By William Christensen | Founder & Voluntary Consultant of PEP
Medical Help, Sleeping Arrangements and Local Donations:
Since the last report in March, there have been two children who needed special medical care. Zahidul is 12 years old and he received a serious cut on his foot from tin that other children had collected for recycling income at the breakfast time. Sobuj, a PEP volunteer, took Zahidul to Al-Manar Hospital nearby, where he got tetanus injection and first aid. They then went to ‘Dhaka Medical College & Hospital’ where the injury was stitched. Zahidul is now getting training to learn tailoring and his foot is as good as new.
Little Naim, aged about 11, has been suffering from fever and a very deep cough. He was taken to a pediatrician at Al-Manar Hospital by Sohrab, who is both in-charge of the street children and a 3rd year college student. There was a test for TB which proved negative, further blood tests are being done and some medicine has been administered; he is to see the doctor again in 10 days. Little Naim had a bad habit, as many of the street children also get, to smoke cigarettes, which may have helped lead to his present condition.
There are two photos below of the street children. The first one shows them sleeping on the verandah of stores at Mohammadpur Town Hall. Some use the bags they collect plastic and tin for recycling as part of their bedding to protect from mosquitoes. Others sleep practically on top of each other for companionship. The 2nd photo shows a group of the children after the morning breakfast.
A photo of Sobuj and his wife Akhia is shown. Sobuj has been working for a long time as a volunteer and now also does some official typing for the organization. He had quit work to care for his aged mother, who died several weeks ago. Akhia is a teacher. The two of them have been collecting fund for the street children project and contributing their own resources. In 2017, they arranged about $375 in contributions of their own, of relatives and friends. This year they have set a goal of $610. PEP has introduced on its website the possibility of local donations through bKash (mobile banking account). Sobuj and Akhia are the first donors, having given $6.10.
The final photo is of Amin, a shop keeper of the Brahmonbaria Store, which provides a 3% reduction on goods purchased by PEP workers. The owner has committed long ago to donate for the street children, but is of a somewhat miserly disposition and keeps delaying. After complaining to Amin of the constant delay in donations, he took from his own pocket $6.10 as a donation for the children.
PEP remains deeply grateful to the many generous friends both in Bangladesh and abroad for helping these children to ease their difficult lives and give a little happiness in them.
By WILLIAM CHRISTENSEN | PEP FOUNDER
By William Christensen | Founder & Voluntary Consultant
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