Educare for 150 underprivileged children

A Promising Year

Dear friends and supporters, greetings from Uttaran. It has been almost 2 year since Uttaran is working to create access to quality education for underprivileged children through GlobalGiving’s crowd funding platform. People who have supported us through this platform added much needed motivation and support to continue our work.

Initially we started supporting 150 underprivileged children from 2 schools (Shishutirtho Primary School and Samakal Secondary School). But the number supported students have increased over the years and over time we have reached around 500 students. Though it should be mentioned that the method of support have been changed, adapted and restructured according to the needs of communities and availability of funding.

Some of the major changes/addition of the project:

1. Addition of field study visits for all the students of both the schools. Field studies improves mental development and allows children to understand their environment in a better way. Moreover the field visits significantly focuses on climate change and adaptation actions youths and children can do in their communities.
2. Yearly School publications: For the last few years Uttaran with support from GlobalGiving and local communities is encouraging students to have various yearly publications from educational institutions. In this regard for the past two years the students of Samakal School have published “Amader Biddaloy” – Our School, a booklet with various writings and art works of the students. Additionally the students and teachers of the school jointly publishes a half yearly magazine -named “Shokal” – Morning.
3. Foundation classes: Foundation classes has been started for the underprivileged children with poor results. Their results is regularly monitored through a data base, which helps the teachers to find out their gaps and act accordingly.

Activities in the past three months:

Shishutirtho School:

1. The children’s of Shishutirtho School have celebrated annual sports day. Local community leaders along with parents were all present at the event. Later Uttaran’s director and local Government officers handed over the prize to the children.
2. National day observation: Shishutirtho have celebrated Father of the Nation’s “Homecoming Day”. The children have staged a drama in front of the town centre for the whole community regarding the “The homecoming day of Bangobondhu (Father of the Nation)”.
3. A forest day: The children were taken for a field visit and day long camping trip to connect with the nature and learn about their duties towards protecting it.
4. Installing Dustbin: The District Commisioner (D.C) of Satkhira district has started a initiative “Green Satkhira, Clean Satkhira”. In this regard the DC have visited Shishutirtho School and jointly inaugurated dustbin installation event in Tala sub district. As a part of the initiative Shishutirtho have installed dustbins in the school’s premise and is hosting regular awareness session for the children on the importance of using dustbins and reducing use of plastics.
5. Distribution of stipend and educational materials: Due to lack of fund the number of students receiving educational materials and stipend have decreased this year for Shishutirtho School. This year 25 students have been initially selected and received educational materials including copies, pen, pencil, geometry box and school dresses. They are also provided with transportation and receives full scholarship. The committee have proposed the names of additional 50 students to be provided with similar support. If Uttaran can gather enough fund within the next month, the support will be extended to these students. It should be mentioned that this year the school have intake 85 new students among which 70% of the student belong to extreme poor, landless and dalit communities. Immediate support must be provided to these students to ensure their right to quality education.

Samakal Secondary School:

1. Publications: The school celebrated the New Year by publishing a yearly booklet “Amader Biddaloy” – Our School and half yearly magazine “Shokal” – Morning. Local Member of the Parliament, Government officials, along with local community leaders were present at the event. The made very importance speeches regarding creating access to quality education for all and also promised to extend their support for the underprivileged students.
2. Foundation course and Special classes: The school have initiated foundation classes focusing on Bangla language and special classes on English language and mathematics for the students who lags behind in class. Through the foundation course and special classes around 120 underprivileged students are now being supported.
3. Distribution of stipend and educational materials: This year the school have provided stipend and educational materials for 60 students. Further 35 students will soon be supported with the project’s mentioned items. This year 110 students were newly admitted and around 89% of them belong to extreme poor, women headed and dalit communities. These students need immediate support (school dress and schooling items)
4. Infrastructural development: Uttaran have completed the establishment of new washrooms and latrine facilities for the students. The new infrastructure have separate urinal facilities for boys, girls and students with disabilities. Additional changing rooms have been kept for girls with the availability of Sanitary napkins.

The results of National examinations are yet to be published. Uttaran will publish the results in the next report.

Over the years Uttaran’s work have created vast awareness among underprivileged communities of South-West coastal districts of Bangladesh for the need in accessing quality education. Through our youth development actions, Shishutirtho primary and Samakal secondary school we have been trying to provide access to quality education for children of all walks of life. But the support needs to be increased at a sustainable process. 2020 already seems a promising year for our children and hopefully through GlobalGiving Uttaran will be able to support more children.