In a country where mental health has long remained in the shadows of public discourse, Tawhida Shiropa has emerged as a powerful voice for awareness, empathy, and action. As the founder and CEO of Moner Bondhu, she has dedicated her life to bringing accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant mental health care to underserved communities in Bangladesh, especially garment workers, women, and young people.
Early Life and Education
Tawhida Shiropa is a social worker and mental health activist with over 15 years of experience. She is a fellow of the Bucerius Summer School (Germany) and the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Women in Business Program. Additionally, she is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, bringing an informed and compassionate approach to psychological support and behavior change.
Founding Moner Bondhu: A Personal Mission
In 2016, Shiropa founded Moner Bondhu (meaning “Friend of the Mind”) from her personal savings and deep commitment to social change. Initially, she started with a small network of mental health professionals providing services in her community. By 2017, the platform received support through government innovation funds, allowing it to scale rapidly.
Moner Bondhu now delivers professional mental health counseling, wellness workshops, and psychosocial support to over 4 million people and collaborates with 300+ local and global partners. The organization offers services via online platforms, in-person sessions, and even corporate wellness programs all tailored to meet the unique needs of Bangladesh’s population.
Focus on Garment Workers
One of Shiropa’s key missions is to improve the mental well-being of garment workers, a demographic often overlooked in conventional healthcare initiatives. With millions employed in the textile sector under immense pressure, Moner Bondhu offers low-cost, culturally sensitive counseling, group therapy, and even helplines tailored for these workers.
She introduced “mental health top-up cards” affordable, prepaid access to mental health services priced at less than $1a pioneering step toward democratizing access.
Global Recognition and Awards
Tawhida Shiropa’s groundbreaking work has earned her and Moner Bondhu numerous international accolades:
● 🏆 Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge (2022)
– Awarded €100,000 and a year-long mentorship for innovation in sustainable fashion with a focus on mental health in the garment industry.
● 🏅 Vogue Business 100 Innovators (2023)
– Listed as a “Sustainability Thought Leader” for her contributions to ethical fashion and mental health.
● 🥈 UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards (2021)
– First runner-up in the “Youth Leadership” category.
● 🌟 The Daily Star & CSR Window Stellar Women Awards (2025)
– Honored in the “Social Welfare” category for exceptional contributions to public health.
Vision for the Future
Shiropa envisions a Bangladesh where mental health is no longer stigmatized but embraced as an essential component of well-being. Through technology, community engagement, and education, she is building a model that is scalable, inclusive, and deeply empathetic.
“Our goal is to make mental health care accessible to every working-class person, especially those who keep our economy running — our garment workers.” — Tawhida Shiropa
Final Thoughts
Tawhida Shiropa’s journey is a testament to what vision, compassion, and innovation can achieve in even the most under-resourced settings. Through Moner Bondhu, she is not just offering therapy; she is transforming lives, one mind at a time. As mental health continues to rise on the global agenda, leaders like Shiropa are proving that change doesn’t have to start big it just has to start with heart.
