Give child labourers an education in Bangladesh

Introduction 

Welcome to a heart-warming journey showcasing the transformative power of UKBET's programme, dedicated to the education and empowerment of working children in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This report is specially crafted for individual donors, like you, who have played a crucial role in positive change in the lives of vulnerable children in our community.

 Impact of Your Support

 Your generous contributions have been the driving force behind UKBET's programme, enabling us to offer numeracy, literacy, and life skills sessions to children who were once deprived of access to education. Our dedicated community teachers work tirelessly to take learning right to the doorsteps of working children, whether they are involved in domestic work, hazardous occupations, or garbage collection. Your support provides these children with hope for a brighter future and equips them with the tools to break free from the cycle of poverty and child labour.

 Key Initiatives 

Enrolment of Children: We have 488 children attending regular sessions at our UKBET learning centre. These children receive a high-quality education and vital support for reintegrating into mainstream schools or enrolling in vocational training programs.

 Transition to Mainstream Education or Vocational Training: We take immense pride in sharing that 22 children have successfully made the transition to mainstream education or vocational training, liberating themselves from the clutches of child labour.

 Immediate Recruitment of Progressed Children: As 22 children take significant steps toward a brighter future, we promptly enrol another 22 into our program, ensuring a continuous cycle of positive impact.

 Enhancing Family Income: Our Family Future Program's micro-grant initiative has been instrumental in raising the income of 25 families with working children, effectively breaking the chains of poverty and child labour.

 Shaping Mindsets through Community Awareness Programs: UKBET actively conducts community-based awareness events, fostering positive mind-set changes and garnering support for these children among community members.

 Sorif's Inspiring Journey (Not real name)

 Allow us to introduce you to Sorif (Not real name), a 14-year-old boy who scours waste dumps to support his struggling family. Sorif (Not their real name)was forced to drop out of school but found a glimmer of hope when he was enrolled in an NGO-run school. Unfortunately, that school was closed down, leaving him in despair. Today, Sorif attends the UKBET learning centre three days a week. His father, once a mobile shoe seller, faced devastation when the catastrophic flood of 2022 wiped out his capital. Fortunately, UKBET's program provided the financial support he needed to revive his business. Sorif (Not real name) is now a regular attendee at the UKBET learning centre, and his teacher plans to enrol him in a vocational training program soon.

 We Seek Your Ongoing Support

 Your unwavering commitment has touched countless lives, instilling hope and opportunity where it was once scarce. We humbly request your continued support and that you help us spread the word about UKBET's mission to empower even more children in need. Together, we can build a brighter future for working children in Sylhet, Bangladesh, and put an end to child labour and poverty.

 Thank you for being a beacon of hope for these children. Your support truly makes a world of difference. Please visit our website or contact us directly to contribute or learn more about our initiatives. Together, we can transform lives and create a better tomorrow.

In Bangladesh, around 3.2 million children under the age of 14 are forced into domestic and hazardous labour. In 2005, the Bangladeshi government made work by children under 14 illegal, however, the number of child labourers continues to rise. Often families living in extreme poverty feel they have no choice but to send their children to work.The COVID-19 pandemic and repeated flooding in Bangladesh in 2022 have further exacerbated this problem, along with an increase in child marriage.

There is a growing demand for our programmes as stakeholders become increasingly aware of the illegality and immorality of child labour, that education is every child’s right, and that programmes such as Doorstep Learning change lives, offering routes out of poverty for working children and their families. Domestic work presents many dangers for working children from the physical work they do or the potential for physical or sexual violence and abuse from the employers, another reason this work is UKBET’s priority. 

Prior to piloting Doorstep Learning in 2018, our research showed child domestic workers to be one of the most difficult groups to identify, engage and support. As far as we could discover there was a complete gap in state or NGO interventions on behalf of these children. Having consulted with the International Domestic Workers Federation, we piloted Doorstep Learning and have measured the progress of the programme over 4 years. We can now demonstrate that Doorstep Learning is making a significant difference and impact. To date, we have engaged and supported 1,193 working children and their families (7,158 family members). In 2022, 54% of girls in the programme progressed out of child labour. We are convinced it is a  model ready to be replicated nationally with the potential to contribute to ending child labour in Bangladesh. 

At this moment, our 18 community teachers are working with 248 children (90% girls) and their families.

"Uneducated and almost married off at 14, my life was destined for hardship. Thanks to UKBET's community teacher Jhorna ( Not real name) madam who taught me reading, writing and who rescued me and enrolled me in the sewing training, I now run a successful clothing business. UKBET changed my life, and I will always be grateful." 
- Lola ( Not real name),  beneficiary of UKBET Doorstep Learning Programme

Case Study :

The pandemic of Coronavirus comes and goes again. However, Parul( Not real name) cannot return to her school.

Due to extreme poverty, her family sends her to work in people's homes instead of going to school. In the meantime, UKBET’s community teacher Bushra( Not real name) finds Parul ( Not real name)and enrols her in the doorstep learning project. Parul( Not real name) gets another chance to study. To increase the family's income, Parul's( Not real name) mother starts raising ducks at home with the financial support of UKBET. Parul( Not real name) dreams of returning to school and advancing far ahead, while her mother dreams of expanding the duck farm's income so that all her children can go to school.

We will stand beside Parul( Not real name) and her mother to fulfil their dreams. Will you stand with us?

Links:

• Parul's (Not real name) dream and her mother's duck farm