Project for children collecting garbage in Sylhet

In Bangladesh's urban areas around 400,000 people, mostly women and children, survive by sorting and collecting waste materials at local garbage dumps. They work barehanded sorting paper, plastic, metal and glass and selling what they find to recycling centres. This work is horrible.

This project brings basic education to children working as waste collectors. Children are taught literacy, numeracy and life skills by specialist community teachers 3 times a week in education centres close to their workplace. At the same time their families are supported out of poverty enabling the children to enrol in school or vocational training instead of going to work.

61( 16 Girls, 45 boys) children were regularly attending sessions at local learning centres

9 children had started school

6 micro-grants had been given to family members

Sylhet region has experienced devastating flood recently. All families of the project were provided packs with essential groceries which were sufficient for a family of 5 members for 15 day.

Case study on family support :

16-year-old Fahim (Not real name) joined “UKBET's project for collecting garbage in Sylhet” in September 2021 and currently works in a garage. His father Kayes Miah (Not real name) used to drive a rented rickshaw, and as a result, a significant portion of his entire earnings was spent to pay the rickshaw's rent.

Considering this situation, our community teacher, Md. Abdus Salam (Not real name), arranged interest free loan from UKBET last week for Fahim's father to buy a rickshaw of his own.

Mr. Miah (Not real name) expressed his gratitude to Mr. Salam and UKBET for their humanitarian act, and he promised to send two of his daughters—ages 10 and 12—to school next year.

 Numerous small businesses were severely impacted by the devastating floods in Sylhet. 12-year-old Faiza Akhter (Not real name) attends UKBET's second standard. Due to the flood, her father's vegetable business was destroyed, and he used all of his savings to repair the damage the flood caused to their house and belongings. When he was about to send his daughter back to work as a housemaid to deal with these terrible financial circumstances, UKBET offered him interest free loan to help him restart his vegetable business.

The purpose of UKBET's family grants programme is to ensure that the family has a stable alternate source of income following the withdrawal of their children from hazardous employment like collecting garbage.

Your donations make a profound impact to the futures of working children. No matter the amount, they are always much appreciated. We request you to continue your support.

Links:

• http://www.ukbet-bd.org

The pandemic has led to rising levels of unemployment amongst the poorest families in Bangladesh. As a result, more children than ever were 2 sent to work instead of school to contribute to their family’s income. A recent joint study from the World Bank and United Nations agencies estimated that 1 out of every 10 girls in Bangladesh did not return to school as they reopened after the COVID-19 lock-downs. Instead, they worked long hours in high-risk physical occupations, often vulnerable to abuse.

UKBET’s purpose is to use education to radically change and improve the lives of working children and their families. UKBET teachers and fieldworkers bring teaching and learning to girls enslaved in domestic work, to boys in hazardous occupations as well as support for income generating to their families. In 2021 a new pilot programme was started teaching children found daily scouring rubbish tips as a way of earning money. The impact of UKBET’s programmes are significant. Working children learn to read, write, use numbers and take better care of themselves. Some return to school, others move into vocational training and safe employment. Families become self-sufficient or are referred to other agencies for support; all enjoy free healthcare. This report is a tribute to the participation and determination of these children and their families.

In Bangladesh's urban areas around 400,000 people, mostly women and children, survive by sorting and collecting waste materials at local garbage dumps. They work barehanded sorting paper, plastic, metal and glass and selling what they find to recycling centres. This work is horrible.

With support from the World Sylhet Sommelon (Convention), Jalalabad Association UK, Just Help Foundation UK, and local Bangladeshi philanthropists, UKBET has piloted a project with children working on dumps in Sylhet. The programme provides numeracy, literacy and life skills sessions at learning centres near waste hotspots. Fieldworkers liaise with the parents and encourage children to attend classes three times a week.

55( 16 Girls, 39 boys) children were regularly attending sessions at local learning centres

9 children had started school

3 micro-grants had been given to family members

Eid festival clothing and food packs were distributed to children and families.

Your donations make a profound impact to the futures of working children. No matter the amount, they are always much appreciated. We request you to continue your support.