Ivanka: 'Bangladesh changed my life. Now, I am myself.'
A little girl from Bangladesh received support from donor Ivanka Hana (76) for almost twenty years to help her with her studies. Now grown up, she is a young, confident woman with a bachelor's degree. She works as a nurse, continues her education, and helps others. When they finally met in Bangladesh after all those years, they both cried. "I've loved you for twenty years," said Ivanka.
How does it feel, Ivanka, to meet the girl you've supported since childhood for the first time in twenty years?
It's hard to describe. I knew that Misty had graduated successfully and was now working as a nurse. But when she hugged me, started crying and thanked me for changing her life, I was completely speechless. She said, 'Thank you for loving me, for changing my life.' Hearing that, I pulled her close and said, 'Misty, Misty, I've loved you for twenty years.'
We were both crying at that moment, and there were tears in the eyes of everyone around us. It was a unique moment. Even the cameraman who filmed it later told me that he found it difficult to keep the camera steady. It was something amazing that couldn't be planned — pure, real and human.
Ivanka, you've always helped everyone, but then you started supporting Misty. How was supporting one specific person different for you?
Ever since the humanitarian organisation ADRA was founded, I have helped with collections, motivated students and other schools, and organised aid. Anyone would do that. But when I learned that with BanglaKids, you can support one specific child, I was really drawn to that idea. I liked that I could follow the child's journey. It wasn't an anonymous donation.
I received regular feedback, and that's what made it different. I received letters, report cards and photos of Misty. I saw how that little girl from the village grew into a smart, confident young woman. I was happy that she was the best in her class and was getting straight A+ grades. A child who would otherwise have remained illiterate is now helping others. To me, that's a miracle.
Do you think that education can change a person's destiny?
Absolutely. Seeing how children live in the slums of Bangladesh — hungry, dirty and aimless, often sewing in workshops for twelve hours a day from the age of seven — and then seeing the children who go to school thanks to ADRA was like looking at two completely different worlds.
The children supported by the school are happy because they know they have a chance. What's more, it also has a positive impact on their families. Misty told me that her siblings now go to school too. When one family member experiences education, it opens doors for everyone. In our country, it is normal to go to school — elementary, middle and high school. But in Misty's environment, it's different. Misty is a miracle to me.
Don't you think it's unfair that Misty received help, but other children didn't?
No, not at all. When you help one child, you help others, too. Misty's studies have also inspired her siblings and the children in the village. Thanks to her, other parents have realised that education is worthwhile. Moreover, Misty comes from the poorest of circumstances, from a family that could never afford an education. When the poorest get a chance, it gives hope to everyone else.
Misty wants to be a teacher. What are your thoughts on the 'chain reaction' of helping others?
That's what makes it so wonderful. Misty wants to train other nurses. They, in turn, will continue her work of helping patients and children. It's a chain of goodness that will never be broken.
And you know what? I see it at home, too. My grandchildren have started organising charity events and fundraisers to help seniors. I remember when my grandson Marek was little, we organised a humanitarian fundraiser in the car park of a shopping centre. He was wearing an ADRA T-shirt that nearly touched the ground and had an ADRA collection box around his neck. One man started yelling at him, saying he should be ashamed of begging for money there, but it didn't deter anyone. The help continues.
I am very happy that a spirit of solidarity and willingness to help is being passed on across generations and continents.
What was your personal experience of the people of Bangladesh?
Absolutely exceptional. Nowhere else in the world have I encountered such humility, kindness and gratitude. They have almost nothing, yet they give everything.
I remember once, after we had eaten together at a restaurant, the ADRA workers noticed that I liked mushroom soup. They had never made it before, but the next day they put a bowl of it in front of me. The cook had found the recipe on YouTube just to make me happy. When I left the table, someone would immediately cover my plate to stop insects getting on my food.
This kind of attention to detail is not so common in the Czech Republic. People here are often in a hurry and tend to frown. In contrast, even the poorest people there smile and wish you well. They have big hearts, are grateful and live in the moment.
Ivanka, they say that your trip to Bangladesh changed you profoundly. How?
Completely. I realised that I had actually lived my whole life the way others expected me to. I had to 'present myself' in a certain way, being proper according to society's rules. In Bangladesh, all that fell away. There, I could be myself. I knew that I could be myself, that I could be who I really am.
It was as if a layer of pretence had been peeled away — the kind that forces you to constantly think about what is appropriate and what you should do. There, I could rejoice, laugh, cry and be authentic.
I understood that God loves me just the way I am. I don't have to hide anymore. Other people could no longer hurt me with their opinions and judgements. I don't have to behave according to other people's expectations. I can be myself at all times.
It's almost like a spiritual awakening.
Yes, exactly. Thanks to that trip, I found myself again. I think we all have some inner pain that shapes us. For me, it was my childhood — I felt like I wasn't good enough or favoured. Perhaps that's why I wanted to give love to others. Today, I can see clearly what I was missing and how I gave it to others my whole life. Helping others is actually a way of healing yourself.
Ivanka, how did you cope with returning home? Do people experience culture shock after such a journey?
Enormous. Even at the airport. In Bangladesh, people smile, greet each other and help each other. Here, it's silence, haste and closedness. Having been surrounded by such kindness, I felt that I was missing out on humanity here and that I might not even exist. I missed smiles.
What would you say to people who are considering supporting a child from a developing country?
Go ahead and do it! But don't just expect to give. Above all, you will receive, too. Helping others isn't just about money; it's about joy. Every letter, every report card and every smile from that child will enrich your life. It's like investing in your own happiness. It may sound paradoxical, but I mean it sincerely: helping others is the most beautiful form of selfishness. Because it brings happiness to everyone involved.
That's nice. What did your experience in Bangladesh bring to your future?
I'm no longer afraid to be myself. I think Bangladesh set me free. It taught me to live simply but authentically. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remember the smiling people in the slums. I tell myself, 'If they can live with joy, so can I.'
Ivanka, one last question: what would you say to Misty if you met again?
I would say the same thing I said in Bangladesh: 'I've loved you for twenty years.' Once the emotions had settled a little, I would add, 'Thank you for showing me what humanity means.' Because maybe I was helping her, but she actually saved a piece of my soul.
Thank you for the interview.
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P.S. Ivanka would like to thank the following people for their help: influencer MENT; Miss Justýna Zedníková; cameraman Michal; donor Anna; and the entire team of our colleagues from BCSS and ADRA Bangladesh. On behalf of the BanglaKids team, we would like to express our sincere gratitude together with Ivanka.
P.P.S. If you haven't read the first interview with Ivanka yet, you can find it via this link.
