In community-based palliative care services, volunteers play a vital role. They come from various parts of the community, offering their time and effort to ease the sorrows and burdens associated with incurable illnesses. Their dedication and enthusiasm provide invaluable support to palliative care patients and their families. Something truly remarkable occurs when a palliative care patient herself chooses to become a volunteer, driven by her own experiences of suffering and a deep understanding of the needs of others. Such an inspiring story unfolded in the “Compassionate Narayanganj” project. Julekha Begum, a breast cancer patient, exemplifies this extraordinary spirit. A former kindergarten teacher, she later worked as a member of the City Development Coordination Committee (CDCC) under the Narayanganj City Corporation. However, following her cancer diagnosis, she stepped away from her job. As a registered palliative care patient with the “Compassionate Narayanganj” project, Julekha expressed a strong desire to serve others by becoming a trained community volunteer. She underwent a three-day training programme on community-based palliative care through the project, equipping her with the necessary skills and knowledge. Now, as a dedicated volunteer, Julekha frequently visits other patients within the project, offering her compassion and support. Her journey from being a patient to a volunteer is a testament to the transformative power of empathy and the profound impact of community involvement in palliative care. Julekha Begum’s struggles began in childhood when her father abandoned the family and her mother became a labourer in the Middle East to support them. With little parental care, Julekha pursued her education independently, though her mother prioritised her brother’s education. After completing her Higher Secondary School Certificate, Julekha’s studies ended, and she married. In 2021, Julekha was diagnosed with breast cancer, adding to her hardships. She underwent surgery and 15 cycles of radiotherapy at a government cancer hospital but continued to suffer from pain and symptoms. In late 2022, the project team began supporting her. A few months later, she discovered a lump in her other breast and developed lymphedema, facing these challenges with remarkable resilience. Julekha’s cancer journey was filled with hardship. Depressed and isolated, she left her in-laws to live with her mother, as her husband provided no financial support and added to her burdens. Despite her illness, she managed household chores alone, while neighbors’ cruel comments blamed her disease on sins, worsening her mental health and leading to a breakdown. The community palliative care team provided her with mental, spiritual, physical, and social support, gradually helping her recover emotionally and find purpose. Inspired by her experience, Julekha trained as a community palliative care volunteer under BSMMU supervision. Through patient visits, she realised the depth of others’ suffering and began sharing her story to help ease their pain. Julekha Begum is deeply grateful to the “Compassionate Narayanganj” project team for helping her regain strength and purpose. As a cancer survivor and trained community volunteer, she serves as a role model, inspiring and encouraging other terminally ill patients while living her life to the fullest. Her journey exemplifies resilience and the transformative power of community-based palliative care. By sharing her experiences, Julekha connects deeply with patients, offering them hope and comfort. Her story underscores the essential role of volunteers in palliative care and reminds us that compassion can create profound change, even in the face of adversity. From March 2018 to June 2021, the Department of Palliative Medicine of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) ran “Compassionate Narayanganj,” a community palliative care initiative in partnership with the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) and Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC). After a 9-month interim period with fundraising, in March 2022, the project received a 3-year grant for the second phase. AYAT Education, a Bangladeshi social enterprise, and St Christopher’s Hospice, one of the UK’s pioneer hospices, have joined as partners. The second phase focuses on developing an integrated age-attuned model of supportive palliative care in Bangladesh and integrating PC into the government’s primary healthcare system.