Friendship Luxembourg Donates 1,500 Masks to Red Cross Social Grocery Stores

Friendship Luxembourg has donated 1,500 masks to the social grocery stores of fellow NGO the Luxembourg Red Cross.

In the presence of Runa Khan, founder and executive director of Friendship, and Luc Scheer, member of the management committee of the Luxembourg Red Cross, Friendship Luxembourg handed over 1,500 masks made in Bangladesh to the beneficiaries of the Red Cross' social grocery stores.

For the purchase of a mask for €4 in its pop-up store (open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00-18:00 and located at 43 Grand-Rue in Luxembourg-Ville), Friendship pledges to provide a vulnerable person in Luxembourg with a free mask via the network of social grocery stores of the Red Cross, as well as a free mask to a vulnerable person in Bangladesh.

Runa Khan explained that “there is a very strong sense of solidarity and generosity which is part of the cultural heritage of Bengal. When crises arise - and Bangladeshis frequently face crises and disasters - it is important to have people who are very active in helping others. And it is good to note, here in Luxembourg, that this feeling of solidarity and generosity knows no borders”.

Building on the success of this initiative, Friendship donated 1,500 masks to the beneficiaries of social grocery stores. Luc Scheer, member of the management committee of the Luxembourg Red Cross, thanked the organisation by stating: “The health crisis we are going through is global. Through this operation, Friendship supports its programmes in Bangladesh while showing solidarity in Luxembourg. Thanks to this operation, the beneficiaries of the Red Cross social grocery stores will have free masks".

The contribution of both individuals and various businesses have already allowed for a discount of 3,500 additional masks for the start of the school year in September.

One of Friendship's activities is to train women from the poorest and most isolated communities of Bangladesh in weaving and sewing in order to provide them with income opportunities. During the ongoing health crisis, a large number of women with a sewing machine were mobilised and pre-cut fabrics for making masks were provided. These fabrics were made in Friendship weaving centres with only natural dyes. The design is inspired by the standard design of Japanese masks and thanks to the superposition of three layers of cotton, the expected effectiveness is guaranteed. The NGO noted that women workers are paid with dignity for their work at a time when the health situation, now coupled with severe flooding, is exacerbating situations of extreme poverty in the country.

To know more about the project, visit https://friendship.ngo/no-business-as-usual-des-masques-de-protection-pour-tous/.