We are proud to announce that Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC will be conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, by Oxford University on the 24th June 2009.
BRAC UK is an international development organisation. Founded and registered as a charity in London during 2006 it is a member of the expanding federation of BRAC*. The organisations share a common mission, ethos and collegial relationship.
Our mission is the alleviation of poverty and empowerment of the poor in the UK, Africa, Asia and Latin America. BRAC UKs goal is to uphold their human rights and dignity:
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To break the barriers of poverty through economic development;
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To increase their opportunities for education;
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To improve their health; and
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To uphold their human rights;
BRAC UKs main areas of focus are :programm implementation among diaspora communities in the UK adapting the BRAC successful approaches, advocacy for successful development led by the south and fund raising for BRAC programmes, primarily in Africa and Asia.
Funding is being sought for primary schools and a women health volunteer programme both in Southern Sudan.
In the UK, plans are underway to implement a women health volunteers initiative with diaspora communities in East London in addition to financial education for women and young people. Investigation is underway to determine the needs of Somali young people in North West London and how can be linked to BRAC UK’s efforts with communities in Tower Hamlets.
Resources (intellect, time, monies, land, buildings, etc.) are accepted from organisations and individuals who accept BRAC UK’s objectives and ethos. A fund raising strategy is evolving to support programmes being implemented by BRAC, initially in Uganda, Tanzania, southern Sudan and Afghanistan. The Board, staff, volunteers and supporters are working collaboratively to take the organisation forward in its endeavours. A presence in major UK cities is being organised through BRAC UK supporters.
BRAC UK is a member of CIVICUS, BOND (Board member), ACEVO, the UK Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, the British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG), Directory of Social Change, Drishtipat and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). This contributes to its advocacy work to promote successful development led by the south and bring a strong southern voice to the policy debate.
The Board of BRAC UK consists of Emeritus Professor J. Patrick Vaughan CBE, Mr. Murad Qureshi AM and Ms. Rehana A. Murshed. Please contact Ms. Sandra M. Kabir, Executive Director, BRAC UK for further information on the organisation and how you can become involved.
*BRAC, a Bangladeshi national, private organisation, started as an almost entirely donor funded, small-scale relief and rehabilitation project initiated in 1972 by Fazle Hasan Abed to help the country overcome the devastation and trauma of the Liberation War. Today, BRAC has emerged as a virtually self-financed paradigm in sustainable human development. Currently the largest NGO in the world, BRAC employs more than 100,000 people, 72% of whom are women.