Articles by joelkatz
You are currently browsing joelkatz’s articles.
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
16 June 2010
This is it. Last post for Project TOTO Bangladesh – for me, anyway. Sharna’s up tomorrow. It’s been both rollicking adventure and inspiring eye-opener, all wrapped up in the tastiest chapati bread imaginable.
But before I get misty-eyed and start bidding all a sad farewell, I’ll recap today’s activities. It was our last trip to the field, and lots of fun. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Actionaid Bangladesh, Bangladesh, blogging, CJG, DA14, Dhaka, project toto, Sharna Bremner
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
14 June 2010
After so many days beavering away in the Actionaid office in downtown Dhaka, working with AA Bangladesh’s dream team to get their blog up and running, we’re finally out in the field.
Yesterday, literally. Today – more concrete jungle, than lush cane fields. Oh rural Bangladesh, how I miss thee.
But I digress. Mind’s drifting back to the serenity. Oh the serenity…
Today we hop in van with Hasan, Amir and Towfic – los tres amigos Bangladeshi, and take off for Mohammadpur, in the city’s west. We were here last week for the dusty but thrilling 1Goal soccer match.
We arrive at the office and, as usual, a very formal setting awaits – like King Arthur’s round table, but kids instead of knights. We’re meeting with the Community Journalist’s Group (CJG). Sharna talked about CJGs yesterday, and it’s an awesome initiative. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: actionaid, Actionaid Bangladesh, Bangladesh, challenge, DA2, Dhaka, project toto, social media
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
12 June 2010
Today Sharna and I met up with one former Actionaider and one present one, Jo and Lara. They’ve been awesome ever since we got here, and even got us into the heavily fortified bunker that is the Australia Club. With pool and tennis courts it makes the Greenzone look like a kid’s playground.
Squeezed into a baby taxi, a steel cage on wheels. Three girls in back, and me up front, sitting on driver’s lap. If we crash, it’ll be death by a thousand cuts as we’re sieved through the steel grates. Hold on tight guys – we’re off to Old Dhaka’s bustling bazaars. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: actionaid australia, Actionaid Bangladesh, Armenian Church, Bangladesh, Bazaar, blogging, Burigana River, development areas, Dhaka, Old Dhaka, Pink Palace, project toto, weekend
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
9 June 2010
Okay. Sorry guys, this is tricky. Another blackout has darkened Dhaka, so my shiny screen’s the only light I have.
One of the Canadian t-shirt wearing hotel brigade just knocked on my door with my clothes in vacuum-sealed bags, cardboard inserts and even little plastic clips. That’s awesome – thought they were still balled up in my backpack.
Today we were lucky to catch a 1Goal event hosted by ActionAid Bangladesh in one of the poorer districts in Dhaka’s east. AA’s dynamic duo, Hasan and Amir, set up a soccer match for some of the boys and girls from the one of Dhaka’s poorer suburbs as part of the 1Goal Campaign. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1Goal, actionaid, Actionaid Bangladesh, Argentina, Bangladesh, blogging, Brazil, Dhaka, Education, outreach blogger, project toto, Soccer, World Cup
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
8 June 2010
Just polished off most mouth-watering fish curry at a charming spot in Dhaka’s northern suburb of Gulshan. Inside restaurant it’s cool and calm.
Upper class locals sit around and talk shop, squishing curry into balls and popping them into their mouths. A giant plastic capsicum dangles above our heads with total indifference.
It’s a picture of dignified serenity.
Then we step outside and chaos descends.
Sharna talked about it last night in her post, but it’s something I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to so I’ll describe the scene. Night lights reflect off an endless sea of traffic – an insane kaleidoscope of shimmering colour.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: actionaid australia, Actionaid Bangladesh Blog, Bangladesh, blogging, human rights, inequality, poverty, Proect TOTO, Sharna Bremner
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
5 June 2010
It’s been a long time coming, but Sharna and I have finally arrived in Dhaka, as part of Actionaid’s Project TOTO. Crazy tired – like the worn-out, washed-up boxer in Martin Scorsese’s classic Raging Bull, which, oddly, was on last night’s in-flight entertainment.
With a quick layover in Singapore’s heavenly airport, I duck into the men’s, and what’s this – has the turbulence-heavy, sleep-deprived trip over given me visions? The word ‘TOTO’ magically appears before me, in gold lettering across the top of the toilet.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bangladesh, Dhaka, fire, Joel Katz, Proect TOTO, Sharna Bremner, Singapore, toilets
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
31st May 2010
Sitting in a Sydney café, bundled up in jacket and scarf, as the icy rain pelts down outside. Light flickers from my laptop’s shimmering screen – the only warmth on this drabbest of days. Locals shuffle past, musing on what shade of pink Mat Preston’s pants will be tonight on MasterChef, and if they’ll match his cravat.
Hmm… food for thought, and really does help us through these dreary winter days.
But wait. Suddenly it hits me with the force of a rapidly descending mini-grand piano landing on my head that Sharna and I will be in face-meltingly hot Dhaka in a matter of days. Our realities will be up-ended, like a flipped Chapati frying in a Bangladeshi street stall.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Actionaid Bangladesh, Bangladesh, blogging, Dhaka, MasterChef, outreach blogger, social media, winter
Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
23 May 2010
Kind of embarrassing, but I’m a lonely planet guy. You’ll see my kind everywhere, guide-books glued to our faces, tripping over roosters and small children as we backpack around the globe. Phrase for “is this rash serious” in Estonian? Check language chapter. Best way to treat diarrhea in Bali? Check health chapter… quickly!
It’s a cop-out I know, but it’s so user-friendly and informative. So in the lead-up to our TOTO posting in Bangladesh, I’ve snagged one of these popular travel guides, and I’m brushing up on all things Bengali.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bangladesh, Bangladeshi history, blogging, Ganges River, Islam, Lonely Planet, poverty, project toto
Two weeks since we arrived back in Sydney from Dhaka. Swapped street stall Chais for Gloria Jean’s Cocoa Loco Frappacinos. My fun-loving Bengali chums for Bondi’s skinny-jeans set. And Bollywood movies for nightly viewings of MasterChef (still waiting for Bangladeshi special).
ActionAid Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Recent Comments