Bangladeshi American Women’s Development Initiative (BAWDI) is a New Jersey based organization of Bangladeshi women. Most of its members are from city of Patterson. The goal of BAWDI is to give Bangladeshi women of Paterson a platform of their own to network with each other and to empower one another. BAWDI looks to identify ways to promote, support, and address the needs of women in Patterson as immigrants and as Bangladeshis through grassroots organizing, connections and building sisterhood. The broader goal of the organization to help Bangladeshi women to integrate with the mainstream civic life of America.
The organization was founded in 2012 by S. Nadia Hussain and Tania Chowdhury, both are of Bangladeshi origin. BAWDI is committed to help Bangladeshi community of Paterson, who are living in the city over 30 years, to grow with self confidence, self awareness and ideal citizen.
Bangladeshi American Women’s Development Initiative (BAWDI) meets on regular intervals and provides following help to Bangladeshi women:
- English Language Assistance for Women
- Bangla Language for Kids and Young
- Educating Elderly/Patrons about American Culture
- Education (school/class/training)
- Job Search (offline/online)
- Housing Information (buy, rent, mortgage)
- Financial Matters (banking, saving)
- Healthcare Information
- Woman’s Right
- Domestic Violence
- Safety Issues
- Mutual Support
- Religious (mosque, halal)
- Recreation, etc.