Bangladesh, which is one of the top 10 countries most impacted by natural disasters and climate change, is observing the resilience and tenacity of its citizens in the face of hardship. The Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC), led by the Local Government Division and supported by UNDP and other development partners, works diligently to strengthen vulnerable communities, particularly to the poor and women. I recently had the honor of travelling to eight Upazilas and five districts in Bangladesh in 10 days to record the tales of those affected by climate change and the tremendous efforts being made to mitigate its effects along with with Prito Reza, a well-known photographer.

At Chilmari Upazila, our first stop, we met Sharitan Chachi, a strong woman who had lost her house to river erosion. Her son hurt during a terrible rainstorm twenty years ago, and it devastated her family. Sharitan Chachi nevertheless found comfort in her daughter-in-law's help, who got support from the project and built resilience to natural calamity.

We met many people on our voyage who, although living in distant places with scarce resources, showed amazing fortitude and unfailing friendliness. And also saw first-hand the terrible realities of living in an area covered with unending sand and dust in Roumari Upazila. One of the upazila facilitators, Nazrul Islam, noted that the villagers had developed "dustproof" characteristics as a result of their persevering difficulties, finding delight in simplicity and giving guests a warm welcome.

In Khulna, we met people whose lives had been changed as a result of the project's help. Seema Munda, a member of the indigenous minority group, served as an example of the advancement made possible by embracing empowerment and overcoming self-doubt.