Share your closet, share happiness
Share Your Closet, a youth organisation, intends to bridge the nationwide clothing divide, and ensure that the less fortunate communities have enough clothes, especially during winter. It addresses the discrimination associated with the lack of proper clothing. Despite the fact that Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of ready-made garments in the world, a substantial part of our population lives in extreme poverty, without adequate clothing. "Apart from being the first visible sign of poverty, lack of clothing leads to health challenges during winters. Access to adequate clothing is a basic human right," asserted Reesha Ahmed, the Founder of Share Your Closet.
Through this initiative, Reesha wants to lend a voice to the underprivileged communities. "In our country, those in need of help are neglected, and are unable to demand their rights," she added. The team of Share Your Closet has organised four events till date. They distributed clothes among slum dwellers and transgender people in Dhaka at their first event. For their second event, they reached out to Chingrakhali, a remote, flood-affected village in Bagerhat, where they provided winter clothes and other accessories to the underprivileged communities.
Their third event was a winter exclusive donation drive, through which they gave out packages containing thermal blankets, sweaters and cardigans to beggars and people with disabilities, in the capital. Their last distribution was a continuation to the third, as they sent these packages to Chattogram. "We follow physical distancing protocols at every event and begin by handing out masks to the recipients," Reesha shared.
Share Your Closet has inspired many through social media platforms. The organisation's posts have reached nearly 30,000 people online, encouraging them to join the noble campaign. Interested donors can either drop off their clothes at the organisation's collection booth in Banani, or send money to fund the distribution drives through bKash.
The author is a freelancer who likes reading, planning and scribbling. Follow her @monameereads on Instagram.