The labour room was quiet except for the soft beeping of monitors. A young woman, far from home and terrified, held the hands of a few women she barely knew. They weren’t family or close friends, but members of Viqarunnisa Alumni Australia (VAAUS).
She had escaped domestic violence while pregnant and found herself completely alone in a new country. But during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was not truly alone. Compassionate women from VAAUS became her family. They found her shelter, ensured her care and stood by her side through it all. That single act of compassion reflected the heart of the organisation. It turns sisterhood into purpose and empathy into action.
VAAUS began in October 2016, when a few Viqarunnisa alumni in Sydney met to reconnect and explore how their shared bond could create impact. By March 2017, they officially established Viqarunnisa Alumni Australia, a platform rooted in sisterhood, purpose, and community service.
Founders Dr Ifat Anjum, Dr Fariza Sabrina, Fadia Tasneem, Dr Suranjana Jennifer Rahman and Tasrina Nahid Tonny aimed to transform classroom connections from Dhaka into a force for good. Under later leadership, VAAUS became a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, expanding its reach and impact across Australia.
Since its inception, the organisation has contributed over $42,000 to twelve organisations across six Australian states and territories, supporting initiatives in health, education and dignity for women, children and families.
Their work goes beyond numbers. During the 2022 floods in Queensland and New South Wales, they provided aid through the Red Cross. They partnered with Share the Dignity to supply hygiene essentials, organised charity dinners for seriously ill children and raised funds to advance paediatric research in Perth.
The acting Principal Viqarunnisa Noon School & College, Mazeda Begum, shared a heartfelt message of pride and encouragement for her former students, “It makes me so proud to see our daughters carrying forward the torch of service wherever they go. This goes to show that when education is joined with compassion, it can cross all borders and bring real change to communities. VAAUS has truly been a beacon of hope, touching many lives through its charitable work across Australia.”
Beyond Australia, VAAUS partnered with the AIM Initiative Foundation in Bangladesh to improve education and infrastructure for underprivileged children, building a bridge of kindness between their homeland and their new home.
As it prepares to expand its domestic violence awareness and mentorship programs, VAAUS continues to show that being a Viqi means carrying forward a legacy of empathy, service, and action that knows no borders.
