Health

Amena's kitchen of hope

Sitting down with Amena in her home, the first thing we notice is how alive the place feels.

Strings of onions hang in neat clusters from the roof. Garlic dries on the floor. In one corner, a mound of potatoes waits for market; in another, a sewing machine stands ready for work. The walls are patched with colourful landscapes cut from old calendars, bringing the world indoors. Every inch of space is used with care and purpose.

Tailoring, a vital source of income

Tailoring, a vital source of income

Amena lives in a village in rural northwest Bangladesh with her two sons. She’s a skilled tailor, making clothes for her family and selling salwar kameez to her neighbours. Her community is a close-knit mix of Hindu and Muslim families who celebrate together and look out for each other. Most earn their living as agricultural day labourers — a life of hard work for little pay.

All around the village, tall chimneys from brick factories rise above the fields. These traditional, outdated kilns burn coal and wood, releasing thick black smoke into the air. The pollution damages crops, contaminates soil, and worsens the already fragile climate. Farmers like Amena struggle to grow staples such as rice because the falling ash and poor air quality damage the plants before they can mature.

Amena’s life has been shaped by loss and resilience. In 2017, while she was in the capital Dhaka receiving treatment for cancer, floods swept through her village, destroying her home. They rebuilt what they could, but their house remained fragile. Then, in 2021, tragedy struck again — Amena’s husband died, taking with him not only her life partner but the family’s main source of income. She sold everything she could — belongings, animals, land — just to survive.

I had no financial support at the time. I learned if I have to do something, I can stand by myself. I just need the opportunity.
Amena’s previous cooking space

Amena’s previous cooking space

Amena and her new improved kitchen

Amena and her new improved kitchen

That opportunity came when Amena joined AzuKo’s construction training. Using her new skills, she has built a stronger, safer kitchen — one that has transformed her daily life. She invested 6,000 BDT (£53) of her own money into the project, determined to contribute to her family’s future.

Her new kitchen is a far cry from the crumbling, smoky space she once cooked in. It now has solid foundations, crossbracing, and strong joints. There’s an electric stove, lights to cook under at night, a water station, and room to gather.

It’s the heart of the home — a place to talk, do homework, share meals and welcome guests.

Gone are the days of collecting firewood, breathing in smoke, and preparing meals on an unhygienic earth floor. Cooking is easier, faster, and safer. Amena now has more time to spend with her children and on her land, where she raises cows and chickens, and harvests rice and corn.

A dedicated space for washing and food preparation

A dedicated space for washing and food preparation

Homework underway in the kitchen

Homework underway in the kitchen

Bamboo crossbracing

Bamboo crossbracing

She has also joined a women’s savings group, supported by AzuKo. Every month, she puts aside a small amount, knowing she can access a low-interest loan if disaster strikes again. This safety net has given her peace of mind for the first time in years.

Amena’s dream is simple yet powerful,

I can’t dream for myself — only for my children. I want them to get a good education and have a better life.

She hopes one day to buy her own land and build a new, forever home, using everything she’s learned.

With your support, more women like Amena can turn hardship into hope. Give what you can, today →

Coronavirus – a message from our Founder

We are facing a situation that is unprecedented in our lifetime. The outbreak of COVID-19, a new strain of coronavirus, is affecting people across the globe but it will undoubtedly hit the most vulnerable in our societies the hardest.

As much of the developed world shuts down in the face of the virus, millions in Bangladesh are ill-equipped to deal with what is to come.

Simple prevention measures such as handwashing with soap and social distancing are near impossible in slums which are densely crowded, with poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Those living in poverty do not have savings to buy the necessary soap or sanitiser. Many are day labourers, if they do not work they do not get paid, and there is no safety net. The knock-on effects of a lockdown will almost certainly lead to extreme food shortages.

With only one COVID-19 testing facility for a population of 168 million, located in the capital Dhaka, cases remain undetected. Hospitals are without PPE, and I have been informed many clinics are turning people away and refusing to treat those with cold and pneumonia symptoms.

There is also a serious issue of misinformation, with rumours spreading about how to protect yourself against the virus using local methods such as eating raw garlic or drinking alcohol.

AzuKo has been working with vulnerable communities in Bangladesh for many years. We will do everything we can to support them now. We have launched an emergency appeal to protect those in acute poverty.

I know this is a difficult time for us all but if you are in a position to give – no matter how small – please do. Help us share virus prevention guidance, provide protective equipment and deliver vital hygiene supplies.

Here's how your donation will save lives:

  • £29 pays for community banners sharing best practice, e.g. hand washing, social distancing

  • £84 provides 300 x bars of soap, enough to protect a small village

  • £125 provides 15 x protective equipment (face mask, gloves, hand sanitiser, apron) for our frontline staff

Read more about our COVID-19 response.


AzuKo is going to be under extreme pressure over the coming months. It is becoming harder for us to raise the vital income needed to keep our charity going.

The postponement of major fundraising events, such as the London Marathon, is having a big impact. Because of social distancing restrictions we're not able to raise support directly with the public. Our corporate partners are feeling the strain, and trusts are overwhelmed by requests for help. If you can support AzuKo by increasing your current regular gift, or making a small one-off gift it will help us continue our vital work during the crisis, and beyond.

Thank you as ever for your continued support. Please look after yourself and those around you.

With gratitude,

Jo Ashbridge

Founder & CEO, AzuKo

Health meets home

Our Director, Jo was invited to join the podcast Health Meets Home, hosted by doctor, author and property enthusiast Dr Lafina Diamandis. Health Meets Home dives into the fascinating relationship between health, housing and why the places we live influence our behaviour, physical and mental health. The podcast features some of the nation's leading experts on health and housing and discusses the latest innovations being developed to meet the changing needs of our population.

<< Listen to the episode

Alongside our friend Amos Goldreich, we discuss:

  • The effects of design and architecture on health

  • Why people hold the answers to the challenges they face

  • Social housing, lighting and perception of space

  • How co-working could be a viable solution for homelessness

  • What architects can do about the postcode lottery impact on health

Read about how we’re designing to improve health and wellbeing with women in Bangladesh.