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It’s been quite a ‘Journey’…

08/07/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by sharnabremner | 5 comments

Sharna Bremner
Outreach Blogger
8 July 2010
Throwing two Aussies into a country where they don’t speak a word of the language, with a somewhat lofty goal of connecting the world with some poverty-stricken slum dwellers could have been a recipe for disaster. Lucky for us, it was the opposite.

As I sit here at home in chilly Adelaide, bundled up in my Snuggie (yes, I’m a Snuggie person. And I’m not ashamed to admit it), the only sound I can hear is my dog’s snores.

The loud and chaotic streets of humid Dhaka seem a lifetime ago.

In our whirlwind two week quest in Bangladesh, we met amazing people, learnt more than we probably expected to, made lifelong friends, ate great food and managed to achieve some outstanding things.

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Samba Kings are gone, but AA Bangla’s blog is here to stay…

06/07/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by joelkatz | 4 comments

Joel Katz
Outreach Blogger
6 July 2010

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).

Sure, I’m missing the vibrant City-of-Richshaws, and my ActionAid (AA) amigos. But glad to be home, with my beloved, family and friends. And I’m relishing the chilly days. Besides, we left Dhaka on a high – Brazil and Argentina were still contenders in the 2010 World Cup. Read the rest of this entry »

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Sometimes it’s good to be wrong.

18/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by sharnabremner | 14 comments

Sharna Bremner
Outreach Blogger
17 June 2010

Today was the last official day of our Project TOTO Bangladesh adventure.

Our final day working with the ActionAid Bangladesh crew was bittersweet, sharing our amazing blogging successes with each other, having an incredible buffet lunch with the entire Sponsorship team and saying goodbye.

Members of the DA14 CJG comment on the blogs from DA2.

We have achieved so much in the last two weeks and will be providing a post-trip wrap up on our return to Australia, but for now, there a few things that I would like to share that haven’t made it into my previous posts.

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Last Mango in Dhaka…

17/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by joelkatz | 13 comments

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 »

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Back in concrete jungle with the cool kids…

15/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by joelkatz | 5 comments

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 »

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Old Dhaka’s worth the herniated disc…

12/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by joelkatz | 18 comments

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 »

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Now that’s a soccer game!

10/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by joelkatz | 12 comments

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 »

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Dude means milk?

07/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by sharnabremner | 12 comments

Sharna Bremner
Outreach Blogger
7 June 2010

It took almost 11 months, 3 challenges, 3 flights and nearly 24 hours of travelling but we’re finally here in the craziness that is Dhaka.

We’re now at the end of our second day in Bangladesh and I thought I’d share some of the things we’ve learnt so far.

  • Joel and I are almost honorary Bangladeshi’s. Well, our names are. Joel is pretty close to the name that would be pronounced ‘Jewel’ and Sharna means golden.  Yes, from now on, we shall be called Golden and Precious Stone.

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Kids really do say the darndest things.

02/06/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by sharnabremner | 7 comments

Sharna Bremner
Outreach Blogger
2 June 2010

Those who know me will tell you that I’m not really a kid person. Sure, they can be cute, but I personally prefer teenagers or adults.  Kids are loud and they often have sticky hands for some reason. As for babies… Well, they make me nervous. They’re so tiny and delicate and you can’t tell what they’re thinking which, quite frankly, scares me a little bit.

Recently, however, I’ve discovered something a little worrying. It seems that maybe Whitney Houston was actually right. (That in itself is a scary thought.) Maybe children really are our future. Sometimes, kids just get it, no matter what it is.

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It’s an interesting view from up here…

26/05/2010 in TOTO Bangladesh by Mark Chenery | 5 comments

Sharna Bremner
Outreach Blogger
26 May 2010

As our departure date draws ever-closer, I think it’s fair to say that preparations are in full swing. For me, this meant a trip to Sydney for  training at the ActionAid offices. Complete with a 6.45 a.m. flight out of Adelaide. Yikes.

Joel and I were provided with a mind-blowing amount of information, and I want to give a huge shout out to the ActionAid staff for their help, advice and well-wishes, especially Mark for his never-ending enthusiasm (and for not losing his voice despite talking all day!), Kaetlyn for her many tips which will no doubt be invaluable, and to CEO Archie Law for taking the time to have a chat and wish us luck.

Part of the journey we’re currently undertaking includes media interviews, which for me meant an interview and a photoshoot with The Advertiser. I picked up a copy of Tuesday’s issue, hoping to see an article on Project TOTO, accompanied by a not-so-flattering photo of yours truly, but instead saw an article regarding Australia’s foreign aid program. Now, while I agree with some of the content in the article, I was struck by the title that featured a few pages in: “The millions we waste on foreign aid”.

Ummm… What?

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