An NGO with a nearly two-decade presence in Luxembourg has won the global Earthshot Prize for its innovative environmental and social work in Bangladesh.
On the sidelines of the World Climate Conference in Brazil, the Bangladesh-based NGO Friendship was awarded the international Earthshot Prize. The award, founded by Britain's Prince William, honors innovative solutions in the field of sustainability.
The organisation has a significant local connection, having maintained a presence in Luxembourg for nearly two decades through its European flagship store on Rue Beaumont in Luxembourg City. A current visit by two Bangladeshi employees to Luxembourg highlights the NGO's operational model: a close partnership between its headquarters in Bangladesh and its supporting entities in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium, built on a principle of direct exchange.
The Luxembourg shop, the only one of its kind in Europe, sells goods produced by approximately 350 artisans, predominantly women, in textile centres in Bangladesh. "It's magical," said Corinne Hoffelt, a volunteer with the shop since 2018. Hoffelt has travelled to Bangladesh to meet the workers and witness their expertise firsthand.
However, the retail operation represents just one facet of Friendship's broader mission. The NGO is also deeply engaged in healthcare and education. According to Marc Elvinger, President of Friendship Luxembourg, the organisation operates a fleet of seven hospital ships that deliver medical care directly to communities along Bangladesh's major rivers, in addition to running 50 schools.
The project that secured the Earthshot Prize involves the reforestation of mangrove trees along vulnerable riverbanks. This initiative serves a dual purpose: protecting local populations from severe storms and restoring biodiversity. Luxembourg played a pivotal role in this success, according to Project Manager Stéphane Van Haute. He explained that initial funding from the Ministry of the Environment enabled a 40-hectare pilot project, which has since expanded to cover more than 200 hectares.
The Earthshot Prize is accompanied by a £1 million award, which the NGO intends to use to significantly scale its humanitarian and environmental work in Bangladesh.
According to Turza Rahman, who heads donor relations in Bangladesh, a portion of the prize money will be strategically allocated to secure access to larger, international climate funds. Another segment will be dedicated to piloting innovative approaches that were previously beyond the organisation's financial reach.
The shop in Luxembourg City thus represents a gateway to a much broader vision. The underlying mission of Friendship extends far beyond retail, encompassing integrated efforts in health, education, and wome's empowerment. The organisation's work underscores a central tenet: the challenges of climate change are inextricably linked to global social and economic consequences.
