Empowering Grassroots Healthcare: DFBY Foundation Conducts Capacity Building Workshop to Launch Project "Prothom Hashi" in Bhurungamari
Donate for Bhurungamari Youth Foundation (DFBY Foundation) successfully hosted a day-long Capacity Building Workshop at the Upazila Parishad Hall Room in Bhurungamari, Kurigram. The workshop marks the operational rollout of Project “Prothom Hashi” (First Smile), a youth-led civic technology initiative aimed at strengthening Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) services across remote and marginalized communities.
The project is implemented by DFBY Foundation with collaborative support from the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) South Asia and Accountability Lab.
Key Attendees and Community Solidarity:
Presided over by organizational leadership and moderated to engage multi-stakeholder participation, the inaugural workshop brought together prominent educators, local administrators, civil society leaders, and media representatives.
Key dignitaries and speakers attending the event included:
- Ashrafunnahar Joba, Headteacher & Chief Advisor, DFBY Foundation
- Babul Akter, Principal, Sonahat Degree College
- Moydan Ali, Former Upazila Youth Development Officer
- Shamsujjoha Sujon, General Secretary, Bhurungamari Press Club
- Maidul Islam Mukul, Lecturer, Boldia Degree College
- A S Khokhan, President, Upazila Press Club
- F K Ashik, General Secretary, Upazila Press Club
- Chamely Akter, Project Director, Project Prothom Hashi
- Selim Hosen, Project Coordinator, Project Prothom Hashi
Speakers emphasized the vital role of grassroots youth in bridging public service gaps, commending the foundation for introducing digital accountability tools to remote border and riverine char areas.
Project Vision: Bridging Marginalized Healthcare Gaps via Civic Tech
Speaking at the workshop, Project Director Chamely Akter articulated the strategic vision behind Project Prothom Hashi:
“Project Prothom Hashi is a transformative, youth-powered digital mechanism designed to ensure that state-mandated healthcare and routine childhood immunizations reach the most vulnerable citizens,” stated Chamely Akter. “By mobilizing local youth watchdogs equipped with a specialized mobile application, we are creating a transparent, real-time feedback loop. Our volunteers document whether infants and mothers are receiving essential EPI vaccines, record systemic service barriers, and aggregate community grievances. These verified data points will be directly submitted to the Upazila Health Department and sub-district administration (UNO & UH&FPO) to systematically address bottlenecks and co-create sustainable local solutions.”
Inclusive Representation and Operational Scope
Spanning an overall lifecycle of three months, the project incorporates an intensive 20-day active field auditing and monitoring campaign across remote unions and char settlements.
- 50 Trained Youth Watchdogs: Reflecting a strong commitment to gender equity and social inclusion, the auditing cohort comprises 25 women, 23 men, and 2 gender-diverse youth.
- 500+ Community Audits: Over the 20-day field window, these trained watchdogs will capture more than 500 verified community audit reports and citizen testimonies on routine vaccination access, clinic infrastructure, and service delivery standards.
Through evidence-based data collection, institutional dialogue, and local stakeholder engagement, Project “Prothom Hashi” strives to ensure that no child in Bhurungamari is left behind in routine public healthcare delivery.