 Aid Program Report 2001The 2001 aid from Think the Earth Project was applied to the "Dhaka Street Children Support Programme." At present, 200,000 children are estimated to live on the streets of the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. These children face financial difficulties, and do not have the opportunity to receive appropriate medical treatment or education. In reality, instead of being protected by the adults around them, these children are often tricked, or treated as a hindrance, and receive physical and sexual violence. Therefore, Shaplaneer has carried on activities since the year 2000, which aims to first remove the feeling of distrust amongst the adults, and to create a psychological foundation for such children. With the NGO " Aparajeyo-Bangladesh" which has experience in providing aid to children as partner, Shaplaneer aims to improve the standard of living of the street children. |
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| Street school Street school acts as the medium of contact with the street children for the "Aparajeyo-Bangladesh." 6 days a week, classes are offered in the mornings and the afternoons to teach children simple reading, writing, and calculation, information on health hygiene, and to provide a platform for children to help each other. The classes are held in a section of the bus terminal made available by the manager of the bus terminals. |
| Drop in centre Drop in centre open from daily from 8:30 to 17:30 are places that offer safety and comfort to the street children. The main services are to provide places of rest and recreation, bathrooms, showers, places to wash laundry and to cook, lockers for their valuables, beginner level education, and simple medical treatments. There is also a "children's bank" where they can deposit their money for safekeeping. Some children say that "by cooking ourselves, we can save our money on food, and so we have a little money left over from our daily earnings," or because they are able to shower and stay clean, the people in the region do not grimace at them anymore and treat them with more kindness. The most frequently used services are related to the children's appearances, such as the shower and brushing teeth. Other than this, children also like to drink milk, wash their clothes, cook, and to watch TV. |
| < Successes of 2001 > 5817 users (registers) for the school (3551 male, 2266 female) 4950 registers for the drop in centre (3568 male, 1382 female) On average, 91 girls and boys participate in the classes at the school or centre each day. |
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Other activities
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| Cooperation with the regional community Shaplaneer spoke with the people of the region, the employers of the children, the leaders of bus terminals, head of the ward of the region, and policemen to deepen their understanding for street children. As a result, for example, instead of restraining children involved in violence, policemen have started to introduce drop in centre to them. Participation of the children Once a month, children are given the opportunity to manage the activities of each drop in centre, or to mediate disputes or conflicts between children by themselves by creating a childrenÕs committee. |
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Changes
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| + | Children who used to excrete on the roads now use the facilities at the drop in centre and can now maintain health and hygiene. | |
| + | They can now eat clean cooked food. | |
| + | There are fewer children that beg, steal or use drugs. Etc... |
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Future Issues
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| + | Drop in centre open 24 hours a day (since July 2002, the centre have been opened 24 hours a day.) | |
| + | Psychological counseling for children. | |
| + | Further deepening the understanding of the region's adults in respect to the issues pertaining to the street children. | |
| + | Improving the situation so that children can work more independently. |
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Accounts for 2001
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| Total activity expenses: JPY 5,047,020- (Shaplaneer management, operation fee JPY 658,307-, the rest was used as Aparajeyo-BangladeshÕs project activity fees) * Because 2002 is the last of the 3 year Street Children Support Activity Program, at the moment, Shaplaneer and Aparajeyo are currently discussing the past accomplishments and the issues. |
 Class at the street school |
 Simple medical treatment is offered at the drop in centre |
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 Meeting with the people of the region held at the street school |
 Smiles of the children |
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