Hearth Summit Bangladesh

21/05/2026

We often speak about the importance of community for our well-being, but can food bring us closer to well-being?

Perhaps sharing a meal is one of the oldest ways we build community.

Yesterday, at Hearth Feast (Hearth Vojon), hosted by Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation in collaboration with The Wellbeing Project, the Wellbeing Ecosystem Bangladesh Network; we came together as professors, researchers, practitioners, changemakers, and leaders from diverse fields, each carrying our own stories, experiences, and aspirations for a more well society.

Around a simple Bengali meal, our conversations flowed naturally! Ideas were exchanged, connections were strengthened, and moments of joy, reflection, and belonging were shared.

Once again, we realized that in every shared meal lies an ecosystem of well-being. The one that is built on gratitude, belonging, and interdependence, for the food that nourishes us, the hands that prepare it, the farmers and workers who make it possible, and the community that comes together around it.

Food is never just food. We are grateful that it carries culture, memory, care, and connection. It reminds us of our relationship with the land that nourishes us, the farmers who grow our food, the people who transport it, the hands that prepare it, and the communities that gather around it.

As an organisation, Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation believes that well-being is deeply interconnected. Community well-being and ecological well-being cannot be separated; we cannot flourish without one another or without the environments that sustain us. The homegrown foods of Bangladesh are more than nourishment. They are expressions of our culture, our ecology, and our shared heritage. Rooted in the land and seasons of Bangladesh, they carry stories across generations and bring people together around a common table. In many ways, what appeared to be simple Bangladeshi Bhorta-Daal-Bhaat meals became the heart of our gathering; a space where culture, gratitude, connection, and collective well-being came together.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon so warm, thoughtful, and meaningful.

11/04/2026

Have you ever wondered why early intervention in mental health matters, for example, in psychosis?

Join us for an insightful seminar on
“Importance of Early Intervention in Mental Health (with a Special Focus on Psychosis)”

Hear from leading experts, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore how timely support can transform lives.

📅 13 April 2026 (Monday)
⏰ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 STUDENT PROMOTION AND SUPPORT UNIT (SPSU), BESIDE THE CAFETERIA, TSC, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA.
🎤 Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Nandini Chakraborty and distinguished guests from academia and mental health leadership.
💬 Plus: Interactive Q&A + Creative Expression Activity
👥 This seminar welcomes students, educators, professionals, and anyone interested in mental health!

Secure your spot now!
Registration is required and it is completely free.

Register through the link here: https://forms.gle/suXJPF8UgXPP6omAA

or simply scan the QR code on the poster

Let’s learn, reflect, and take a step toward better mental health—together.

11/05/2025

24/03/2025

Education & Wellbeing: Rethinking Student Success

Join us a we take a look back at the Thematic Workshop titled Education & Wellbeing at Hearth Summit Bangladesh Dhaka Edition. The Workshop was facilitated by Ms. Aklima Akter (National Safeguarding Manager, Biritish Council) & Shamresh Saha (English and School Programmes, British Council)

Mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity in education. Yet, too many schools focus on grades while ignoring student wellbeing.
At Hearth Summit Bangladesh, experts and educators explored:
• The urgent need for mental health training for teachers
• How peer support groups can create safe spaces for students
• Why emotional resilience should be part of the curriculum

A sharp mind needs a healthy heart. It’s time to make mental wellbeing a core part of education.

Do you think schools should prioritize mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments.

13/03/2025

Hearth Summit Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar – Day 2: Wellbeing of the Change Leaders

After a powerful first day dedicated to Frontliners, Day 2 of Hearth Summit Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Edition shifted focus to those who shape the future—the leaders, decision-makers, and changemakers working tirelessly in Cox’s Bazar to support the Rohingya response and affected host communities.

With the theme "Wellbeing of the Change Leaders," the day was designed to recognize, support, and strengthen those in leadership roles who navigate the immense challenges of humanitarian work. Mr. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (Additional Secretary), RRRC Cox's Bazar, joined as our Guest of Honor, offering insights on sustainable leadership and the collective responsibility of care.

Through meaningful discussions, shared reflections, and co-created solutions, the day emphasized a crucial truth: leaders, too, need support. To drive lasting impact, those guiding the response must be empowered, resilient, and well.

As the Hearth Summit Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Edition comes to a close, we carry forward a renewed commitment—to care for those who care, to strengthen those who lead, and to create spaces where wellbeing and leadership go hand in hand.

🔗 Learn more: https://hearth-bd.iwellbeing.org/

10/03/2025

Hearth Summit Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar: Cultivating Hope in Crisis Begins

For the first time ever, Hearth Summit Bangladesh hit the road—immediately following the impactful Dhaka edition, we arrived in Cox’s Bazar, the heart of humanitarian response. With the themes “Cultivating Hope in Crisis: Fostering Workplace Wellbeing” and “Wellbeing of the Change Leaders,” this edition was dedicated to the Frontliners and Leadership stakeholders working tirelessly to support the displaced Rohingya population and affected host communities.

Day 1 focused on the Frontliners—the caregivers, aid workers, and responders who provide life-saving support. The summit opened with a heartfelt address from Monira Rahman, Summit Host & Executive Director, Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation, setting the tone for a day of deep reflection, dialogue, and healing.

We were honored to have Augustine Lambert Kiptoo, MHPSS Officer, International Organization for Migration (IOM), as our Guest of Honor, sharing his invaluable experience on supporting those at the frontlines of the crisis. In the spirit of co-creation, we also heard from our incredible Summit Partners: NGO Platform Cox’s Bazar, PROTTYASHI, COAST Foundation, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), and Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK).

Hosted by Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation in collaboration with The Wellbeing Project, the summit reaffirmed a powerful truth: to care for communities in crisis, we must first care for those who serve them.

Stay with us as we share the transformative moments from Hearth Summit Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar!

🔗 Learn more: https://hearth-bd.iwellbeing.org/

08/03/2025

At Hearth Summit Bangladesh, we honor the resilience, wisdom, and strength of women who are shaping the world—leaders, caregivers, changemakers, and frontline warriors driving wellbeing in their communities.
From advocating for mental health to leading humanitarian efforts, from breaking stigmas to creating safe spaces, women continue to cultivate hope, foster growth, and ignite change.

Hear Poet Shamim Azad recite her poem title Koynna as we celebrated International Women’s Day at The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka in 2024 - https://youtu.be/40bFQTaTjVI

Today, and every day, we stand in solidarity with women everywhere—uplifting their voices, supporting their wellbeing, and championing their leadership.

Happy International Women's Day! 💜

The first regional Wellbeing Summit (RWB) titled ‘the Wellbeing Summit Dhaka (TWBS Dhaka)’ held in March 2024 at Bangla academy where more than 200 changemak...

04/03/2025

Hearth Summit Bangladesh - Dhaka Edition opened with a powerful commitment to Connecting Generations for Wellbeing and Growth. Focused on youth wellbeing, trauma healing, and striving together, the summit brought youth, changemakers, educators, and visionaries together to spark meaningful conversations and drive action.

Guided by our brilliant host, Monira Rahman, the ceremony set the tone for transformation. Our esteemed Guests of Honor, Stephen Forbes (Country Director, British Council Bangladesh) and Marcus Davies (Political Counsellor, High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh), not only shared their insights but also took part in a game of Ludo—reimagined as a tool to combat mental health stigma. This symbolic moment captured the essence of our mission: breaking barriers through creative, inclusive, and intergenerational dialogue.

As changemakers, healers, and visionaries gathered under one roof, the message was clear—wellbeing is a shared journey, and every generation has a role to play. From healing past wounds to building a future where mental health is prioritized, the Hearth Summit Bangladesh - Dhaka Edition was a powerful step forward.

And this is just the beginning! Stay with us as we continue to reimagine, restore, and reignite the path to collective wellbeing.

The summit is hosted by Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation in collaboration with The Wellbeing Project. The Dhaka Edition was co-hosted by BRAC IED, with support from British Council & CFLI, venue support from BRAC University and in association with Heroes For All.

02/03/2025

Ecological Belonging – A Commitment That Grows 🌿✨

Started at The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka 2024, Ecological Belonging is more than an initiative—it’s a movement. A pledge to honor and protect the one home we all share: Earth. Because true wellbeing begins at home, and our planet is the ultimate home.

This commitment challenged us to rethink, reimagine, and redesign Hearth Summit Bangladesh with sustainability at its core. We explored creative, eco-conscious alternatives—transforming cloth based materials with hand painted messages into banners, repurposing packaging waste into participant ID cards, using aluminum food containers and sourcing sustainable materials for water bottles. Every element was an intentional act of care.

But this is just the beginning. Ecological Belonging is an invitation—an open call to shift mindsets, embrace conscious choices, and weave sustainability into the fabric of our daily lives. Because when we nurture the planet, we nurture ourselves. 🌍💚

Join us in this journey—because a thriving Earth means a thriving us.
Learn More: [https://hearth-bd.iwellbeing.org/webd/]

25/02/2025

Hearth Summit Bangladesh (Cox's Bazar Edition) Day-1 completed with a heart warming music by Sadi