BanglaKids – We help children to better lives

2.2.2021

BanglaKids 2020: Love in action

Love and solidarity are the unique values of life. During crises, they manifest themselves in decisions that give meaning to our lives. In the year of "covid-19", you helped Bangladeshi children and their families during the famine, supported several investment projects and experienced unique meetings. "Love in action," we called a retrospective look at 2020.

-> CHILDREN, STUDENTS, FAMILIES <-

1,283 students, 4 bachelors and 4 nursing graduates

In 2020, you supported the education of 1,283 children and students from Bangladesh's poorest families. In the period before the pandemic, you provided children in the villages with education, lunches, school supplies, uniforms and medical care. At boarding schools also accommodation, all-day meals, cultural and sports activities. But then came the coronavirus and schools were closed on March 17…

Nevertheless, in December 2020, 4 students of the BASC boarding school and another 4 students of nursing at the BANI school obtained a bachelor's degree. They have a chance to get a well-paid job and improve the standard of living of their family. Thank you!

A challenge called "COVID-19"

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought difficulties and losses to people around the world. In Bangladesh, people were losing their jobs, their already low incomes have dried up, basic food prices have risen by a third, and many children from poor families have suffered from food shortages and were hungry. And it was at this critical moment that your love and solidarity showed the most.

Food and financial aid for children and families

You have lovingly sent them more than a million Czech crowns for immediate food aid. With your consent, we could use your regular monthly education allowances to provide humanitarian assistance to supported children and their families. Your generosity and your decisions have become key to alleviating the suffering of several thousand people for several months.

In Bangladesh, we are currently working together to help 1,434 children and their families who have been troubled by the covid-19 pandemic. In the villages where we have village schools, we regularly distribute food, send money to parents of children from boarding schools (scattered throughout Bangladesh) via mobile networks, and together we look forward to reopening schools and restoring normal life. We are close to all this. You can read more about the course of help in the articles With love from a happy family… and The source of help springs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

And what did the children say?

Bristy: "I danced with joy that we had something to eat again."
Ashitosh: "We had no food at home."
Shomapty: "We only eat once or twice a day."
Joyonto: "No work, no income, no food."
Srijon: "We were worried about what we were going to eat."
Papry: "The food package arrived on time…"

You can learn more about children in the article I danced with joy that we have something to eat again.

-> SUPPORTING PROJECTS <-

Reconstruction of the dining room at the GAPS boarding school

A reconstructed dining room at the GAPS boarding school will become a decent place for dining and evening study for children. The area was damaged by repeated rains and floods. The dining room has newly raised walls under the windows (as protection against torrential rain), repaired shutters, a new floor, a new cooling ceiling and exterior paints. The children have something to look forward to and BanglaKids says thank you very much.

New home instead of a burned-out house

Thanks to you, Dad Suren, mother Mukti, daughters Bristy, Meena and Grace (baby) have a place to live again. More info.

100 fans for better learning and sleep

Temperatures in Bangladesh normally rise to 34 °C or more in the warmer months. The hot and humid climate is hard to bear. It makes it difficult for children to learn during the day and sleep at night. That's why we installed 100 new fans in the classrooms and rooms of the boarding schools. Ensures airflow and gentle cooling. During the day, children will be able to concentrate better on teaching in the heat of Bangladesh and sleep better at night.

Thank you!

-> UNIQUE MEETINGS <-

Orphans and orphanage

In Bangladesh, we met supported orphans Ronjon and Tisha, who are on the threshold of life. Ronjon will still study in Bangladesh, Tisha is going to study dentistry in India. We have published Ronjon's story earlier in the book "We, the children of the slum", an interview with Tisha this year. The visit to BanglaHope Orphanage with 160 orphans and teacher Robin on March 7 was touching.

People whose "world" burned down

This meeting has forever been written in our hearts. On March 11, the Bangladeshi slum Chalantika was reduced to ashes. 2,000 families lost their shelter. Among them were also 54 children and families from the centre of Chalantika, whom we have been helping for a long time.

We were on the spot shortly after the fire, the incinerator was still smoking and ironing. The place looked like it was from some catastrophic movie (see FB post). Around were a lot of shaken people who had their home there a few hours ago. Even the children from the centre, who normally glow smiles, were sad… Words of understanding, encouragement and random hugs were filled with tears…

These families took refuge with relatives and at a nearby school. The government provided people with food for a short period of time. ADRA provided assistance to children and their families from the centre. Well, that's life too.

Fantastic donors

Fantastic donors, fantastic meetings with children. This is how we can summarize the meeting of Monika and Robert from Žamberk and Lucía and Jónatas from Portugal with the children during their first visit to Bangladesh. The view of Bangladesh through their eyes is provided by separate conversations, accessible by clicking on their names. They are one of you who have a big heart.

-> THANK YOU <-

Dear donors, What you are doing for the children and families of the poor in Bangladesh through the BanglaKids program is admirable. Thank you - to all our individual and corporate donors, to all our skilled part-time workers and wonderful volunteers. Without you, this noble help would not be possible.