Ek Ronga Ek Ghuri started as a facebook page in November of 2007. Initially, a group of facebook friends would hang out there on a daily basis. Chit-chatting, poking fun of each other, sharing music and photos, writing and sharing nonsense rhymes were usual activities of the group members. But soon those people became essential part of each others lives. They would depend on the group members for every possible matter. Within few months, the “Ghuri” (the kite) team became a family.
Eventually, the creators of the page expressed an interest in arranging an online poetry competition and received enormous positive response from the group members. The Ghuri team consisted of youth from various professions and students of renowned education institutions of the country. Almost all of them had some sort of involvement in art and literature. Everyone helped out posting adds in different facebook pages and blogs asking for poems for the contest. The response from the participants was spontaneous. A selection committee took the responsibility to judge the quality of the submissions. Three best poems were selected for award. The award day was a big day for Ghuri as everybody finally got to meet the virtual faces.
In 2009, tornado Aila stroke Bangladesh and left it with massive destruction. Ghuri team volunteered to step out of the facebook page and decided to reach out to people in need with aids. That’s the beginning of Ghuri as a social work team. The same year Ghuri volunteers took the initiative to buy new and collect used warm clothing to distribute among the needy as winter got bitter for the poor. Since then, they are doing it every winter. Ghuri also runs a smile campaign that distributes little gift bags to children of slum areas on the occasion of vivid religious and cultural festivities. Apart from that, Ghuri team volunteered in the rescue effort and aid distribution in Neemtali fire incident, Savar tragedy, and several other national incidents.
In 2011, Ghuri came up with its own press. It has published numerous popular books during the Ekushey book fair, nations biggest book fair in 2012 and 2013. Ghuri also published several little magazines. By now it has become a strong platform for new authors.
Starting from last year, Ghuri has expanded its activities even more. It has registered as a volunteer organization at the ministry of social welfare of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Ghuri activities of 2013 at a glance:
1. Project for street children
2. Project for the poor and homeless adults
3. Creative activities such as photography contest, best blogger award, writing contest etc
4. Publishing new author’s books
5. Helping out in national crisis
6. Campaigns for social justice
Bangladesh is a developing country of South Asia. Usage of the internet, blogs, facebook etc was a fun and cool thing in the beginning. But we have talented, motivated, dedicated, educated and of course, amazing souls who have been utilizing this cool technology for even cooler purposes. Ghuri is just one example. I can write about at least hundred more organizations that are contributing to volunteer, raise awareness on vivid issues, educate people, donate, form public opinion, run campaigns and many more. I take the pride of being one of the first two people behind Ghuri. I also feel proud to say that my team includes students, doctors, engineers, architects, photographers, writers, teachers, pharmacists, government officials, NGO workers, bankers, biochemists, journalists, web developers and many more. The message I’m trying to convey here is internet made it possible to bring and gather people from all parts in society on one platform. Now we are like a family working for greater good of our beloved nation. Thus, I consider technology as a blessing for me.
To visit the site we have made for Ghuri: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ekrongaekghuri/ and http://ekrongaekghuri.com/
My sincere apology as the sites are done in Bengali.