The Story Under Blue Sky

By Mahdi Munshi
mahdimunsi@gmail.com

Graphics By: Aquib Rezwan

aquibrezwan0@gmail.com

It was a cold January day in 2020. 5 friends from Dhaka University got together in an open tea stall and started their usual gossip about random stuff after getting off of an afternoon class. Suddenly, the topic of the gossip changed into something serious ― what do we expect of a society from the development perspective? Each of the five friends had a wildly divergent point of view. However, eventually, upon discussion, they found a common ground ― a society will really be developed when the fruit of development can be enjoyed equally by its people regardless of their race, gender, religion and caste ― an inclusive society. It was at this point that one of the friends proposed, “Why don't we do something to help achieve this ‘inclusive’ society?”. And that is how the idea for PANDA came.

The 5 friends then start pitching their ideas of a unique development organization to people around them. How is the development organization unique? It does not engage in development activities directly, rather enables and encourages people to develop themselves — it ‘nurtures’ development activities.

In no time a team was built and after a month-long process of formalities, PANDA was officially inaugurated in February 10, 2020. And that is how PANDA was born — from a gossip under a clear, blue sky.

This year marked the end of PANDA's two-year journey. Throughout these 2 years, in pursuit for its vision — ‘an inclusive future’, PANDA engaged in more than a dozen projects and brought more than 10,000 people together under a single, inclusive sky. During these 2 years, PANDA kept developing its own identity, little by little, by engaging in signature projects like ‘Youth for Change’ where high school-going students were encouraged to bring positive changes in their communities through SDG training in a 2-hour session. Or even situational, collaborative projects like ‘Collaboration for Corona Combat’ where PANDA contributed in COVID awareness from the very start, provided mass people with safety equipments and provided financial and food aid to those who really needed them in that critical time. PANDA also conducted multiple training campaigns, mental health campaigns, skill development initiatives, awareness campaigns and participated in several collaborative projects. In these 2 years, PANDA made some valuable connections that really took its vision by heart and supported in the journey towards an inclusive future.

After almost 2 years of journey, the PANDA team gathered together, reminiscing the days of the past and talking about how much they had moved towards the PANDA vision, towards an inclusive future. The 5 friends were caught off-guard momentarily, as they looked up and was startled by the blue sky. This was the same blue sky under which they dreamt of this organization 2 years ago. But this time, they are not alone. They have the PANDA team, the people who carry the vision as their own by heart and most importantly, they have YOU, who joined them in the journey towards that inclusive future, all under one big, blue sky. PANDA is the big, blue sky. This is PANDA's identity.

PANDA starts a new chapter, with a new identity, but the journey continues - the same journey towards the same inclusive future. This is just the beginning. PANDA thanks each and every one of you for being a part of this amazing journey. We shared the same vision together, we shared a lot of wonderful memories together, and now it is time to share an inclusive identity together — the identity of PANDA. It is time to bring everyone under this big, blue sky as we keep moving towards an inclusive future!

#2_year_of_inclusiveness

#more2come

By

Mahdi Munshi

One of the five friends