Background

RWDO works in the North Eastern part of Bangladesh and is currently one of the pioneer women led divisional level NGO’s in Bangladesh. It was founded by a youth group of development activists and social workers who are self devoted and had a background in women enterprise development, empowerment and child and peoples development. Its unique genesis resulted in two advantages for the foundation of the organization, is headed and inspired by Ms. Shomita Begum Meera (a National Award Winner as a youth woman entrepreneur), the founder and Executive Director of RWDO.  It initiated its program with people possessing prior field experience and owing to the specific background it inherited a broad and comprehensive outlook encompassing a multidimensional socio-economic, environmental and health development perspective. In 1998 RWDO started its activities initially taking the women enterprise development issues of the poor, marginal, disadvantaged, underprivileged and vulnerable women, women’s and child rights through a rights-based approach in the both Rural and Urban areas. These approaches were upheld by the organization in its later programs.

Organizational Beliefs

RWDO has similar beliefs to those for which it was initially founded. These include issues related to women enterprise development, women empowerment, improve reproductive health status of adolescents and mother, child and women rights, childhood development and education, livelihood development, food security, climate vulnerability, injustice and exploitation. It is RWDO’s perception that poverty is created by many interconnected and interdependent problems. RWDO believes that the bonds between these problems can only be broken and development made truly sustainable by addressing many of the issues simultaneously. Most NGO’s have chosen to specify their expertise in one or two areas but RWDO has retained its emphasis on the holistic approach. RWDO believes it must work in all sectors of the development context as shown in the table to be effective and sustainable. Furthermore, RWDO believes that the community will only truly embrace development if they themselves identify their needs and lead the process of change. RWDO takes a very strong stand against corruption and bribery. It is not open to either giving or receiving bribes. RWDO’s stand in this area is now widely recognized in the community. RWDO encourages other organizations to follow its lead.