Jotno Foundation: Our Story
Inspiration
Nasreen had always harbored a deep passion for social justice and felt a strong commitment to helping marginalized communities. Her desire to create meaningful change led her to establish the Jotno Foundation. She recognized that marginalized people often face severe limitations in opportunities, and she wanted to do something to address this injustice. When the time came, Nasreen knew she was ready to take action.
Why Bangladesh?
Nasreen’s connection to Bangladesh runs deep. Born and raised in Bangladesh, she always felt a strong board with her heritage. However, it wasn’t until a pivotal return trip to Bangladesh as a University of Michigan graduate student that her resolve to make a difference solidified. The Global Study Program at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work, awarded Nasreen a grant to pursue knowledge transfer to bring global ideas to act locally, titled “Think Globally, Act Locally,” as a way to carry on with her work with the Hamtramck/Detroit Bengali community.
During her visit, Nasreen met inspiring figures such as Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the visionary behind microcredit loans. Driven by the injustice of traditional banking systems that served only those able to provide collateral, Dr. Yunus used his expertise in economics to empower the poorest individuals who were excluded from these systems. He established Grameen Bank, a groundbreaking institution that offered loans without collateral, enabling the economically marginalized to build sustainable livelihoods. In recognition of their transformative work to “create economic and social development from below,” Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
During this same visit, Nasreen also had the privilege of meeting another remarkable person, Dr. Humaira Islam. Dr. Islam was among the first women to establish an organization founded on Professor Yunus’s micro-credit model, empowering women to transcend gender barriers through economic independence. She reflected, “We still dream of the day when all the women of Bangladesh will learn…to fight against poverty and gender rights till our women learn to earn for themselves and prove that their social status can indeed be equal to that of men.”
During the same visit, Nasreen also met another inspiring woman figure, Dr. Humaira Islam. Dr. Islam was one of the first women to establish an organization based on Professor Yunus’s micro-credit model to empower women to overcome gender differences through economic empowerment.
The Birth of Jotno
Nasreen knew she couldn’t achieve this mission alone. A close family friend, Raisa, who was a part of University of Michigan’s Blue Lab student program, became a key partner in bringing this vision to life. Blue Lab, focused on public health and engineering, had sent students to Bangladesh to conduct community assessments in Dhaka. They observed the challenges faced by single mothers who had migrated from rural areas to urban centers. These women, often forced to leave their children alone at home, struggled to make ends meet. The dire circumstances were exacerbated by the dowry system, which left poor women vulnerable. Many parents, fearful of the stigma of rape and the lack of protection for their daughters, felt compelled to marry them off at a young age.
Raisa, deeply moved by the plight of these women and children, shared her insights with Nasreen. Her passion for human rights, international law, and social justice aligned perfectly with Nasreen’s vision. Inspired by Raisa’s perspective and her own experiences, Nasreen realized the potential to make a significant difference. The two women combined their strengths, and the Jotno Foundation was born.
Jotno Foundation is not just a charitable organization; it is a testament to the power of empathy, collaboration, and a shared commitment to social justice. Nasreen and Raisa’s journey is a reminder that meaningful change begins with recognizing the humanity in others and taking bold steps to create a more equitable world.