Credits
LOMEF
Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD)
United Church of Canada (UCC)
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
Qatar Charity
Muslim Aid UK
Buddhist NGOs Network of Japan (BNN)
Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF)
ASIAN RESOURCE FOUNDATION
The Spirit of Caring and Sharing
BANGLADESH
Organization: Nomijan-Aftabi Foundation (NAF)
Pre-School Education for Children of Working Mothers
Non-formal Education for Urban Slum Children
Established in 1989, NAF is a NGO engaged in community development activities both in rural districts and urban slum areas. LOMEF/ARF assists in two areas of on-going programming; pre-school education and non-formal education.
Pre-School for Children of Working Mothers
In many sub-districts of Bangladesh the population has no cultivable land. During transplantation and harvesting periods these landless peasants work as laborers with women dividing their time between home duties and work in the fields. Through this work, only the bare minimum of needs is made available to families. In such areas very few government primary schools are available with only children aged five years and above able to attend. Children below the age of five will normally stay at home with either siblings, elders in the family or, as is often the case, alone, when their mothers work in the fields.
In January 1999, a pre-school for the children of working mothers was launched. The initial hesitation felt by parents in sending their children to the pre-school was overcome by interest in the ethos driving the school. This included the provision of a better environment for the children to be together, to play, to learn and to grow with confidence and happiness. The center was voluntarily set up by a local teacher in a rented room and caters for three to five year olds. Students are required to sit on the floor but enjoy themselves through the singing of songs, basic literacy and numeric tutoring, and the playing of simple games that are designed to encourage group work and confidence. From time to time parents meetings are also held in order to discuss and provide an opportunity to give feedback on the school. In this context, the pre-school is not an isolated program but also provides a venue and forum in which community matters can be discussed, and awareness raising on children’s and women’s rights facilitated. LOMEF/ARF grants support the renting of facilities, teachers’ salaries and class materials and games for the children. Focusing primarily on the northern Bangladesh province of Joypurhat, where the literacy rate is approximately 35%, NAF is currently operating 6 centers in three sub-districts of the Joypurhat province and in Bogra town. A total of 271 children attend the rural centers.
Due to poor performances of the teachers and a lack of adequate physical facilities NAF decided to close down 3 of its schools at the end of 2004. These centers will be relocated in the NAF beneficiary areas and due to demand 4 new centers will also be established in the NAF working areas, bringing the total to 15.
Non-formal Education for Urban Slum Children
As the rural areas of Bangladesh are increasingly losing their capacity to meet the basic needs of a growing population, many move to the capital city of Dhaka. Unfortunately, many problems also have to be dealt with in the city such as homelessness and unemployment. Many of the old slums are being demolished; therefore, the displaced masses have had to move to the periphery of the city such as the northern slum areas.
NAF, with the support of LOMEF/ARF for facility provision and salaries, is engaged in providing education to the children of the slum areas through the establishment of five informal learning centers in Dhaka. Counseling and basic literacy and numeric tutoring is provided. Part time teachers are engaged in implementing this program with the five centers set-up in rented rooms. Initially, one temporary center was built with bamboo and corrugated iron on government owned land, but it was demolished by the local housing authority. The acquisition of permanent residences is still the primary goal for this project.
The average class size is thirty to thirty five learners with classes held for two hours daily, six days a week. A total of 173 children currently attend the centers with one teacher per center. Lessons are provided free of cost with co-curriculum activities a regular routine for the development of the children outside the classroom. Through this non-formal education the children are eligible to enter at the primary level of government school and this is an area that NAF will be looking to pursue more fully in future years.
Organization: Nomijan-Aftabi Foundation (NAF)
Pre-School Education for Children of Working Mothers
Non-formal Education for Urban Slum Children
Established in 1989, NAF is a NGO engaged in community development activities both in rural districts and urban slum areas. LOMEF/ARF assists in two areas of on-going programming; pre-school education and non-formal education.
Pre-School for Children of Working Mothers
In many sub-districts of Bangladesh the population has no cultivable land. During transplantation and harvesting periods these landless peasants work as laborers with women dividing their time between home duties and work in the fields. Through this work, only the bare minimum of needs is made available to families. In such areas very few government primary schools are available with only children aged five years and above able to attend. Children below the age of five will normally stay at home with either siblings, elders in the family or, as is often the case, alone, when their mothers work in the fields.
In January 1999, a pre-school for the children of working mothers was launched. The initial hesitation felt by parents in sending their children to the pre-school was overcome by interest in the ethos driving the school. This included the provision of a better environment for the children to be together, to play, to learn and to grow with confidence and happiness. The center was voluntarily set up by a local teacher in a rented room and caters for three to five year olds. Students are required to sit on the floor but enjoy themselves through the singing of songs, basic literacy and numeric tutoring, and the playing of simple games that are designed to encourage group work and confidence. From time to time parents meetings are also held in order to discuss and provide an opportunity to give feedback on the school. In this context, the pre-school is not an isolated program but also provides a venue and forum in which community matters can be discussed, and awareness raising on children’s and women’s rights facilitated. LOMEF/ARF grants support the renting of facilities, teachers’ salaries and class materials and games for the children. Focusing primarily on the northern Bangladesh province of Joypurhat, where the literacy rate is approximately 35%, NAF is currently operating 6 centers in three sub-districts of the Joypurhat province and in Bogra town. A total of 271 children attend the rural centers.
Due to poor performances of the teachers and a lack of adequate physical facilities NAF decided to close down 3 of its schools at the end of 2004. These centers will be relocated in the NAF beneficiary areas and due to demand 4 new centers will also be established in the NAF working areas, bringing the total to 15.
Non-formal Education for Urban Slum Children
As the rural areas of Bangladesh are increasingly losing their capacity to meet the basic needs of a growing population, many move to the capital city of Dhaka. Unfortunately, many problems also have to be dealt with in the city such as homelessness and unemployment. Many of the old slums are being demolished; therefore, the displaced masses have had to move to the periphery of the city such as the northern slum areas.
NAF, with the support of LOMEF/ARF for facility provision and salaries, is engaged in providing education to the children of the slum areas through the establishment of five informal learning centers in Dhaka. Counseling and basic literacy and numeric tutoring is provided. Part time teachers are engaged in implementing this program with the five centers set-up in rented rooms. Initially, one temporary center was built with bamboo and corrugated iron on government owned land, but it was demolished by the local housing authority. The acquisition of permanent residences is still the primary goal for this project.
The average class size is thirty to thirty five learners with classes held for two hours daily, six days a week. A total of 173 children currently attend the centers with one teacher per center. Lessons are provided free of cost with co-curriculum activities a regular routine for the development of the children outside the classroom. Through this non-formal education the children are eligible to enter at the primary level of government school and this is an area that NAF will be looking to pursue more fully in future years.