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Awareness 360 is a youth-led, voluntary, non-profit organization headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, co-founded by Bangladeshi youth leaders Shomy Hasan Chowdhury and Rijve Arefin in October 2014.[1][2] The organization operates in 23 countries[2][3] and coordinates community service projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[1]
History
[edit]Awareness 360 was founded by Shomy Hasan Chowdhury and Rijve Arefin following Chowdhury’s personal experience of losing her mother due to diarrhea in April 2014. This event led to the first initiative focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Initially, both founders provided capacity-building training to youth, later establishing Awareness 360.[1][4]
Activities
[edit]Awareness 360 organizes youth volunteers to conduct community service projects addressing issues including sanitation, hygiene, quality education, mental health, human rights, gender-based violence, women's empowerment, climate action, and poverty alleviation. The organization involves over 1,500 volunteers from 23 countries, impacting over 150,000[5] lives globally.
In Bangladesh, Awareness 360 primarily addresses SDG-6 (clean water and sanitation) and women's empowerment. The organization has reached marginalized groups such as sex workers, sewerage workers, slum dwellers, homeless populations, underprivileged school children, and people with disabilities. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they provided essential food and hygiene items to vulnerable communities, including nearly 450 families in a brothel in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and Rohingya refugees.[2][3]
Internationally, the Zimbabwe team supports SDG-4 (quality education) by funding school fees and providing baby clothing to underprivileged women. In Georgia, Awareness 360 promotes human rights and democratic values among youth. In France, volunteers conduct mental health initiatives and support the homeless after severe weather events. The Cameroon team works on climate-related issues, while other countries, including Malaysia, address development among marginalized communities.[2][6]
Three global figures — Bob Delaney, Tessy Ojo CBE, and Cel Spellman — joined Awareness 360 as advisors and mentors to support its activities and initiatives.[7]
Awards and Recognition
[edit]Awareness 360 has received awards, including:
- The Diana Award and the Legacy Award for contributions to community service.[2][4]
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (Social Impact category, 2021) listing for founders Shomy Hasan Chowdhury and Rijve Arefin.[8]
The organization has also been acknowledged by platforms such as Global Citizen, Global Changemakers, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the US State Department, and the Commonwealth Students' Association for its community service initiatives.[2][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Building resilient communities - the story of Shomy Chowdhury". UNDP. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b c d e f "Awareness 360: A Bangladeshi youth platform changing lives around the world". The Business Standard. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b Watson, Rana Wehbe. "From Sanitation To Disaster Relief: These 30 Under 30 Social Activists Are Making A Difference In Asia". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b "The Diana Award - Shomy Hasan-Chowdhury - Case Study". diana-award.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Empowering the youth to build community service projects". The Daily Star. 2021-06-04. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "রিজভী আরেফিন ও অ্যাওয়ারনেস থ্রিসিক্সটি". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b "3 distinguished global figures join Awareness 360". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2021: Social Impact". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-04-28.