"Thank you, Amma": Asifur Chowdhury's humanitarian mission – a unique pilot project presented in Singapore

In densely populated urban environments, where fresh produce is often expensive or difficult to access, non-profit rooftop gardens provide a direct source of healthy food for those who need it the most. Beyond ensuring food security and lowering living costs, these spaces foster a spirit of community and social inclusion.

The SAZZ Initiative is a Singapore-based non-profit organization founded by businessman Asifur Chowdhury, dedicated to societal betterment through comprehensive local action. Since its inception in October 2022, the organization has provided over 10,000 meals to nearly 1,000 socially vulnerable families and elderly individuals living in rental flats in the Tanjong Pagar district.

The Initiative gained global recognition when Asifur Chowdhury, as one of four crew members, participated in the "London2Singapore 2023" expedition. From August to December 2023, the team traveled over 15,000 miles across 21 countries in two Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles for a humanitarian cause, raising support for organizations in India, Bhutan, China, and Singapore.

The SAZZ Initiative's latest pilot project was unveiled this friday with the grand opening of Singapore's first non-profit rooftop garden. Mr. Chowdhury presented a vision to the attendees that transcends the local community, announcing an ambitious plan to expand this model to a national level.

At the opening ceremony of the first pilot project, he expressed special gratitude to Minister Indranee Rajah for her pivotal support in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, as well as the team of farmers who brought the project to life, noting that its success was the result of a joint effort between the Tanjong Pagar Town Council and the local Community Centre. Introducing his team members and family, his wife, who coined the foundation's name, and his son Zain, Chowdhury emphasized that while the idea of covering the entire nation with urban gardens might sound impossible, he firmly believes that with such cooperation, "everything is possible."

However, as Chowdhury revealed, the true inspiration for this project was his mother.

- About twenty years ago, my mother started growing food on the roof of our three-story house, which had been empty until then. She came up with the idea of growing her own vegetables using old oil drums. For the last 20 years, whenever she visited me, she would bring mangoes or whatever had grown in her garden - Chowdhury recounted.

He described finding the roof completely filled with plants during his last visit, highlighting her generosity.

- What she grew, she would share with her poor relatives. All I can say is - thank you, Amma, - he concluded in his address, dedicating this modern project to the woman who sowed the seeds of humanity in old oil drums on a rooftop.

- I really wish my mother could have been here for this special moment. My son and I spent two years working alongside Minister Indranee on this pilot project under the SAZZ Initiative. Together, we created Singapore's first non-profit rooftop farm-garden intended for the underprivileged residents of Tanjong Pagar - Chowdhury told Telegraf.rs, adding that such gardens would continue to expand across Singapore wherever conditions allow.

The story of the SAZZ Initiative and its founder, Asifur Chowdhury, serves as a powerful reminder of how personal inspiration can be transformed into lasting social good. Singapore's first non-profit rooftop garden transcends its basic agricultural function; it is becoming a vital hub of solidarity that not only provides fresh produce to the underprivileged but also brings nature back into the city's concrete core.

In an era of growing urban alienation, such projects are of inestimable value as they prove that sustainable development is not merely an ecological issue, but a deeply human one - turning unused rooftops into fertile ground for strengthening community bonds and caring for one's neighbors.

Asifur Rahman Chowdhury is a prominent leader in the international maritime shipping industry, heading the Singapore-based company Seatrek Trans Pte Ltd. While his firm has successfully engaged in global logistics, ship chartering, and transoceanic cargo transport for decades, Chowdhury has channeled his corporate influence and organizational skills toward higher goals through the founding of the SAZZ Initiative.

This blend of business and philanthropy has enabled him to apply logistical precision to solving social problems, allowing him to channel his knowledge and resources directly into projects such as urban rooftop farms, support for migrant workers, and assistance for socially vulnerable families, proving that successful business and community care go hand in hand.

(Telegraf Biznis)