Doorstep learning for girls in domestic work

It is estimated that 10% of Bangladesh’s population lives in extreme poverty and around 4 million children are taken out of school and sent to work, most often in horrendous conditions, in order to help provide for their families. Despite the employment of children in domestic work being against the law it is both accepted and rife. Employers consider themselves respectable law-abiding citizens rather than perpetrators of illegal child abuse. Over 400,000 children as young as five are employed as domestic workers (80% are girls). Many reside with their employers where they are at risk of abuse, are on call 24/7 and are forbidden to attend school.

Our Doorstep Learning model was developed from our pioneering work providing education centres and learning opportunities for boys doing hazardous work. We wanted to build on our learning about interventions with working children – and provide literacy, numeracy and life skills for working girls too. We realised children doing domestic work may not be allowed to travel to a local centre, so we designed this programme to take learning directly to the domestic settings where children work. Our specially trained community teachers support individual children or small groups who work near each other, with the employers’ permission, in their homes.

Impact of Doorstep Learning Project June 2021- May 2022

 292 children received up to 6 hours of education per week through our UKBET Doorstep Learning Project

121  children (40%) progressed in the following ways

- 57 children enrolled in formal school education

- 34 children joined vocational training

- 28 children completed vocational training in sewing and

- 6 students went on to get job in tailoring as a result

- 4 children completed vocational training in beauty therapy and 1 went on to work in a beauty salon

Case Study: Micro-grants

Samina Khatun(Not real name) , an UKBET student, has worked as a domestic helper since she was a child because her family has always struggled financially. Mrs Eli (Not real name), Saima’s (Not real name) community teacher became aware of her situation and after discussing with the UKBET team was able to offer her father Ali (Not real name) a business loan. Having previously struggled with employment, he accepted the financial help and established a dried fish business. The family is now able to earn a stable income and as a result Samina(Not real name) now no longer has to work as a domestic helper. Mr Ali (Not real name) is extremely grateful to UKBET.

Case Study: School readmission

Khadija (Not real name) is 13 years old and has four siblings; two brothers and two sisters. Her mother works as a domestic helper, and her father has been out of work for quite some time due to ill health. Like her mother, she was forced to work as a domestic helper to help support the family income. In 2021 Ms Jhorna (Not real name), an UKBET community teacher met Khadija(Not real name) through one of our outreach surveys. Fortunately, Khadija's (Not real name) employer was very co-operative and understood the need for her to have access to education through our UKBET Doorstep Learning Programme. Ms Jhorna (Not real name)was given permission to teach Khadija (Not real name) for 90 minutes, four days a week. Khadija (Not real name) loved her classes and the more time she spent on the programme the more her aspirations of going back to school grew. We’re delighted to share that with the support of UKBET, Ms Jhorna (Not real name) will soon enrol Khadija(Not real name) into a school and unsurprisingly, Khadija (Not real name) is overjoyed by the news!

Case Study: Vocational training and job placement

Rumaiya (Not real name), aged 15, was enrolled in our Doorstep Learning Project by UKBET's community teacher Ms Chompa Akhter Eli (Not real name) in October 2021. Like her mother, Rumaiya (Not real name) worked as a domestic helper, working long hours to help support her family. UKBET's mission has always been to not only remove children from dangerous jobs and help them transition to education or vocational training but also to offer them and their families with an alternative and stable source of income. With this in mind, UKBET launched the Women’s Empowerment Programme. The project's goal was to increase the selfsufficiency of females involved in child labour through training in activities like sewing and beauty therapy. Ms Eli (Not real name)saw a wonderful transformation in Rumaiya (Not real name) after just a few of her teaching sessions; she was keen and eager to learn. During one particular session, Ms Eli (Not real name) suggested Rumaiya (Not real name) join an UKBET beauty therapy training course, as part of the Women’s Empowerment Programme. Rumaiya accepted the offer immediately and left her domestic work to train with UKBET. She loved the training course and attended every single session of her three-month training course. UKBET DLP IMPACT REPORT 2021-22 After completing her course, Rumaiya (Not real name) accepted a job at Femme; a well known beauty parlour in Sylhet city that has long supported UKBET and our work. Rumaiya (Not real name) is delighted with her new job; she’s been there for over two weeks now and comes to work every day with a beaming smile! We’re very proud of Rumaiya (Not real name) for her perseverance and dedication to her training and delighted that she is enjoying her new work and the opportunities it will bring her.

 Thank You !

All donations make a profound impact to the futures of working children. No matter the amount, they are always much appreciated.

 *** No name in this report is real.

Links:

• UKBET's Doorstep learning impact report June 2021 - May 2022

Doorstep Learning brings basic education, healthcare and support to children forced to work as domestic servants due to family poverty. Our programme gives children access to education and support to move out of forced labour. It also helps end their family’s dependency on child labour.

Key information about the project:

-        204 young girls and 152 of the families of working children, which in total is over 900 children and adult beneficiaries Schools were closed for much of 2021 but in the short time they were open,

-        48 out of 204 girls left work for school 51 younger siblings of working children broke the pattern of following their sisters into work and went to school instead

-        32 young women enrolled into vocational training as an important step towards a new and better future

-        12 awareness-raising programmes were organised for families and other local stakeholders highlighting children’s rights and the importance of education

-        30 micro-grants were awarded to help families generate a secure income and reduce or stop dependency on their working children

-        343 family members were supported to get COVID-19 vaccinations and arrangements made with Sylhet Corporation for UKBET children to be vaccinated.

-        New clothe, food packs were provided to children at Eid Festival on May 2022

-        We have also provided emergency food, medicine to the families of the children who were affected by huge flood in Sylhet area.

Imrana ' s story

As a child, Imrana's mother left the family, leaving her unemployed, visually-impaired father to raise the children alone. From a very young age Imrana worked with both of her aunts who are domestic workers in different households. Given the desperate need for income to support her family, Imrana soon dropped out of primary school and became a full-time domestic worker. In 2021 Imrana met one of our UKBET teachers, Ms Bushra, and was inspired to get back into school. As part of our work with the families of working children, Ms Bushra convinced Imrana’s aunties to allow her to take part in UKBET’s Doorstep Learning Project. When she heard the news Imrana was delighted! Given a young life full of many struggles, Imrana had lost her hope of a good education. However, now through her classes with UKBET, she has started to feel like she finally has a choice about her life. She is now determined to complete her studies and become financially independent.

Thank you very much for all your generous supports!