SpaandanB (pronounced spon-don-bee) is a not-for-profit organization listed under section 501(c) (3) of the US Internal Revenue Code and incorporated in California, USA, which sprouted from the vision of a handful of expatriate Bangladeshis in the year 1998. It is dedicated to bettering the lives of the less advantaged people in Bangladesh. SpaandanB initiates and implements projects to establish education, remedy for health needs, and promote sustained subsistence. The organization is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The projects and operations of SpaandanB are funded by conscientious and generous donors of expatriate Bangladeshis living in the USA. But it has donors and supporters from all over the world. SpaandanB helps the underprivileged people regardless of religion, color, age, disability, or sex. Its donors do not receive any goods or services in return for their contributions.
With the vision to “build a better Bangladesh through changes in the quality of life of the less advantaged,” SpaandanB wants to bring forth fundamental socio-economic change in the lives of the less advantaged people of Bangladesh by addressing the needs in the three major areas:
1. Establishment of Education:
- Support the less advantaged with academic and vocational merits to achieve excellence and advancement of the education system in Bangladesh.
- Generate awareness of dormant aptitude and success potential.
2. Remedy for Health Needs:
- Make basic health services available to disadvantaged people.
- Support the advancement of medical service infrastructure in Bangladesh.
3. Promotion of Sustained Subsistence:
- Provide income generation opportunities among the disadvantaged people of Bangladesh.
- Provide food, medical, shelter, and rehabilitation support to distressed humanity during times of emergency.
Since its start in 1998, the organization has grown manifold in size and scope. It has taken on a growing number of projects—education projects (adopt-a-school, scholarships, etc.), health projects (blood drive, pediatric, child care, nutrition, etc.), development projects (media advocacy, entrepreneurship, alternate energy, etc.), humanitarian drives (cyclone, flood, winter, etc.), and other projects as required.
Team: (Core)
President: Marufa Kaniz
General Secretary: Zakia Afrin
Treasurer: Sharif Mustafizur Rahman
Member: Mohammed Almamun
Member: Ali Chowdhury
Member: Mir-A-Taj Chowdhury
Member: Maheen Hamid
Member: Jaha Afroz Hamida
Member: Ahmed Badrul Hasan
Member: Lisa Yasmin Hasan
Member: Sharmin Hossainy
Member: Syed Hossainy
Member: Zafar Ullah
Member: Mohiuddin Mazumder
Member: Rahima Mohammed
Member: Khandker Muttalib
Member: Kazi Reza
Member: Fairooz Samira (Shoma)
Member: Mohammed Iqbal Yousuf
Austin Chapter:
SpaandanB has a chapter in Austin, Texas, USA. Inspired by SpaandanB’s work since 1998, a group of expatriate Bangladeshis in Austin founded the Austin chapter in 2007. With community support, the Austin chapter uses SpaandanB’s goodwill and infrastructure to conduct small-scale education, health, and development projects in Bangladesh.
Austin Team:
President: Ahsan Kabeer Palash
Treasurer: Masud Khandker
Secretary: Galib Hassan
Project Coordinator: Iftekhar Rahman (Murad)
Project Coordinator: Tahsin Askar
[Spelling variations: s-pon-don-B, spandonB, স্পন্দন-বি]