A Recent Reality Check While we often celebrate the rising numbers of children attending school in Bangladesh, a sobering reality remains hidden in the shadows. Recent preliminary findings from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2025), released by UNICEF and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), reveal a worrying uptick in child labor. The data […]
From Waste Stations to Classrooms Read More »
A new chapter has begun for our organisation as our new Country Director, Abu Bakkar Mia, stepped up into the role in July 2025. It was a significant milestone for Symbiosis, and Noel Harvey (Board Chair) and I (Lisa, CEO) were privileged to be there. On his listening tour to all project offices, Bakkar encouraged
A New Chapter: Embracing Transformation at Every Level Read More »
Dr Md. Abdur Rahman After 11 years of dedicated and tireless service as the Country Director of SymbiosisBangladesh, Dr Md. Abdur Rahman has announced his retirement this week effective 30 June2025. As a friend of Symbiosis Bangladesh since its inception in 1995, Dr Rahman took on this role asCountry Director at a pivotal time for
Retirement and appointment of Country Director, Bangladesh Read More »
While in Bangladesh, John Davis (Chief Program Officer) and I had the chance to meet with three of ten enthusiastic groups which have started in Keraniganj, a new working area for Symbiosis. Our team members described how difficult it was to start somewhere new. People were suspicious of the surveys and they didn’t quite understand
Starting on the journey of transformation Read More »
Picture not being able to recognise the faces of your family and friends because your vision is so blurry. All you can really see is shapes in the daylight and dark. Imagine if this could be fixed but because you are poor and living in rural Bangladesh, you can’t get access to the support you
Pictured: The women of Tenaki – a local Community Development Organisation refusing to accept the illegal practice of marrying of young girls within their community. Child marriage has historically been high in Bangladesh which has the 8th highest prevalence of child marriage in world! UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019 identified 51.4% of women (at
The women of Tenaki tackling child marriage Read More »
Pictured: The conference evening program included our talented staff in dance, song and even a judo demonstration that got everyone on their feet! At our recent staff conference, Symbiosis staff and their families gathered for a significant time of connection and celebration, exhortation and training (as well as a few games). It was our first
Symbiosis staff conference 2024 Read More »
Pictured: Leadership team of the Baisherchar Agricultural Cooperative Society Ltd on their graduation day! On my recent trip to Bangladesh, I had the privilege of attending four graduation ceremonies for Community Based Organisations that have grown from our work. Each ceremony was a distinctive as the group themselves but with a common theme of transformation
Baisherchar Agricultural Cooperative Society Ltd Read More »
Pictured: CEO Lisa West-Newman (centre) with the official commemorative certificate handover to Padma Mohila Unnayan Samiti Leadership. Symbiosis Bangaldesh Country Director Dr Abdur Rahman (foreground), alongside senior Symbiosis Bangladesh staff and local dignitaries. On the 30 September 2023, Symbiosis International celebrated the ‘graduation’ of the Padma Mohila Unnayan Samiti (Padma Women’s Development Association). ‘Padma’, as
Padma Mohila Unnayan Samiti Read More »
Thank you – ধন্যবাদ – Dhonnobaad You did it – YOU – our dedicated supporters helped us reach the fundraising goal for our 2023 Change for Good appeal. $192,313 raised to support the growth of savings groups into community based organisations. Here is a personal message of thanks from us to you. Thank you for
Our most successful appeal! Read More »
Pictured: Top left – Adam Robinson, Top right – Krystal Wallis, Bottom – Savaen Cameron. The very first sentence of our 2022 Annual Report written by our directors says: “ Symbiosis continues to be in a significant time of transition, a time when those who have been with the organisation for many years come to
Welcome – আপনাকেও ধন্যবাদ – Apnakeo dhonnobad Read More »
“In December 1993 we established in Australia the Symbiosis Trust, to enable development work in Bangladesh. We met on a Friday afternoon in a solicitor’s office in central Brisbane – and the deed was done”. David and Jill Yates have been part of Symbiosis since the organisation was just an idea. This year David
Recognising Dr. David Yates Read More »
By Dr Neil Parker You’ve heard the saying, “Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime.” Desmond Tutu is quoted as adding to the saying, “Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.” Which
Fishing, Cycling and Functional Education Read More »
By David Vance As we recently observed another International Literacy Day (8 September, 2022) it’s good to pause and think about literacy, particularly in the context of the work of Symbiosis with poor and marginalised people in Bangladesh. Teaching adult men and, particularly, women to read and write in their own language has been at the core
Adult Literacy in Bangladesh Read More »
Interview with Lyndall Purcell Lyndall Purcell joined the Symbiosis International Board in June 2013. After serving diligently for nearly 10 years, Lyndall is stepping away from her role as a Board Member. We couldn’t let her go without getting reflections from her time helping the organisation navigate change and challenges over the years. What has
Recognising Lyndall Purcell Read More »