Education for Blind Children of Bangladesh

The BERDO Journey

Since 1991 Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation (BERDO) has been working hard to provide education and rehabilitation services to the blind people of Bangladesh. Md. Saidul Huq, a blind person with his friends initiated the services to establish the organization to support the people like him who are marginalized because of their blindness. With the help of generous supporters like yourself, BERDO has been experienced to support for more than 24 years. Recently celebrated its 24^th Year Anniversary and in these short twenty four years, we have been able to challenge social norms and provide people with blindness the opportunity to learn, grow and rehabilitate in the mainstream society.

In the last 23 years, BERDO has empowered the people with disabilities through income generation, leadership development, education, training and treatment facilities to become them active citizen of the society.  Programs also aim to increase public awareness about disability issues, facilitate cooperation between disabled and non-disabled persons of the community and prevent disability through medical treatment and awareness raising.

Your kindness and generosity has been invaluable in helping us to achieve these milestones and we truly appreciate the support that you provide to help the blind people of Bangladesh to uplift them from poverty and make them active citizen.

We would like to take this opportunity not only to thank you for your support, but also to tell you exactly how your donations have helped and where they have been used…

 BERDO never stops

In Bangladesh, there are around 50,000 children who are visually impaired or completely blind. Most of them are from poor families. In poor families, the children are generally used for begging as they have no hope. If they are getting education, they may have a meaningful life. But there is no schooling support in their own community. So, BERDO is working towards addressing the problem through making provision and support for education of the blind children. BERDO has already a residential school at Dhaka. With the support of generous Global Giving donations, BERDO will increase the children in Dhaka Centre and open the doors of one more school at Madaripur, providing the opportunity to lodging, food, medical checkups, counseling support, education, sports and cultural activities for 40 children.

BERDO’s school for children with visual impairments is a response to the lack of resources for Braille education in Bangladeshi rural areas.  Children come from the country’s remote regions to the School for the Blind in Dhaka where they learn to read and write Braille and gain independent living skills. BERDO provides education and live-in facilities for existing children and would like to increase number of children with more centers. BERDO has a dream to establish at least one school in each district involve individuals, corporate, government and donor agencies

Indian people has solidarity with BERDO initiatives

Indian High Commission on behalf of the people of India has shows solidarity with BERDO initiatives. A hostel for 32 seating capacity was constructed and furniture and equipments were provided to BERDO to facilitate education and vocation training program of the organization. They also provided a car for the movement of the children of Dhaka Centre. Indian Prime Minister Sri Norendra Modi Inaugurated the hostel on his official visit to Bangladesh on 7^th June 2015. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spends some time with blind children after inaugurating the construction of the hostel for Blind childen at Mirpur.

Md. Aslam Molla with a hope for better future.

We want to introduce you to one the school student Md. Aslam Molla. Aslam Molla is one of the three children of Bellal Mollah and Champa Begum from Kalkini upazila of Madaripur district. Bellal Mollah is a rickshaw puller and Champa Begum is a housewife. They were frustrated with Aslam Mollah. He was born with blindness in two of his eyes. His parents could not think of his education with their capacity.

Bellal Mollah and Champa Begum were informed about the no cost BERDO residential school. They visited the school and keep their child Aslam Molla in the school. He is smart and assertive and shows leadership abilities that far exceed those of most children his age. He has made great strides in his ability to read and write Braille in his one year with the school and has adjusted well to the residential environment at BERDO. His hobby is singing and playing. He also enjoys the outing program of the curriculum. He wants to be a teacher and teach other blind children.

Thank you all of the supporters of the project ‘Education for Blind Children of Bangladesh’ of BERDO who has donated to change the lives of children with blindness. We always be happy to hear your suggestions to improve the program, fundraising and communication of the project.

Indian people has solidarity with BERDO initiatives

Indian High Commission on behalf of the people of India has shows solidarity with BERDO initiatives. A hostel for 32 seating capacity was constructed and furniture and equipments were provided to BERDO to facilitate education and vocation training program of the organization. They also provided a car for the movement of the children of Dhaka Centre. Indian Prime Minister Sri Norendra Modi Inaugurated the hostel on his official visit to Bangladesh on 7^th June 2015. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spends some time with blind children after inaugurating the construction of the hostel for Blind childen at Mirpur.

Md. Aslam Molla with a hope for better future.

We want to introduce you to one the school student Md. Aslam Molla. Aslam Molla is one of the three children of Bellal Mollah and Champa Begum from Kalkini upazila of Madaripur district. Bellal Mollah is a rickshaw puller and Champa Begum is a housewife. They were frustrated with Aslam Mollah. He was born with blindness in two of his eyes. His parents could not think of his education with their capacity.

Bellal Mollah and Champa Begum were informed about the no cost BERDO residential school. They visited the school and keep their child Aslam Molla in the school. He is smart and assertive and shows leadership abilities that far exceed those of most children his age. He has made great strides in his ability to read and write Braille in his one year with the school and has adjusted well to the residential environment at BERDO. His hobby is singing and playing. He also enjoys the outing program of the curriculum. He wants to be a teacher and teach other blind children.

Thank you all of the supporters of the project ‘Education for Blind Children of Bangladesh’ of BERDO who has donated to change the lives of children with blindness. We always be happy to hear your suggestions to improve the program, fundraising and communication of the project.