote tolerance and respect for one another’s culture among all participants and beneficiaries whether they represent Muslim, Hindu, tribal and Christian communities.







Projects underway or designated as Future Initiatives 

We at Symbiosis Canada support a number of projects in Bangladesh that are currently underway or in the planning stages. The following are just a few examples to inform Canadians how they too are able to join in a remarkable partnership aimed at improving the lives of the people of Bangladesh. The principles of human dignity, respect and self-reliance are always central to any project under Symbiosis’s sponsorship. It is our hope that you will feel as inspired to help as we are.

A local village staff person acts as a change agent by mentoring, providing support and arranging for resources to be dispensed to groups wanting to organize into co-operatives. Such initiatives have been shown to improve the lives of individuals and their families by reducing poverty and increasing self-sufficiency through education and skill development. Co-ops offer and house classes on literacy or provide education on hygiene, nutrition and preventative health. By attending a class on starting a small business, individuals apply what they have learned thereby generating their own income, savings and investment. They can become shopkeepers, farmers, raise animals or drive rickshaws. Skills such as sewing (in the garment industry or as a home cottage industry) or fish pond cultivation also create potential employment. Meanwhile programs such as cataract removal permit visually impaired individuals to become employable and provide for their families. These are some of projects you can be a part of when you give support through your donation to Symbiosis Canada. 

By consulting and working cooperatively with our partners in Bangladesh, Symbiosis Canada identifies enterprises which underscore the principles demonstrated above. It is important to keep in mind that ideally any project sponsored is viable and sustainable. The old adage expresses it well by saying “give a man a fish and he is fed for a day, teach him to fish and he feeds himself for a lifetime”. However natural disasters do occur and from time to time measures which distribute relief through aid, food, building materials and expertise are urgently required. Geographically Bangladesh is a low lying country and prone to floods as well as cyclonic storms and tornadoes. When such disasters strike in areas where Symbiosis is operating we will respond and work together with other agencies whose mandate is to provide emergency food etc. This may involve making appeals to the broader community of Symbiosis donors and sponsors to send support to affected areas. 

We at Symbiosis Canada do not operate projects directly. We have neither the organizational or logistical capacity, however we achieve our passion of bringing lasting benefits to the disadvantaged by sponsoring the specific projects as set out by Symbiosis Bangladesh. This organization operates in 11 districts and has been active for 13 years. With its approximately 200 staff it is well equipped and competent to operate its 25 projects. You can learn more about the origins and unique relationship between Symbiosis Canada and Symbiosis Bangladesh by clicking on “About Us ”.

In December 2008 Peter Vanderkooy of Symbiosis Canada travelled to Bangladesh. In a conversation with Akand, Country Director of Symbiosis Bangladesh the benefits of the two groups working together are highlighted below.

  • with a level organization, overhead costs are kept to a minimum. This means services are delivered in the most cost efficient way possible and ultimately more funds can be distributed and dedicated ‘ to working on the ground’;
  • there is direct accountability between the Bangli managers and the Canadian funders through all the stages of the project. A well managed information system is in place to keep everyone well-informed and up-to-date;
  • by identifying groups who are at the greatest risk of poverty, deprivation, discrimination, exploitation, poor health or lack of education, Symbiosis can work with some otherwise ignored sectors of society such as garos, harijans, former prostitutes, nomadic snake charmers; and
  • wherever possible through our working together we can promote tolerance and respect for one another’s culture among all participants and beneficiaries whether they represent Muslim, Hindu, tribal and Christian communities
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