Nazma Akter and the Awaj Foundation--Helping Hundreds of Thousands of Bangladeshi Workers

July 15, 2015
by Bill Quinn

photo courtesy of GIZ

In part two of my interview with Human Rights advocate Nazma Akter we hear more about the work she and others at the Awaj Foundation are doing to change the lives of hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of people in Bangladesh.  We hear how the foundation is not just trying to improve conditions in factories but holistically trying to improve the lives of those factory workers.  From free healthcare to legal support to safety training, the Awaj Foundation is a major force for change throughout the country.  We hear about the successes, challenges and the future for Nazma and the Awaj Foundation in this part of my interview.

Download this episode here.

Be sure to listen to part 1 to learn more about Nazma’s life as a child worker and transition into the labor movement.

Visit the Awaj Foundation’s web site to learn more about the ways they are transforming Bangladesh.

Check out more highlights of the Awaj Foundation’s work.

If you would like to get in contact with Nazma and the Awaj Foundation, contact them here.

Learn more about Nazma and her award here.

Thank you again to Nazma Akter and the Awaj Foundation for their time.  And thank you to Blessings in Brooklyn, NY who let me sit for hours putting all this together and doing a whole bunch of other things.  If you're in looking for a great neighborhood coffee shop with excellent service you could do a lot worse.

Nazma Akter and the Awaj Foundation--From Child Worker to Powerful Activist

July 13, 2015
NGO Report Episode 1, Part 1
by Bill Quinn

Photo from Cornell's "The Worker Institute"

I was very honored to spend some time speaking with Nazma Akter about her life, work and the future for Bangladeshi garment workers--particularly women.  She has dedicated her life to improving the working and living conditions for workers in Bangladesh as a labor organizer and Executive Director of the Awaj Foundation.  In part one of my interview, Nazma talks about what it was like to start working in a factory when she was 11 years old.  We also hear about her experiences protesting for improved working conditions despite being attacked by hired factory "goons" as well as her transition into becoming a labor leader.

Download the podcast here.

Learn more about the Awaj Foundation by visiting their web site here.

Read up on Nazma Akter here.

Keep an eye out for part two and three of our conversation coming out in a few days by subscribing, and liking the podcast on these sites: Twitter  Facebook

Thank you to Nazma for spending some time speaking with me and thoughtfully answering all my questions.

(Opening song for "NGO Report" provided by Tales Of A Dead Fish (The Freak Fandango Orchestra) / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Episode 4.5--Come Out And Play!

Friday, July 10 2015
by Bill Quinn

Come Out And Play 2015 is only a week away!  I'm excited to be going and even more excited that I was able to speak with Greg Trefry, co-founder of the festival.  In episode 4 we spoke about what to expect and how to get involved.  But we also spoke a little bit about the history of the festival and some of the more memorable moments.  And here it is, my extended interview with Greg:

To download the episode click here.

To learn more about the festival visit their web site.

Check out the real world game designer discussion, "Come Out And Say" at the NYU Game Center.

Want to volunteer? Click here.

Don't want to go alone? Hitch up with my meetup group (no need to RSVP).

Thanks again to Greg for being generous with his time and to NOFX for not complaining that I've been ripping off their song from the beginning.

Oh, and I couldn't resist...

Fledgling Podcast Lands Interview With Major Bangladeshi Labor and Human Rights Advocate, Nazma Akter.

July 9, 2015
by Bill Quinn

I was so worried I actually researched and prepared for the interview.  

I'd like to keep the pretension that this is a professional operation.  But I will take a brief moment to let you know that I somehow landed a big get for the podcast here.  Early yesterday morning I spent some time interviewing one of the most important human rights advocates in Bangladesh.  You see, I have been trying to get in contact with NGOs in developing countries in the hopes of passing on their stories to Americans as part of a new project called NGO Report.  When I first contacted the Awaj Foundation I didn't quite know the size and scope of their work.  However after I scheduled an interview with Nazma Akter, the Foundation's Director, I learned that she is one of the most well-known leaders in Bangladesh and her foundation impacts millions of people.

In 2013 Nazma won the ASTRAIA Female Leader of the Year Award. Channel Four in the UK said she was leading a revolution and called her, "the powerful SGSF union leader who has risen to prominence through her defence of [the] country's female workforce."  Naturally, I was so nervous that I had to stop reading about her before I learned anything else that would ratchet up the pressure of the interview. Luckily, through the magic of audio editing, I have been eliminating much of my nervous stuttering and "ums."  And of course, Nazma was very friendly and open to answering all my questions which helped.

We spoke about her life as an exploited child factory worker, her personal story of being attacked by "goons" for protesting missed payments and the amazing organization that she helped build and lead that came out of those experiences.  I even had a chance to speak with her about the aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy, the influence of corporations in Bangladesh and why she won't run for Prime Minister.  Stay tuned--next week I will be posting my interview in three parts.  

Follow the podcast on Twitter or Facebook to get notified as episodes are released.

"Come Out And Play"--Maybe The Most Fun You'll Have This Summer!

July 6, 2015--Episode 4

Summer festivals regularly feature a few people performing in front of a mass of passive observers.  But Come Out And Play, hitting New York in mid-July, wants festival goers at the center of the games they have to offer.  In this episode I talk with co-founder and organizer Greg Trefry who walks me through this yearly celebration that turns the city streets and parks into playing fields, game boards and video screens.  Games like "Spaghetti Stand-Off," video games like "Churp Club" and sports like "Circle Rules Football" will be taking over DUMBO and Governor's Island on July 17th and 18th as part of this free event.  The festival will kickoff on July 16 at NYU's Game Center with designers talking about their games, giving attendees an inside view of the creative process.

Download the episode here.

I have to admit, I was pretty excited to do an episode about this festival.  Games are in my DNA as anyone who knows me can attest.  But, as Greg has discovered, they are also a great way to bring together a diverse community.  Moreover, throughout its ten-year history the festival has organized several games with a social conscience.  These include games that find ways of improving a neighborhood, reclaiming public space or educating participants.  For organizations looking to advocate and educate people on social causes, you might find this event has some inspirational ideas.

To learn more about the festival visit their web site.

Check out the real world game designer discussion, "Come Out And Say" at the NYU Game Center.

Want to volunteer?  Click here.

Don't want to go alone?  Hitch up with my meetup group (no need to RSVP).

A huge thanks to Greg for taking time out of his holiday weekend to speak with me.  And as always, a tip of my hat to NOFX for the opener.

The Impact Network--Transforming Zambia's Schools

June 15, 2015--Episode 3
by Bill Quinn

Download the episode here.

It's been a while (two months?) but I'm happy to be back on track.  And with an organization whose mission of bringing high quality education to rural Africa is close to my heart--the Impact Network.  In this episode I talk with the Executive Director, Reshma Patel, who is operating ten schools in Zambia.  Not only is the Impact Network running several schools but they are leading a revolution of technology and progressive teaching methods.  We talk about the challenges of building schools and how the Impact Network's approach is helping students, improving communities and creating an education model for the whole country.

Do yourself a favor and visit the Impact Network's web site to learn more about the terrific work they're doing.  There are also lots of ways to get involved from fundraising, interning and volunteering.

A technical note:  So if you've just found my podcast or you've been a follower from the beginning, this is a pretty loose operation.  As such, I'm discovering a world of technical hiccups that apparently come with the territory.  In this episode I explore how a slow computer/Skype connection can play havoc with my recording.  So for now, please pardon the many audio problems.

A big thank you to Reshma Patel for working around my schedule and enduring all of the technical issues (in addition to the normal personality issues I subject guests to).  And to NOFX whose song, "Franco UnAmerican," I keep stealing; thank you.  I look forward to the day you return my emails and officially give me permission to use it as the opener to my podcast,

Episode 2.5--The Sex Workers Project Edited!

download the episode here.

So it turns out that after two episodes not every nonprofit in New York is banging down my door to be featured.  So while I go out and shake down some nonprofit for an interview, check out episode 2.5--an edited version of my interview with Angela Torregoza from the Sex Workers Project.  Most content providers do an edited version then release a longer version later but you'll just have to deal with my genre-busting ways.

This is a convenient reminder that the Sex Workers Project's fundraiser is a month away!  Angela and I will both be there so I hope you can come by and say "hello."

For more information, visit the Sex Workers Project.

Also be sure to visit Angela's web site as well as her justice blog.

All thanks to Angela, The Sex Worker Project, Jaclyn and of course NOFX who has generously allowed me to pirate a theme song.