PROJECT BANGLADESH……

POWERKIDS

DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Key Facts

Area : 143,998 km.

Capital : Dhaka

Population : 140 million approx.

Language : Bengali

Ethnic group : Bengali (98%)

Religion : Islam (87%), Hinduism (11%)

Resources : Garments, fish, jute goods, Leather products

Currency : Taka

Life expectancy: 62 years

Brief History

v Bangladesh was part of the Indian empire right up until the region waspartitioned in 1947. In this same year, the British granted the regionindependence. However realising that the deep divides betweenMuslims and Hindus would never be fixed, they decided to partitionthe continent. The country was governed from the other side of India,in West Pakistan. To cut the story short, in 1971, after a bloodyconflict, Bangladesh was granted independence by the PakistanGovernment.

v Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in theworld. Since its independence in 1971, the country has gone throughperiods of political turmoil. A number of general strikes in the 1990cost the economy a great deal, further crippling the already underdeveloped country.

Geo-Environmental Factorsv Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Its

geographic and environmental situations mean it is prone to cyclones,flash floods, tidal surges, tornadoes and mudslides. By far the greatesthumanitarian threat to the people of Bangladesh is the periodic floodingthat engulfs much of the land.

v In 1998, the worst floods ever witnessed covered almost two-thirds ofthe country and fifteen million people were affected. The most recentfloods (2004) left six million people stranded, displaced and about 3000people died. The climate problem has been partially attributed to the‘Asian Brown Haze’ (the blanket of pollution covering the continent). TheUN Environment Program (UNEP) says the haze may also be affectingfarming and human health and will continue to worsen the coming years.

Socio- Economic and Human Development

v Poverty is widespread with more than 70 million people living in mostunbearable exploitation and violence in Bangladesh. Agriculture sectorprovides for the majority of the population, many people are forced to lookoverseas for work due to a lack of employment opportunities.

v Anti-corruption group, Transparency, had ranked Bangladesh as the first mostcorrupt nation in the world. The World Bank says without corruption,Bangladesh could achieve two to three percent more growth and double theper capita income.

v Despite increased investment by the government and non governmentorganisations (NGOs) in education, health, food, security and other programscombined together are not adequate to reduce poverty at any reasonable rate.With Bangladesh facing an economic downturn the fear is that life for childrenon the streets can only get worse.

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v While only 188 HIV/AIDS cases have so far been detected inBangladesh, the World Health Organisation estimate indicates some13,000 people are living with HIV in the country.

v The high rate of maternal mortality (MMR) is a major concern. Threewomen die every hour due to pregnancy related complications suchas lack of knowledge, improper or lacking use of antenatal facilities,malnutrition, unconventional childbirth methods and impropersanitation and hygiene.

v Among other issues of priority are child labor, child domestic workers,prostitution, trafficking of children, disadvantaged populations inurban, rural and tribal areas, and children in jails.

The Plight of Street Children In Bangladesh

v Many street children live in large rubbish dumps – it is possible to smell itsoverwhelming fumes from kilometres. They scavenge for used plasticbottles, food and anything that could help them survive.

v The children are not provided with proper education. They spend their dayswith a sack over their shoulders, ceaselessly scouring through the rubbish.

v Many of the children in Bangladesh suffer from high levels of malnutritionand micro-nutrient deficiency is common. Prevalence of anaemia and othermedical conditions in children is estimated to be high.

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v There has been an increase in early and teenage marriages, which often lead tounprepared pregnancies. This results in more uncared for children on thestreets.

v The children face a daily routine of exploitation and violence and, like otherstreet children in the world, often end up in a life of crime. Most of these areaged between three and eighteen. Sexual abuse is rampant.

v The children of the female gender of Bangladesh are seen as economic andsocial burdens. Girls born to this nation are often seen as a tragedy. Thousandsof girls are abandoned and are deprived of food, medical care, education andfreedom to develop.

v There is a growing number of children in Bangladesh sucked into begging,prostitution and becoming involved in dangerous jobs. They are exposed to allsorts of dangers from pimps to people involved in criminal activities. Childrenare most vulnerable victims of poverty.

“They live like small boats in very rough waters “

POWERKIDS DEVELOPMENT CENTREv PKMI strongly believe that children have a right to be protected, sheltered and

developed, to reach their potential. We provide complete life skills to every child inthe program to assist them until their course is complete.

v PKMI is fully responsible to provide a positive atmosphere where the children canlearn and grow in a loving and caring environment, that they will have everyopportunity to take their place in the community with dignity and effectiveness.

v PKMI will provide a boarding house for homeless students as well as for thosefrom distant communities (if necessary).

v PKMI will provide trained and experienced workers to instil in the children lifeprinciples of which would help the development of confidence and self -esteemand the opportunity to embrace a more qualitative life.

v PKMI will provide financial and other assistance for each child whenever essential.

StrategiesBy giving children a safe place to live, food to eat and an education,they can then begin to rebuild their lives for a better future. Childrenwho are not lacking in basic needs have a better chance at succeedingin life and through our basic life skills program we aim to provide skillsthat can give them opportunity to be effective members of theircommunity.

Goals & Plans1. Target time to set up PDC is end of 2004.

2. PKMI will be partnering with one of the local NGOs to place street childrenin the PDC.

3. Local people will be trained and coached to carry on and to take theleadership of this work

4. The anticipated target group is street children from the age of 4 to 18 yearsold. These could consist of orphans, or children who have been abandonedor simply have nowhere else to go.

5. Main purpose: to stop child prostitution, child slavery, child trafficking,early marriage, reduce social crisis, and break poverty cycle amongstchildren so that their children would not be on the street also.

Portraits of Reality

Child Labor…..

The family bread winner…..

Wishing to be in school…….

Kids growing in a harsh environment

“We are not the sources of the

problems, we are the resources needed

to solve them. We are not expenses, we

are investments, You call us the future,

but we are also the present.”

Taken from “A World Fit

For Us”, Child Delegates

United Nations Special

Session on Children, May

2002

Partnership with the Locals

Ps. Sukhen & Puspa with their daughter(Founder & Directors of Generation Bangladesh)

Generation Bangladesh

(GB) is committed in

training and providing

teaching material to

Sunday school teachers

from all denominations.

Generation Bangladesh as

well conducts kids camp,

youth camp, children

workers’ conference and

vacation Bible school.

Correspondence course for

children also done through

Mailbox club. Yearly,

Generation Bangladesh is

involved in the distribution

of Operation Christmas

child shoe box.

Local Team Members

Final words

PowerKids Ministries International wishes to impact and empower anddevelop children from the streets to lead a more fruitful and effectivelife in order to produce responsible, skilful and productive citizensespecially in combating poverty in the respective countries.

This can be achieved only by a concerted effort by the hostgovernment, Non–Governmental Organisations and compassionatepeople from all walks of life. We also seek your assistance to help usconnected with your team mates and encourage them to contribute.PKMI covets your support and concern. Thanking you in advance foryour participation.