donated GUK

Shahina of Kunderpara River Island backs from London

No Alternative of Education in Coping with Disaster and Developing Livelihood

Women are lagging behind in every sphere. To attach importance for the education of river island women is very necessary. The women will lag behind in every sphere if proper education is not given to them.  Moreover, they will have to live with bitter experience of early marriage, dowry, domestic violence, loss of health traditionally in this social system. All of us should work jointly giving importance for the development of livelihood of the river island dwellers in cooperation with government and non- government organization. This is the opinion voiced by successful woman in life struggle Shahina Begum fighting flood, river erosion fearlessly. Shahina Begum (24) is wife of Abul kashem with 2 children living at Kunderpara char island of Kamarjani Union under Gaibandha district 5 kilometers from Gaibandha town crossing over big Bramhaputra river. She was married only at the age of 7 years. By this time she had opportunity of going to NFPE School. The flood of 1988 forced them to migrate to another district Bogra from island char of Fazlupur union. Long after seven years she came back and started living at Kunderpara village. During flood of 2004, they were affected again. They had to leave their house instantly for safety leaving behind all house materials.

As there was no flood shelter in that island, they had to come to safer place of Balashi ghat for taking shelter. Here they faced acute food crisis for seven days. In this way they had to suffer each of flood. She did not lose her spirit in the teeth of manifold obstacles in life. She became a member of organized group of local NGO GUK in cooperation with Oxfam-GB in 2000. She has achieved capabilities of different trainings through the Samity. Gradually   she has become a river island woman icon among other poor ordinary women fighting flood and river erosion fearlessly. Spending 2 weeks in England last March she shared opinions on how river island women are playing role for the development of livelihood of river island women in different local and international medias. At that time she visited chamber of commerce, different channels, British parliament, conference, oxford office and a village also. In the course of sharing opinion she informed them of the lifestyle of river island women in Bangladesh. Shahina at her age performs all responsibilities for saving river island dwellers in coping with disaster. She is especially careful to group meeting of disaster preparedness, warning message, lactating and pregnant mothers and childcare. The river island women come to her and seek counseling at their any danger. Shahina is also fond of work as she thinks it as responsibility of human being. Her honor and acceptance increased to the people of society after back from England.

Opinion of Rural Grass root Women in Annual Gathering ’08

Women must Protest and Organize themselves for their own Development

Although rural grass root women have proved their capacity and fitness in some fields, they are lagging behind in many sides of their family and society. The women speakers say about social disparity, lagging behind in education and not totally involved in income generating activities but they must come forward for their own progress. This type of speech voiced by the speakers in Union based annual women gathering ’08 last April organized by group members and funded by GUK and Oxfam-Novib. The annual women gathering organized separately at Kanchipara, Uria and Udakhali Union of Fulchari Upazila and Gidari, Ramchandrapur, Malibari, Ghagoa and Mollarchar Union of Gaibandha sadar. In the gathering govt.and non-govt. officers, journalists and people representatives were present besides concerned UP chairmen.

Basic Trainig on NFPE Teachers

Three batches training with 88 participants including 80 teachers and 8 Programme organizers on basic training for NFPE teachers and Programme organizers under the project namely Quality Primary Education for Children from Extreme Poor Households on Remote River Island in North West Bangladesh. The training aimed at giving quality education on the children from extreme poor households on river islands (Chars) and embankment of the Jamuna River organized at GUK training center last January- February supported by Netz-German.

Training on Vegetable Cultivation, Poultry Rearing and Nursery

Three hundred seventy seven group members of Gidari, Malibari, Ghagoa, Boali and Ramchandrapur union of Gaibandha sadar and Kanchipara, Udakhali and Uria Union of Fulchari Upazila provided training with vegetable cultivation, poultry rearing and nursery last January- February with the aim of increasing their capacity for sustainable livelihood organized by GUK and funded by Novib the Netherlands.

International Women day observed

A Colorful rally and discussion meeting organized last 8 March at Gaibandha district on the occasion of International Women day. The rally starts from Sadhinata prangan parading through the main road of the town. Then a discussion meeting held at public library auditorium where the officers of GO & NGO including hundred men and women participated. The rally was organized district administration and supported jointly by NGOs GUK, SKS and Ekata.

Training on Protest against Early Marriage

Training on Cow Rearing

Training on cow rearing organized at 7 unions of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila for 1372 beneficiaries last January with the aim of raising capacity building for their sustainable livelihood supported by CLP.

Training on Compost Manure

Training on compost manure organized at 7 unions of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila for beneficiaries with the aim of raising capacity building for their sustainable livelihood supported by CLP.

Training on Rickshaw and van Repairing

Two batches of 5 days long training under river erosion project on rickshaw and van repairing organized by GUK provided to 10 male members last February supported by practical action- Bangladesh.

UP Change Makers Meeting and Street Drama

UP Change Makers Meeting and Street Drama organized with the aim of motivating people against the negative side of domestic violence at 5 Upazilas of 3 Districts are Gobindaganj and Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha Distrct, Lalmonirhat sadar of Lalmonirhat district and Pirganj and Mithapukur Upazila of Rangpur District. All the meetings were presided by the conveners of concerned Upazila protest against domestic violence alliance and Upazila Nirbahi officers were chief guests. Apart from this, other attendants were concerned chairmen, members and respectable members of civil society supported by Oxfam- GB.

Flood Shelter and Cluster Village Built at River Island Char of Gaibandha

GUK finished the work of 12 flood shelters of Sundarganj, Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila of Gaibandha district last month. Ten flood centers built funded by NETZ-German and remaining 2 by Canadian High Commission. About 6 thousands families of 4 Upazilas will be able to take shelter at the time of flood for building flood shelters in far island chars. About Tk 20 lac spent for building 1 flood shelter. Apart from this, opportunity provided with employment of the labors involved with flood shelter building and given plants and developed poultry for the improvement of their livelihood.

Besides 3 clusters village’s built and 250 homesteads raised at Mollarchar, Tarapur and Belka Union funded by Handicap International.

Milk Processing at Fazlupur Island Char

Nurul Islam hailing from Krishnamani river island char of Fazlupur Union under Fulchari Upazila is a milkman by profession. He has been in profession for long 20 years. His father and grandfather were also in this profession. From this standpoint he is still dependent on this profession. Every day he moves in char collecting milk from morning till noon and sell to town. If he fails to have boat there is no alternative of going to town. As a result milk goes out of use and he has to pay heavily. Although he is engaged in this business with 7 members of his family his improvement is not so much remarkable. But recently the course of this business is changed to some extent as a result the condition of his family has improved considerably. Five more milkmen like Nurul Islam have got the way of earning money through the training of milk processing and using milk in various ways.

Non- Government organization of Gaibandha GUK undertakes the milk processing and marketing project experimentally on September 2007 under Char Livelihood Project implemented by Market development Fund. Five processors receive 8 days long training on processing milk made materials like chana, sweets, curd, ghee and rasamalai (one kinds of sweets) at 5 villages of Fazlupur Union under this project. The processors are linked with different confectioners of Gaibandha town after having received this training aims at creating sustainable market of their produced milk made materials. Consequently the processors and milkmen are getting benefit. Chana, sweets, curd, rasamalai and ghee are made in river island char. Milk is denatured no more due to making chana. They can sell chana or curd in char area if they fail to carry milk to town for some reasons. One group is formed of processors of 5 villages as a result one comes in town for sale of chana. For this, others can make their domestic work in char and travel expense to town reduced. By this time milkman Saeed has started a shop of sweets at Khatiamari market after being trained and selling sweets and rasamalai. These sweets are supplied to different meetings and festivals of the char area.  AKM Mafidul Islam Shamim, market development supervisor of GUK says that it is possible to continue sustainable productive program of char island dwellers through innovative technical knowledge and linkage development. Five hundred liters milk produced every day at 5 villages of Fazlupur Union.The producers are now able to sell milk at per kg TK 4 to 5 more compared to previous sale rate due to increased consumption of char island milk.

Books Distributed Free of Cost to the Poor Students of secondary School

Four hundred twenty three poor students reading from class 9 to 10 distributed books free of cost last month at Secondary Schools of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila supported by Oxfam-Novib. The UNO of Gaibandha sadar was present in the process of books distribution.

Study Visit

Six members of GUK including male and female paid 4 days visit to Jagarani Chakra Foundation, Jessore February last with the aim of exchanging experience and views on hardcore poor women development Programme implemented by Netz-Germany.

Oxfam International Team visit GUK

Oxfam International team comprising 12 members visit GUK on 17 April last’08 for 2 days. The visiting team visits different developments programs implemented by GUK at Mollarchar and Kamarjani Union river island areas of Gaibandha sadar. They observe how river island char dwellers are developing livelihood fighting flood and river erosion with climate change in disaster prone area. They talk to char dweller men and women of different classes freely. They also share opinion on different subjects with senior members of this organization. The members of Oxfam International team represent from different countries of Europe like Oxfam-America, Hong Kong, England, Spain and Australia.

Health Camp

Six hundred patients of 5 Unions of Sundarganj Upazila have been attended through 5 health camps organized at Dahaband, Tarapur, Haripur, Belka and Chandipur. Upazila medical officer doctor Nasiruddin was in charge of 3 health camps and remaining 2 under doctor Ruhul Amin Sarker supported by Netz-Germany.

Vegetable Seeds Distributed

Fifteen hundred families of Dahaband, Tarapur, Haripur, Belka and Chandipur unions of Sundarganj Upazila distributed different kinds of vegetable seeds like ash gourd, Indian spinach, stemaranth, kankone and ladies finger last January and February with the aim of motivating them for making vegetable garden for improving sustainable livelihood supported by Netz-German.

COW Distribution

Distribution of1323 cows to 1259 group members at 7 unions of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila organized by GUK January with the aim of developing their sustainable livelihood supported by CLP.

Change makers Assembly at School and College

Change makers Assembly at School and College held at Pirganj and Mithapukur Upazila under Rangpur district last January with the aim of making students aware about the negative side of domestic violence. Mostafijur Rahaman was the president of Pirganj Upazila and Md.R.Mokset Bahalul the president of Mithapukur Upazila where local change makers and elites were also present organized by Samakal Samaj Unnayan Sangtha suppored by Oxfam-GB.

Students and Teachers visit 21st Books Fair in Dhaka

Students and Teachers at school and college level of Gaibandha comprising 14 members visit 21st Books Fair in Dhaka last February with the aim of disseminating the message of protest against domestic violence of Amrai Pari Campaign to the participants of the fair through distributing leaflets and booklets organized by GUK and supported by Oxfam-GB.

Community Meeting on Village Court

Community Meeting on Village Court organized by GUK with the aim of awaking people about the importance of activating village court at Ramchandrapur Union parisad under Gaibandha sadar last Februry supported by MJF. Mahamuda Khatun, district women affairs officer was the chief guest, M. Abdus Salam, chief executive of GUK special guest and Mirja Hassan, UP chairman the president of the meeting including among others Rehana Begum, project manager, Amal Chandra Barman and Minu Rani Mohanta supported by MJF.

Refreshers on UP Standing Committee and Village Court

Refreshers on UP Standing Committee and Village Court held at Gaibandha sadar, Shaghata, Fulchari and Sundarganj Upazila last January with the aim of making people aware about the responsibility of village court and UP standing committee where all the concerned chairmen of Upazila were the presidents. Rehana Begum, project manager, facilitated the refreshers. All the workers of the concerned area were present there supported by MJF.

Monthly Stipend

TK three hundred as per month stipend paid to 1373 poor island char dwellers under asset transfer Programme (ATP) 2nd phase. Moreover TK 500.00 as monthly stipend paid to 1522 poor island char dwellers under asset transfer Programme (ATP) 3rd phase at 7 Unions of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila last January and February supported by CLP.

Cows Vaccinated

Cows vaccinated at 7 Unions of Gaibandha sadar and Fulchari Upazila last January-February. Six hundred ninety five cows vaccinated for anthrax, 440 for food and mouth disease and 442 for black quarter supported by CLP.

Rally and Meeting on Health Service

Rally and Meeting on Health Service organized at Madanerpara of Kanchipara Union under Fulchari Upazila last February aimed at reaching the health message to the grass root poor and hard core poor. The chief guest of the Rally and Meeting was Fulchari medical officer doctor Nazrul Islam. The other speakers were UP members, head teacher, and convener of social entrepreneur group and elite of society supported by River Basin Programme. On the other hand, discussion meeting on Island Chars Health Service organized at the compound of Kunderpara Gana Unnayan academy of Kamarjani Union of Gaibandha sadar last January aimed at providing health service to the Chars island dwellers of this area in presence of about 200 men and women including members and respectable community people where doctor M.A Kader was the chief guest, medical officer of Gaibandha sadar hospital, Gaibandha funded by River Basin Programme.

Required Materials Distributed to PWDs

Eighty-two persons with disabilities of different types distributed required materials and paid cash for employment opportunity. Gaibandha DC Abu Mohammed Yusuf and Additional DC Bayes Mia were present in the process of required materials distribution to PWDs supported by Handicap international.

Commercial Fodder Production

GUK implemented the following commercial fodder production under enterprise development unit of CLP. Two thousands three hundred forty decimals land of 175 farmers of Gajaria, Uria and Kanchipara Union of Fulchari Upazila have been brought under fodder sorghum and jamboo cultivation with the aim of increasing milking rate of cows. Till now the fodder is being cultivated and grazed and the result of which is very fruitful. By eating this fodder cows have started milking at increased rate. The rate of milking from each cow has reached 500 ml to 750 ml and it will continue to increase day by day. By this time community people have shown their growing interest for this commercial fodder production supported by CLP.

Health Camp Free of Cost

GUK organized a health camp at Uria community clinic of Fulchari Upazila for 40 beneficiaries who got treatment free of cost last January. Doctor Nazrul Islam gave them service supported by practical action- Bangladesh.

Pigeon Distribution

Twenty beneficiaries of cluster village of Uria Union under Fulchari Upazila distributed 80 pigeons each getting 4 last February supported by practical action- Bangladesh.

Project Inception Meeting at UP and Upazila Level

Project inception meeting at UP and Upazila Level organized at Gaibandha sadar, Kamarjani and Mollar char with the aim of giving idea on inception of CLP project, nature of activities and objective where the chief guest was Upazila  Nirbahi officer of Gaibandha and other government officers supported by CLP.

Campaign on Election Awareness

Campaign and rally organized and posters, leaflets and banners distributed by GUK at Fulchari, Gaibandha sadar and Palashbari Upazila with the aim of motivating people about making voter list with photo and giving national identity card. The govt. and non- govt. officers, UP representatives, journalists and many men and women of different strata participate in the rally supported by Bangladesh Election Commission and Election Working Group jointly.

Couple Orientation

Couple Orientation organized by GUK last January at GUK area office, Sundarganj, Upazila auditorium, Palashbari and Uadayan training room at Shaghata in presence of 25 pair of couples with the aim of motivating them against domestic violence. Joya Prosad and advocate Choudhury Nargis Akhter Banu were the trainers of the orientation supported by Oxfam-GB.

90% Mothers and Children Deprived from Health Service in Island Char

A workshop ensuring health service of mothers and children in river island held at GUK office, v-aid road, Gaibandha on 21 April’08 organized by GUK, SKS, SSUC and funded by Oxfam-GB. The information received from an article written by poet and writer Abu Zafar Sabu in the workshop that 68 countries of this world lagging behind in saving the lives of mothers and children out which Bangladesh is one of them. The condition of river island is very miserable. Out of total 146 river islands of Gaibandha district, the rate of female education is12% out of 28%. In the island chars 70% people are poor and 80% people live on day laboring. Every year 10% to 12% mothers and children die in their premature stage in the island chars due to poverty and unawareness.  Under the president ship of Gobindalal Das, the chief guest was DC Gaibandha Abu Mohammed Yusuf, special guest Additional DC Bayes Mia, Civil Surgeon Samsul Haque and doctor and Deputy Director Family Planning department Riajul Islam. There were medical officers, government health staff, and village doctors in the workshop apart from 80 char dweller women.

A Day long Information fair held at chandipur last month where counseling service about education, health, law and agriculture provided. The fair was organized by Pallitathya kendra, Chandipur and Supported by Dnet.