Written by Sana Ansari
(Events & Volunteer Development Intern)

On the morning of June 19th 2010, defying weather predictions of thunder storms and rain, walkers successfully trekked a 5k track for IDRF’s Walkathon and BBQ held at High Park. With each step they garnered hope for innocent internally displaced children of Somalia.

Despite inclement weather predictions many enthusiastic walkers turned out early that morning for a brisk trot down the pleasant trail that weaves through the park’s picturesque landscape.

Winston Kassim C.M. Investiture in the Order of Canada

TORONTO—June 18, 2010. IDRF (International Development & Relief Foundation) is highly pleased to announce that our Vice Chair, Winston Shyam Liaquat Kassim C.M., whose Appointment to the Order of Canada was announced on July 1, 2009, is being invested as a Member of the Order of Canada.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will preside over an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Friday, June 18, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. The Governor General, who is Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, will bestow the honour on one Companion, 12 Officers and 32 Members. The Order of Canada, created in 1967 during Canada’s centennial year, recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation by Canadians from all sectors of society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country).

Winston Kassim C.M. has devoted a considerable part of his life volunteering for worthy causes, including for IDRF, to whose sustainability and growth he has been dedicated for over five years. He is the first Canadian of Guyanese origin who is receiving the Order of Canada.

In the Governor General’s Media Release, Mr. Kassim’s citation is as follows:

“Winston Kassim has advocated on behalf of ethnic communities and humanitarian causes at the local, national and international levels for more than 30 years. A committed and dynamic volunteer, he played an instrumental role in establishing several faith-based community centres, including two Ontario mosques that provide outreach services to new immigrants. He is highly regarded for his fundraising skills and networking abilities, which have benefited many organizations, including the International Development and Relief Foundation. Head of the Royal Bank of Canada’s Canadian banking strategic initiatives, he also mentors individuals in the workplace and in the community, helping to promote inclusiveness and cultural awareness.”

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Children born in poverty are vulnerable to early deaths, which is particularly heartrending as the causes could be totally preventable.

For example, one of the leading causes of infant deaths in Bangladesh is Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). Poor rural households in Bangladesh rely heavily on wood, dung and other biomass fuels for cooking. This practice exposes inhabitants to smoke which when inhaled can severely damage their health. Women and children are the most exposed groups to IAP.

Maternal health and infant mortality have been longstanding issues in Bangladesh, especially in the Southeastern sub‐districts of Chittagong. Due to past and current civil conflicts, neglect and severe poverty, the region faces a vast array of problems stemming from a lack of water and sanitation, poor nutrition and inadequate health services. In addition, due to the differences in coverage and quality of services, women in Chittagong today receive on average fewer maternal health services compared to the rest of the country. An estimated 13% of women in the region are attended by skilled attendants during childbirth. Women in the region also battle poverty, malnutrition and continued sickness on a daily basis.