Hearth Summit Bangladesh 2025Hearth Summit Bangladesh 2025

Regional Hearth Summits

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Following an Incredible First Edition

The 2025 regional summit in Bangladesh follows an awe-inspiring first edition.

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Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.

The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka 2024 The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka 2024

Regional Wellbeing Summits

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ABOUT THE SUMMIT

“Projonmo theke Projonme: Generation to Generation”

Connecting land, language, and life: Bangladesh hosted the first regional Wellbeing Summit in Asia! The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka brought together 230 changemakers together over two monumental days to activate a culture of inner wellbeing in the local social change sector. With a driving focus to explore wellbeing for all – from Projonmo theke Projonme, or Generation to Generation – this exciting gathering convened diverse actors, creating a platform to enable transformative action in Bangladesh.

Changemakers were invited to join this transformative event which will help them connect their inner wellbeing with their work as actors for positive social impact. Inspiring talks, storytelling, the arts, therapeutic workshops, and classic chayer adda – tea-time talks – insightfully explored themes such as feminism, financial wellbeing, human flourishing, nutrition, and intergenerational trauma. Attendees were able to practice a diverse range of activities to activate their inner development and wellbeing. A compelling arts programme also invited them to approach these topics through the emotional and intellectual language of the arts. The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka share a common message: if we can ensure wellbeing, we can perform better – because wellbeing inspires welldoing.

Connecting the Land, Language, and LifeConnecting the Land, Language, and Life

Relive the Spirit of the Summit

DAY 1 Highlights

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par The Wellbeing Project (@thewellbeingp)

DAY 2 Highlights

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par The Wellbeing Project (@thewellbeingp)

TWO DAYS, ONE CENTRAL FOCUS TWO DAYS, ONE CENTRAL FOCUS

Explore the programme

How Do We Reach Wellbeing for All, From Generation to Generation?

The programme took changemakers on a journey between individual and collective wellbeing, exploring themes such as:

Feminism, gender equality, and gender-based violence
Intergenerational trauma in Bangladesh, including historical trauma from the 1971 Liberation War
Cultural celebration and preservation
Childcare and parenting
Rest, relaxation, and healing
Physical health, nutrition, and exercise
The national Special Initiative for Mental Health

Projonmo theke ProjonmeProjonmo theke Projonme

EXPLORE STORIES FROM THE SUMMIT

A Special Celebration of Feminism

The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka opened on International Women’s Day, bringing a special celebration of feminism to the event. Sessions and art performances reflected on women’s empowerment and the role of women in Bangladeshi society. Delegates were also invited to wear quinsentially Bangaldeshi sarees in purple, the color of Women’s Day, to mark the occasion.

The theme of celebrating feminism also extended a tribute to Mother Earth, with the entire event designed sustainably. Hand-made, upcycled, and second-hand materials — including banners and ribbons made from the cloth of recycled sarees — all of which were designed for circularity, decorated the lush green setting of Bangla Academy, inviting an down-to-earth atmosphere to the gathering.

KEY SPEAKERS & ARTISTS KEY SPEAKERS & ARTISTS

THE WELLBEING SUMMIT DHAKA THE WELLBEING SUMMIT DHAKA

In The News

Read and watch local coverage of the first Regional Wellbeing Summit in Asia.

HOSTED BY

Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE GENEROUS SPONSORS, FUNDERS, AND PARTNERS

4MTV USA, BRAC University, Heroes for All, Liberty Media Group, MAP Photo Agency, Quazi Consultants, and The Wellbeing Project

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Monira Rahman

Executive Director, Managing Trustee and Ashoka Fellow

Monira Rahman is an Ashoka Fellow and a commonwealth alumni.

Her leadership role in tackling acid attack in Bangladesh and making a model for the world for combating acid violence has been recognized by the Amnesty International, Americans for UNFPA, World’s Children’s Prize and the French Government. BBC radio interviewed Monira to capture her contribution for combating acid violence in Bangladesh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csywv3). Her leadership role in Acid Survivors Foundation established a BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL model in 1999 which was replicated in 5 other countries.

From her 15 years of successful experience at the Acid Survivors Foundation, she has established a new organization named Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation (IWF) in 2014 to promote mental health equity for sustainable development (www.iwellbeing.org).

Monira established Bangladesh Mental Health Network (BMHN) in 2015. This is country’s first and only network for all stakeholders working on mental health field and successfully advocated for replacement of the Lunacy Act 1912 by Bangladesh Mental Health Act 2018. Monira also played a crucial role for drafting National Mental Health Policy 2019 and National Mental Health Strategy 2020-2030 which is now waiting for government approval.

In the year 2015 she has established Mental Health First Aid Bangladesh (https://mhfainternational.org/international-mental-health-first-aid-programs/) to raise mental health literacy of the mass people. Mental Health First Aid is an Internationally accredited training program currently being adopted by 25 countries including Bangladesh. MHFA Bangladesh has trained 74 National Trainers who has trained 5000 certified mental health first aiders and 10,000 mental health Champions since 2015.

Monira’s idea for promoting women’s mental health win women innovation camp award 2017- a government run project and developed country’s first ever digital platform for promoting mental health in Bangla.

With the support of UNDP Monira’s organization also developed country’s first ever mobile application named mon janala (an android smart phone based application) to provide psychosocial support in Bangla during COVID 19 pandemic and beyond.

Monira has secured funding from Comic Relief and along with ADD International implementing a 4 years’ project started from June 2020 for developing community based mental health services for children and young people living with disability.

Monira and her organization is part of a UK-Bangladesh Global partnership led by Imperial College London and Bangladeshi partner include IWF, BRAC JPG School of Public Health and icddr,b and developing evidence based mental health care pathway model for rural Bangladesh.

Monira’s expertise on promotion of mental health and wellbeing developed from her early career in Concern Worldwide in 1992 where she developed mental health services for the homeless people living with mental illness from the scratch.

Monira obtained Masters degree in Philosohy from University of Dhaka. She was elected Vice President of student’s union of Shamsunnahar Hall of the University of Dhaka in 1989 and led many movements for peace and equality.

She frequently appears in media and a voice for the unheard.

Facebook page: Mental Health First Aid Bangladesh

Facebook page: Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation

Youtube video: How acid violence In Bangladesh is disappearing

Youtube video: Monira Rahman Fights for Life Free of Violence

Youtube video: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Monira Rahman and Anika Rahman

Youtube video: Monira Rahman, Child Right Hero, Bangladesh

Connect with Monira Rahman on social media :

Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project

“I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, toward an era where wellbeing and mental health are acknowledged and prioritized”

By: Samuel Smith , Senior Community Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Date: October 2022

In November 2022 I had the pleasure of representing The Wellbeing Project at the inaugural edition of the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival at The University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Co-hosted by the Aachol Foundation and the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation , the carnival brought together youth groups, media, education & health experts, as well as organizations working at the heart of campaigns relating to the development of youth wellbeing. Significantly, there were also government representatives present, as one of the objectives of the carnival was to influence the upcoming creation of a national mental health framework; the first policy of its kind in Bangladesh.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Dhaka, and I took a lot away from hearing the inspiring stories and experiences of those present. There is a fascinating vibrancy and energy that comes from a movement fronted by young people and students. Their enthusiasm, dynamism, and willingness to tackle difficult and sometimes daunting topics with a smile and laughter is truly infectious.

I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, towards an era where wellbeing and mental health are recognized and prioritized. The impact of YMHWBC will be felt well beyond the borders of the university campus, and perhaps even beyond the borders of this beautiful south Asian country.

A personal thank you to Monira Rahmen for the invitation and for giving me the opportunity to contribute. I would also like to show my gratitude to Heal Bangladesh , Heroes For All , No Passport Voice , SAJIDA Foundation , Moner Bondhu and ADD International for taking the time to explain to me how their work is helping to foster a sense of wellbeing across a variety of sectors in Bangladesh and beyond.