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About Banglahelp

What We Do

Banglahelp exists to bring hope and change to young and old in Bangladesh. By God’s grace and with our donors’ help, we:

Provide 1000+ needy kids with:

  • Education
  • School supplies
  • Daily meal (rice, lentil dhal, vegetables, egg, bread & banana). For many children, this provides a guaranteed meal without which many would go hungry.

Train 105+ adults to read and write

(English and Bengali)

Educate 25+ adults towards financial sustainability

(sewing machine project)

Sponsor 19 girls, daughters of sex workers, to live in a safe home

Provide care and a home for 30 children (aged 0-4) of sex workers

Organise mission trips – we are always looking for volunteers to join us

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“When education is inaccessible, poverty is persistent.”

“When education is inaccessible, poverty is persistent.”

About Bangladesh

With its 170 million inhabitants, Bangladesh is one of the world’s mostly densely populated countries but is also one of the most impoverished. Only about 1% are Christian in the majority Muslim nation. The capital of Dhaka has a population of 18 million and has some of the poorest and most underdeveloped communities in the country. Half of the population lives on less than $1 a day and many of the families are unable to provide adequately for their children. Over 40% of Bangladesh’s population is illiterate.

Our Story

It all started with Dr. Milan Moskala who worked for 17 years as a missionary dentist in Bangladesh. He opened ten schools in Dhaka’s slums to educate children from poor families. As they did not get fruit to eat at home, he provided a banana a day for the students.

Banglahelp was established in 2013 as a non-profit organization to support the slum schools started by Dr. Moskala, who retired in 2015. Along with free education and school supplies, we began providing the students 2 meals a week. Presently, we give students a daily meal of rice, lentil dhal, vegetables, eggs, bread and a banana.

Initially, we offered schooling for Kindergarten to grade 3. We soon learned that many children could not continue their education in the public schools because their parents could not afford to pay for school materials or chose to send them to work to help with the home finances. Thus since 2018, we have expanded the number of classes we provide: today we offer education up to grade 10 and sponsor students through 11th and 12th grade.

In 2017, Banglahelp opened four classes for illiterate adults. By 2019, we ran 5 adult classes with 75 students in total. In July 2018, we started the sewing machine project to help the families of our students. Other projects followed, such as the pad project (providing menstruation supplies and education), medical clinics, dental clinics, teaching training and hygiene and nutrition education.

Dr. Gerardo Toledo

President

Gerardo worked as a missionary dentist in Bangladesh from 1994–1998, after which he came to the US to complete a Masters in Clinical Ministry and earned a Certificate in Endodontics at Loma Linda University. He currently has his own private practice in Redlands, CA. Gerardo has a special interest in helping those in need in developing countries, such as his beloved Bangladesh.

Clifford Adikuono

CPA Treasurer

Clifford has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2011 with experience in private equity, healthcare and non-profits. He believes that education and a personal relationship with God are key in having freedom as he holds in his heart the words of Jesus Christ when He said that if we abide in His word then we will know the truth and the truth shall make us free (John 8:31-32). He appreciates Banglahelp because it’s a gateway to freedom.

Pete Flores

businessman

Pete Flores is a businessman, currently in the hotel management industry. His company E Flores & Associates, LLC manages the Loma Linda Inn in California, where he has lived for the last 12 years. Pete studied Engineering and Business at Walla Walla University. He later moved to Southern California where he met his wife Liz and raised two children. In his spare time, Pete is an avid arborist taking care of dozens of fruit trees. Pete deeply enjoys helping others and hopes to continue to do so in whichever projects he is involved in.

Dr. Andrea Lara, MD, MPH

Rajbari Outreach Program
Development Advisor

Dr. Lara grew up in an interconnected and multicultural world as a daughter of Seven-Day Adventist missionary doctors to provide healthcare services to underserved populations. She has lived on different continents, supporting diverse cultures, fighting for social justice in marginalized communities, and participating in various Humanitarian missions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with a vast background in primary care services and public health strategies. She believes prevention is one of the most effective tools for creating public health transformation. Advocacy, health equity, and God’s love are the core of her professional identity. 

Greg Nelson

Vice President

Greg currently serves as the Director of Investments for the Loma Linda University Foundation, a position he has held for the last 15 years. He is a member of the Investment Committee of Loma Linda University and La Sierra University. Greg has been an investment management professional for 28 years and was a principal with Nelson & McGilchrist Capital Management in La Jolla, CA. Greg was previously also a Vice President with Dean Witter and Paine Webber specializing in portfolio management for institutional accounts. He graduated from La Sierra University with a BS degree in Business Administration. He is married to Wendy Nelson, MD and has 4 children aged 14 (quadruplets).

Keila Schulz

Secretary

Keila graduated from UNASP (Adventist University of Sao Paulo, Brazil) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked as a missionary nurse with ADRA in Angola. Since then, she has been involved in mission trips in different parts of the world. She currently works as a Diabetes Educator for Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Diana Guinard

LIFESTYLE COACH

Diana spent 2.5 transformative years studying to become a medical missionary, driven by a passion for healing and service. Her background includes valuable experience as a missionary in the Dominican Republic, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of compassionate care.

Believing fervently in the transformative power of education, Diana advocates for its role as a tool for empowerment and positive change in communities. Her journey led her to also become an advocate against domestic violence, recognizing the critical need for support and intervention in such challenging situations.

Currently, Diana practices as a lifestyle coach, blending her background in medical mission work with a commitment to holistic wellness. Through coaching, she aims to empower individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives, promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

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