United Nations Yak

David P. Haxton retired from UNICEF as Regional Director in South Asia where he served for eight years covering Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives in addition to India. He served also in Indonesia and for 15 years in South America (Peru, Colombia, Brazil).

He is now Executive Director of ICCIDD (International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders) and travels extensively to work with national governments and private sector parties on the achievement of Universal Salt Iodization and the virtual elimination of IDD, the major cause of preventable mental retardation. (more…)

Congratulations, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
by Susan Davis

Thrilling news arrived as the ball was about to drop in Times Square: Abed made the Queen’s list and was to be knighted! Joining the ranks of Sir Elton John and Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was touched by the sword on Feb. 16, 2010 in a dramatic ceremony held in Buckingham Palace. This historic tradition of the British Crown meant so much to the founder of BRAC. Not only was he the first Bangladeshi to be knighted since 1947 but also his great uncle had received this honor in 1913.  Now, he has become Sir Fazle. Surrounded by his wife, now Lady Sarwat Abed and two children, Tamara and Shameron, Abed accepted this honor on behalf of the 125,000 staff and millions of clients who comprise BRAC across a dozen countries. Read More about this event.

Fazle Hasan Abed is the Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, the Bangladesh- based international development organization dedicated to poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. Abed, an accountant by training, founded BRAC in 1972 after Bangladesh’s war of independence initially to provide relief and rehabilitation to returning war refugees. Under Abed’s leadership, BRAC grew to become the largest development organization in the world in terms of the scale and diversity of its interventions operating in 9 countries across Asia and Africa. (more…)

THERE IS A KEY HIDDEN IN EACH DIFFICULTY.

When arrive personal trials and difficulties, they bring us new opportunities to become stronger, to develop new faculties and capacities. This can be compared to the arrival of a new spring. When there is mud, snow, cold, still the seeds are getting ready to be planted, to germinate and to grow, and to bring fruit. In the same way difficulties and trials give us the possibilities to work on new qualities, enrich us and to be useful to others. (more…)

David Rudder is one of the top calypsonians of all time, who also served as UNDP goodwill ambassador for the caribbean. In 1977, he joined Charlie’s Roots, one of the top bands in Trinidad and Tobago. He spent many years as one of the vocalists with the band. In 1986 he burst into prominence with his album The Hammer which produced two big hits, The Hammer (a tribute to the late pannist Rudolph Charles) and Bahia Girl. This was followed in 1987 with Calypso Music, a brilliant encapsulation of the history of calypso. (more…)