Together We Can to teach self-defence to women with special needs

The British Council, in partnership with UK-based Women of the World (WOW) Foundation, will organise their two-month festival from mid-January, with selected artistes and groups from five divisions—Khulna, Sylhet, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Rangpur.

Actress Nawshaba Ahmed's organisation Together We Can will perform at the WOW festival. Earlier in 2019, they participated in the fest where their production "Muktir Aloy Aloy", based on a true story, was widely praised. Puppeteers of the project were people with special needs from Savar.

This year, the organisation will collaborate with three groups-- Tactical Krav Maga Bangladesh (Martial Arts School), popular theatre group Spardha, and dance group Alifia Squad. Besides the theatre performance, they intend to create awareness on self-defence for women and women with special needs, along with training them in techniques.

Noted theatre producer Syed Jamil Ahmed's Spardha will showcase their drawing room theatre production "Bishmoykor Shobkichhu", while Together We Can will stage a musical puppet performance, based on the lives of women from different regions with remarkable achievements. The puppet show will be directed by Nawshaba. Together We Can and Tactical Krav Maga Bangladesh will be present in all the five division.

With the slogan, "We believe in the power of art", the organisation has been effortlessly working for people with special needs. They are the only puppeteer group in the country working with artistes with special needs.

The organisation works for the rights of people with disabilities, rehabilitation processes, rights of women and children, and creating awareness in prioritising security and social status for such people.