What is time poverty?

We've all said it... "there's just not enough time in the day!" Our lives are packed full, juggling work and family life. But imagine if on top of all that, you had to search for fuel and harvest your own crops to cook breakfast, walk miles to source water each day, repair your house which is continually eroded by flooding... what time would be left to focus on you?

Low income means less investment in the basic infrastructure of our lives, meaning people become time poor. Time poverty is linked to lower wellbeing, physical health and productivity. Ultimately lack of time stops people improving their circumstances, making it much more difficult to rise above poverty. It's a vicious cycle.

“The most difficult part of my day is collecting food to feed my cows. I walk between the padi (rice) fields, cutting grass for a couple of hours, every day after breakfast. It’s back breaking in the heat.”

— Ranu, Bangladesh

This burden falls disproportionately on women, who often face additional responsibilities at home. On an average day, women spend three times as many hours on unpaid domestic and care work as men. Too busy to visit the doctor, go to school, or earn money to support their family.

At AzuKo, we recognise this invisible currency, and help reduce the time it takes to complete 'unpaid work' in the home. We teach housing design ideas and share products that are more efficient, and we promote construction materials and techniques that require less maintenance, last longer and have high returns (cheaper over time). Read about our construction training in Bangladesh →

An extra hour saved each day, over the course of a year, would free up more than two weeks. Over a lifetime that would mean three years – precious time to build a brighter future.

Imagine what you could do with that extra time?

Author: J. Ashbridge

A Trustee's visit: Building homes and improving lives

Jakhya Rahman-Corey, Director of the Swarovski Foundation, joined AzuKo’s Board of Trustees, bringing a wealth of experience in global philanthropy, strategy development, and sustainability. Read about her recent trip to Bangladesh, where she visited our work across Dinajpur district.

AzuKo's unwavering commitment to innovative architectural solutions for underserved communities has left a lasting impression on me. I wanted to share my personal insights and reflect on the significant impact AzuKo is making in Bangladesh, supported by compelling statistics that underscore the urgency of their mission.

Understanding the housing challenge in Bangladesh

To grasp the scale of the housing challenge faced by communities in Bangladesh, it is important to consider the following statistics:

• Housing shortage – By 2030, UN-Habitat estimates that three billion people, about 40% of the world’s population, will need access to adequate housing. Within Bangladesh, millions are heading to cities to tap into economic opportunities, causing booming urban growth, which poses numerous challenges for families and individuals.

• Informal settlements – Many people find themselves living in informal settlements with inadequate infrastructure and limited access to essential services. These settlements often lack basic amenities and fail to provide a secure and dignified living environment.

AzuKo's transformative architectural solutions

During my visit to Dinajpur, I had the privilege of witnessing AzuKo's transformative work first-hand, specifically their efforts to build houses and toilets for underserved communities.

1. Building safe and sustainable homes – AzuKo's architectural solutions prioritise safety and sustainability. Their focus on constructing structurally sound and environmentally friendly homes ensures that families have a secure place to live. It was inspiring to see how AzuKo's designs blend functionality with cultural sensitivity, creating spaces that resonate with the community's needs.

2. Addressing sanitation needs – Approximately 46% of the population in Bangladesh don’t have access to a clean, safe toilet of their own. AzuKo's efforts to build safe and hygienic toilets for marginalised communities not only improves health outcomes but also enables a cleaner environment for the communities they serve.

3. Collaborative approach – AzuKo's success lies in their collaborative approach. They actively engage community members throughout the entire process, ensuring that their voices are heard and their specific needs are met. By involving the community, AzuKo fosters a sense of ownership and empowers individuals to take charge of their own living conditions.

Personal reflections

This visit has been an eye-opening experience that has reaffirmed the importance of AzuKo’s mission. The statistics on the housing shortage and inadequate sanitation facilities emphasise the pressing need for organisations like AzuKo.

As a Trustee, I am more dedicated than ever to supporting AzuKo's transformative initiatives. By providing resources and spreading awareness, we can contribute to their efforts in building safe and sustainable homes, improving sanitation, and ultimately uplifting communities in need.

Huge thanks to the team, and fellow Trustees, for all the efforts made to drive forward the charity’s aims. Together, let us support AzuKo’s work towards sustainable change, ensuring that every individual has access to safe housing and amenities for a better future.

I urge you to donate and support AzuKo’ efforts.

Author: J. Rahman-Corey

The London Marathon heads to Bangladesh

This year, AzuKo has been fortunate to secure three places in the Virtual London Marathon. With one month to go until race day we caught up with two of our runners, Proloy and Ovi, who will be taking part in Dinajpur, northwest Bangladesh. Here’s what they had to say.

Although there are no views of the famous London landmarks and no cheering crowds, the Virtual London Marathon has enabled people from across the globe to take part, making it more inclusive for runners worldwide. Proloy and Ovi both live in Dinajpur and, as long-time volunteers for AzuKo, they were looking to increase their support. What better way than running 26.2 miles (42.2km)!

• What is it that motivated you to take part in the Virtual London Marathon?

Ovi: When I work with AzuKo I feel like we’re doing something for people, and we’re capturing the moment. AzuKo is helping the poorest people... and we’re a part of that. Recently we’ve been helping to distribute hygiene packs to families in need during this pandemic.

Proloy: I don’t have much money to help them. So, what can I do for them? By running the Virtual London Marathon I can raise awareness and vital funds. And it also helps me to maintain my health, my mental health, my physical health. Actually, it helps me more than them!

As sporting enthusiasts and avid explorers, having both completed an epic journey cycling around Bangladesh in just 14 days and taken part in the Dhaka Half Marathon, we were keen to hear what it is that they love about exercise.

• What do you enjoy about cycling and running?

Proloy: It's all about the environment. When we move we experience new landscapes, buildings and communities. Whenever I’m cycling, I try to enjoy the journey. That helps to keep me pedalling… I could cycle all day long, 24 hours, I’m ready for it.

Ovi: We have a circle – me, Proloy and our friend. Whenever we get some time, we encourage each other, “let's go cycling in that area where we’ve never been before”. Why would I sit at home and do nothing, better to move around and start an adventure.

With sports such as running rare in Bangladesh, and extreme weather conditions to compete with, we wanted to know how their training was coming along.

• How are you preparing for the virtual London marathon? What does your training look like?

Ovi: Right now in Bangladesh summer days are hot and humid, we’re very much struggling with it. Some days the monsoon rains fall all morning and afternoon. So, it’s very difficult to continue the training on those days.

Proloy: We try to exercise and do some activities to move our body. When we find time to run or walk it's usually early in the morning or late evening. A marathon is a huge distance. I question sometimes, “can I complete 42 km?” But I’m determined to do it for this great cause.

Ovi: People don't run that much in Bangladesh, it's not common. When we put on our jersey and our shoes everyone always asks us why we’re running. Sometimes we are open and tell them about AzuKo and the charity’s work to improve living conditions. I have opened a messenger group in our university campus (Hajee Danesh) where my friends are all invited. Whenever I get a link from AzuKo and the London Marathon organisers, I share it so they can participate as well.

And finally, we had just one last and very important question for them both.

• How are you going to celebrate when you finish the marathon?

Proloy: After finishing, a deep sleep at the finish line! No more talking, no party, just sleep. Then after one day, I think, oh, okay, I have done my job lets party!

Ovi: I’ll just jump into the river!

To support them, please visit Proloy’s fundraising page and Ovi’s fundraising page.

To join them on their journey and keep up to date with their training in the extreme heat and rainy downpours of Bangladesh, follow their Facebook page.

… and our CEO, Jo is running too!