Transforming lives Nawabganj, Bangladesh
See how you have brought hope to the children and families of Bangladesh
EVERY CHILD FREE FROM FEAR
Thank you Hello, my name is Gloria Das. I’m the manager of the Nawabganj Area Development Programme, the community where your sponsored child lives.
Thanks to your support, children in Nawabganj are healthy and better fed. Most children have now been vaccinated against common, but serious, diseases.
You’ve helped us do so much in Nawabganj. When we first arrived in 1972, life here was very difficult, especially for children. With limited healthcare and sanitation, the fear of disease was very real. With little chance for families to earn a decent income, poverty was widespread. Most families could not afford to send their children to school and without good quality schooling, most children had little opportunity to improve their lives. Nawabganj was not a hopeful place. However, life here in 2014 couldn’t be more different. Thanks to your support, children in Nawabganj are healthy and better fed. Most children have now been vaccinated against common, but serious, diseases. Children are better educated too.They stay in school for longer and receive better quality teaching. As you may know, our work here is now drawing to a close. It’s a natural phase in any project we undertake, once we’re confident people are able to support themselves. That’s the stage we’re now at in Nawabganj. Community groups have been at the heart of achieving this. They have provided training and affordable loans to community members, creating livelihoods. Women have especially benefited. They have set up businesses to support their families. Women now have a voice and will be instrumental in ensuring that Nawabganj’s transformation remains permanent. I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done over the years. You’ve helped improve the lives of hundreds of children and through the support you have given families, children are now free to grow up healthy in a safe and protected environment. You should be proud of the progress the children and community have made here, and the long-term legacy you’re leaving behind.
Over the years, your support and letters, just knowing you were there for us, has meant so much. Because of you, the children of Nawabganj are flourishing and they now have a future filled with hope. From everyone here, thank you so much for all you’ve helped to achieve for children and families in our community. Yours sincerely
Gloria Das
Most families could not afford to send their children to school and without good quality schooling, most children had little opportunity to improve their lives. Nawabganj was not a hopeful place.
Gloria Das Area Development Programme Manager
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Thanks to your support, parents now understand the value of sending their daughters to school – 95% of girls are attending regularly.
YOUR SPONSORSHIP HAS CHANGED LIVES
More children better nourished and free from disease • Today, children are free from the fear of childhood disease. Knowledge of preventing and treating common diseases is widespread. Over 90% of parents can now treat diarrhoea appropriately. 95% of children aged between one and two have
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and mothers ls ir g young d e d n e att nutrition groups
been vaccinated against measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. • In the last year alone, 14,294 mothers and young girls have attended nutrition groups and have learnt how important a nutritionally balanced diet is to give their children the best possible start in life.
The ripple effect of hygiene • With your support 70% of households have better access to clean water, more children than ever before can now drink water safely. 2,000 latrines have also been installed, these benefit 80% of households. • You’ve helped to train health workers with specialist knowledge about child illnesses. Children now protect themselves from disease by washing their hands with soap and using other good practices. Children share this knowledge with their friends too, passing on tips to help keep everyone safe. ©2011 Lipy Mary Rodrigues/World Vision
Educating children for life • Today, more children than ever are attending school. 95% of girls and 92% of boys now attend regularly, and dropout rates are down to below10%. Because they recognise the value of education and their children’s rights, parents are now less likely to send their children out to work. • Children now receive a better quality education. Teachers and members of the School Management Committee have been trained in key teaching skills which has made them better educators and planners.
• Children’s literacy and numeracy rates have increased significantly; over 60% of children can now read and write. Numeracy has also improved, with 76% able to calculate simple sums. Thanks to better quality teaching, children are now equipped to make better lives for themselves.
Learning about rights
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• Over 1,800 children and parents have taken part in awareness training about children’s rights. Children are now empowered and less afraid to stand up for their rights; they speak out against issues that may affect them such as violence, abuse and neglect. Parents are more aware of children’s rights and know how to support and protect their children. • Through child forums, children have learned how to debate and have their voices heard. Now empowered, children have been able to reduce child labour, halve child marriage rates and support girls’ education in their communities. They have also been creatively enriched, taking part in art competitions and going to cultural events to express themselves.
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YOUR SPONSORSHIP HAS CHANGED LIVES
Community groups leading the way
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• You have helped set up ten strong community based groups. With their solid financial foundations, lengthy experience and strong links to professional associations outside of Nawabganj, they have done much to help families boost their incomes, now and in the future. The training they have received has helped group
Women have been empowered by the community groups that they belong to. They have helped women set up businesses so that they can earn their own money and better support their children.
members to develop key business skills, including leadership, financial management and networking skills. The groups have also provided their members with greater access to information, modern technology, credit and savings schemes. Without your support, none of this would have been possible. • More than 1,671 farmers have taken part in community farming groups where they received training on new agriculture methods. Crop yields have increased by 10% and with the extra income, families can afford to send their children to school and give them more opportunities. They can also afford healthier food.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Lima is a member of one of the local community groups that you’ve helped support. After taking part in sewing training, she now works at home to help provide for her family.
• Women have been empowered by the community groups that they belong to. They have helped women set up businesses so that they can earn their own money and better support their
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flood centre establ s ished
children. Women now have a voice that is respected and heard.
Children less fearful of floods • Children, families, teachers and over 600 community members have been trained to learn how to prepare and cope with disasters. Eight flood centres have been established and the ones in schools upgraded. Children are now safer than before and ready to cope when floods arise.
Focus on disability • The number of people with disabilities earning their own incomes is now up by 16%. Today, thanks to you, people with disabilities receive support and have more opportunities to be independent and earn their own livings. They are now more accepted in the community.
Bangladesh is a low-lying country on the bay of Bengal, bordered on three sides by India.Your child’s community is located south west of the Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. Nawabganj’s climate is tropical and marked by monsoons, high temperatures, considerable humidity and moderate rainfall. Agriculture is the main source of income for this area.
CHILD’S EYE VIEW
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Rekha, pictured right, with her mother Anjoli. Supported by community groups, both have transformed their lives. Both mother and daughter are earning their own incomes with Anjoli running her own business.
Meet Rekha, 23 who is president of the local child forum For Rekha every day was fearful. She was frightened of not having enough food to eat and of becoming ill. She was also afraid of not being able to go to school and of facing an uncertain future.
Rekha is 23 and studying accountancy at college. Confident and well educated, Rekha’s future is full of hope. Before sponsorship, though, life for Rekha was less bright. Her father died when she was just five, leaving Rekha and her family with little support. For Rekha every day was fearful. She was frightened of not having enough food to eat and of becoming ill. She was also afraid of being unable to go to school and facing an uncertain future. Rekha says, “My mother [Anjoli] fell into a deep sea. It became difficult for my mother to carry the expenses of our family all on her own.” Thankfully, a sponsor like you rescued Rekha’s family from the depths. Anjoli joined a community group where she received training and help to start her own business. From then on everything changed; hope entered their lives.
Earning a better income, Anjoli was able to replace her children’s fear of hunger with full bellies and send them to school. While she studied Rekha says “World Vision stood beside me as a real friend”. Rekha took her studying seriously and soon found she had a talent for maths as well as for teaching others. Gradually her life was transforming. “The pre-school training is the turning point of life which I have received. This is the first step of my life to walk with children through my work.” Rekha said. “My wish is to become a good teacher in future and would like to keep running of the pre-school
“The pre-school training is the turning point of life which I have received. This is the first step of my life to walk with children through my work.”
programme.”The community groups helped her to develop these teaching skills. Now Rekha teaches pre-school children and is able to earn her own income. She also became president of the child forum, where she worked towards ensuring that those who live in the community are protected and cared for and that their rights are considered. Now all grown up, it’s difficult to imagine that Rekha was once a hungry and worried little girl. Fear now plays no part in Rekha’s life. As Rekha points out, “all of the things which are good in my life are the contribution of World Vision.” Support from sponsors like you has enabled her “to believe, to dream again and to have hope”.
Success Stories
Nazrul’s independence Nazrul has been disabled since he was three. He was not hopeful for the future. But Nazrul’s life was transformed when supporters like you provided him with a wheelchair and a chance to study. Now 27, Nazrul runs a small grocery store and is able to provide an income for his family.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Success Stories
Better diets help children grow strong Young mothers in Nawabganj learn how nutritious food can help give their children a healthier start in life. They are no longer afraid that their children will go hungry and become sick.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Success Stories
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Laboni’s brigher future Laboni’s father is a weaver. Here she stands by his loom. Before, he was unable to afford cotton and he couldn’t get his weaving business up and running. With your support, he was given the training and resources he needed to get him started. Now Laboni’s father earns a good living and Laboni is no longer afraid of hunger or of being unable to study. She now looks forward to her future.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Children doing better than ever in school With better quality teaching and resources, school children in Nawabganj are doing better than ever before. Over 90% now attend school, less than 10% drop out and literacy rates have reached almost 60%.
Success Stories
Children learn and have fun Children learn and have fun at a local pre-school. Funded with your support, this community-run school helps parents to see how education benefits their children. More children are now sent to school, where they can start learning and look forward to a hopeful future.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision © 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Empowering women Here, members of a women’s group tend to their vegetables. Just like Anjoli (see page 8), these women are now able to earn a living by selling their produce. They have received training in business skills and growing crops, and are able to use the latest methods to grow more food. This boosts their income, and allows them to better feed their children and afford school fees.
CHILD’S EYE VIEW Before he was sponsored, education was just a faraway dream for
Meet Miraj, who recently graduated with a business qualification
Miraj. Now aged 23, he has graduated from university with an MBA in business administration. Thanks to support from a sponsor like you, his world has been transformed. “What’s my dream?” asks Miraj, “When I was young, I watched children of wealthier families. They talked about higher education and a career. But I then thought of the crisis of my life I was facing, I dared not dream anymore.” As a child, Miraj feared many things, including hunger. His father earned very little and struggled to feed his family. But for Miraj, the biggest fear was of never going to school. This was a real possibility for Miraj as his parents thought about sending him out to work, so he could help put food on the table.
“When I was young, I watched children of wealthier families. They talked about higher education and a career. But I then thought of the crisis of my life I was facing, I dared not dream anymore.”
“I wanted to be a teacher in future. And I dreamt of completing my studies but I couldn’t bear to see my parents suffering. Their dream relied on me, and I suppose it was my duty to realise it. I am the only one who could free them from the burden.” Thankfully Miraj never had to give up his dream. His parents went to World Vision for support, and received a cow and training on how to look after it. They were soon able to sell the cow’s milk at market and earn more money for their family. In time, Miraj’s parents were able to afford to send all four of their children to school. “My dream kept me going” says Miraj, “But it was the support I had to help me find a way, helping me to continue my studies that made me realise my dream.” Your support has not only helped Miraj’s parents understand the value of sending their children to school, but it has helped other parents in Nawabganj appreciate this too. Now all children, including girls and orphans, have more opportunities to learn. Just like Miraj, they have a future they can look forward to.
© 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
Miraj says that sponsorship transformed his family – giving them “something bigger than ourselves, something more to do than our dream”.
For Miraj, a university education has been a dream come true, but he never forgets his sponsor, the one who called him ‘my son’ and sent him pictures of his own children, connecting with him and giving him a future full of hope. It was his sponsor that gave Miraj “the chance for my family to change our lives”.
For Miraj, a university education has been a dream come true, but he never forgets his sponsor, the one who called him ‘my son’ and sent him pictures of his own children.
Success Stories Standing up for their rights Child Forum members discuss issues that affect their rights, including early marriage and child labour. Children in Nawabganj are now able to stand up for their rights, protect each other and are less afraid of abuse.
THANK YOU
For all you have helped to achieve for children and families living in Nawabganj. World Vision UK World Vision House, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0ZR tel: +44 (0) 1908 84 10 10 fax: +44 (0) 1908 84 10 01 email:
[email protected] www.worldvision.org.uk World Vision is a registered charity no. 285908, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England no.1675552. Registered office as above. 24374_LF_D
Front –This little boy is learning new words at a local pre-school.
Front and back cover picture © 2014 Gloria Das/World Vision
