Integrated Development Program for the Telegu Community in the Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Project location: Bangladesh, Dhaka
Project start date: May 2012 -
Project end date: December 2012
Project number: 2012-006
Beneficiary: Mani Tese
Timeline of the present activity report: From 01/07/2012 to 31/12/2012
1. Primary Education
1.1 Students Admission & accomplishment the academic year 2012
A total of 320 students from both the Telegu sweepers community and the poorest sections of local society, have been admitted in the four MCIWO Schools from January 2012 to December 2012. School started on the 5th January 2012 and the educational session ended on the 31st December 2012. The activity and program were implemented regularly, following the first semester.
The education of the children has had to start from the very basics, including teaching the children to remain seated in one place, and attend regularly the lessons. The involvement of the parents and the children's families has been a key element for the success of the school related activities. The classes are both in the morning and in the evening. Lessons are of two and a half hours, and are being taught through poems, drawings, poems and games, while following the regular syllabus of the government curriculum. The children are now very fond of their school work like poems, songs, drawing, charts, etc. Children are attending the lessons regularly. MCIWO trained and skilled teachers are fully committed and involved in the school program.
The average attendance in these schools has remained around 100%. All eligible children from Telegu and deprived communities were enrolled. 70 children from distressed families living in the slums had to drop out because their families have moved to distant slums, and were thus unable to continue.
1.2 Distribution of educational material and school uniforms
As per plan, due school uniforms were provided to the students. School uniform was provided to them to reduce their educational expenses, and to promote regular attendance.
1.3 Examinations
The 2nd Term Exam & Annual Exam were held in August and December 2012, with 98% of the children sitting the examination. Class Tests were also held during the class time to increase the students' attention.
The final Annual Examination results show that 60% children obtained Grade A; 30% children obtained Grade B and the rest has obtained Grade C.
98% children were promoted and have passed to the next class for next year. Teachers are taking special care of the children who have attained poorer results.
1.4 Teacher training / meeting
Teachers Training was held on the 15th August 2012 in order to improve their capacity and knowledge. Ms. Puspa Rozario from YWCA School discussed and reviewed details as how to teach in playgroups and to primary school children. She has also supplied orientation to the teachers on the techniques to create a joyful learning environment in the schools, so that the teachers may apply those techniques in their work, and with the available materials.
In MCIWO schools, teachers are placing a special emphasis on reciting rhymes, play, coloring, drawing and identifying the different shapes and sizes of things. Then they introduce the children to national animals, flags, flowers, fruits, birds, fishes, etc. After five months they start to learn the alphabet and start reading and writing. Teachers are now more serious in putting into practice the techniques acquired and the educational materials available. The syllabus is prepared as per books & Training techniques.
Children are showing to be enjoying more the lessons, and are more interested in attending regularly the lessons.
Monthly meetings are being organised to monitor and review the progress for the 15 members of the team composed of teachers and staff, to provide feedbacks to improve quality of education in the schools.
Teachers are careful and responsive to the students. Furthermore they regularly visit their homes within a month, in order to discuss with the students' parent, so that they may spontaneously share the most pressing issues regarding their children's education with the respective teachers.
1.5 Teachers & Parents Meetings
During the project period two Teachers and Parents meetings were organized (quarterly), with 110 parents participating in order to share positive ideas, discuss achievements and get their feedback for the further improvement of the project's implementation. Parents shared problems but also gave recommendations. According to their recommendations and feedback MCIWO's management team further developed the school policy aiming at continuing the programs and ensuring quality and quantity. Teachers also took advantage of these meetings in order to illustrate to the teachers the school rules and regulations, and the importance of education, encouraging the parents to take care of the children and to demand quality education in the schools.
Now most of the parents are aware of the quality of education and willing to continue educating their children so that may have a better future. Special meetings are also being organized, whenever the need arises.
Every day some parents go to the schools to discuss the status of the education of their children. Some of the guardians are also go to MCIWO's office to meet with the officials and express their satisfaction and gratitude for the chance to educate their children.
1.6 Sponsorship provided to 50 school-going children
50 students who are going attending public schools & colleges are getting financial supports from this project so that they may continue their education. For this purpose MCIWO have selected the children attending school whose parents are hardcore poor and unable to otherwise bear the educational expenses. Assistance and sponsorship for the schooling of 50 children were provided.
1.7 Year ending & Award Ceremony
On the 15th December, the Year Ending and Award Ceremony Program was organized for the children. The Local Commissioner was the Chief Guest. Chief Guest and Special Guests delivered the importance & encouragement speech for children and their parents.
The children participated with a colorful cultural program such as dance, song, drama & rhymes. Both parents and members of the local community attended. Children and parents enjoyed the cultural program.
On this occasion there has also been the celebration of the Victory Day, when Bangladesh gained independence.
About 420 children and parents were present at the program, at the end of which small gifts, snacks and awards were distributed among children, to encourage them to regular schooling.
2. Vocational training
2.1 Tailoring Training
MCIWO has implemented a 4 months long Tailoring training for the second badge of students, with 10 adolescent girls and women attending it.
A total of 20 adolescents and adult women have completed the course, but they continue practicing in order to improve their skills.
After having received training as a small group, they have started a mini tailoring center and they are producing clothes for their children and other handicrafts. They will need their personal sewing machine and capital to purchase materials and clothes.
15 women completed the card making course, and now they will try to make cards as per the training received.
Other people from the local community have also been interested and responsive to this activity. They visited the center and discussed with the training participants.
2.2 Soft loan for Income Generating Activities among women groups.
MCIWO has provided motivation on income generating activities, social awareness and women rights through group discussion. It has provided a loan among the women involved in income generating activities like grocery business, tea & green leaf shop, tailoring shops and fire wood shop. The money has been made to revolve among other members of the group.
The project team is providing regular follow up supervision to the members of the Income Generation Groups, educating them on maintaining records of their daily sales and purchases; They are also educating them to calculate loss and profits. Initially project staffs helped directly in writing and calculating; now they are maintaining these documents by their school going children. From their calculation they are earning on average BDT 250-400 daily. Some of them earn even more.
2.3 Telegu Samity
MCIWO provided sewing training among Telegu women & adolescents girls, and later motivated and trained them to form a Telegu Savings Group with 30 women. They regularly save some money from their income. The number of group members will increase next year. They are taking loan from their groups' collection and it will be revolving among themselves. They use the money for themselves to start any Income Generating Activities. Telegu women formed a group by themselves and they are responsible to maintain their accounts and documents. MCIWO help them as far as the documentation and bookkeeping are concerned.
3. Awareness training
3.1 Awareness training on personal health and hygiene and primary health care
A total of six workshops have been organized on personal health and hygiene and primary health care for children and their parents during the reporting period.
The health workshop was organized twice, conducted on the 7th September and 7th November and participants were from Telegu and Bangali community in the Sweeper Colony in the project area. The Telegu Teacher Mr. Kropanandam, discussed the importance of personal health care and explained the issue in their own language. Participants discussed and asked different questions related to the subject. After discussion and sharing, participants identified the following main points of focus: washing hands with soap after toilet use and washing hand before eating; use clean toilets; sandal/shoes; drinking pure water; taking saline solutions in case of diarrhea; the importance of personal hygiene; daily washing; refraining from drugs.
The health workshops were held on 19th July, 9th August, 17th November and 16th December 2012 for parents of children & group members of the Credit Program.
A total of 390 adolescents and adult women were present at health workshops to build their awareness on health issues.
Three Health Specialists/Consultants from Hospitals and Clinics were invited to discuss and share about the identified issues coincerning personal and environmental health and hygiene. This workshop also discussed about HIV/AIDS, its transmission, prevention, care and supports for HIV affected people, etc.
Now people, especially in the sweeper colony and slums, are more aware and careful about their personal health and hygiene, and they try as much as possible to keep up to them. They are very much aware also about HIV and AIDS.
4. Staff Management and Training
MCIWO organized the monthly staff meetings to review the project progress and provided feedbacks on the basis of monitoring recommendations and supervision findings. This process has ensured the quality of the achievements.
Project prepared quarterly programmatic and financial reports on the basis of base documents and submitted to the donor as well.
The project staff has been collecting case studies and data from the field regularly to analyze the contribution of the achievements towards the project objectives and goal so far. The involvement of the local community and interaction with beneficiaries has guaranteed the swift solution of daily problems encountered.
