NSA Project
April 1 2010- October 2011
STRENGTHENING NON STATE ACTORS (NSAs) AND
LOCAL BODIES (LBs) TO REDUCE CHILD POVERTY AND
PROMOTE RIGHTS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN (VC)
NSA PROJECT
OBJECTIVE
 Overall objective of the project is to build
capacities of Non State Actors and Local
Authorities for a sustainable reduction of
child poverty, child labour and other
forms of child rights violations in
Bangladesh, thereby contributing to
achievement of MDGs 1, 2 and 4 and
compliance with UNCRC in Bangladesh.
 To build capacities of Non State Actors
and local governments and strengthen
networks and linkages for the economic
empowerment
of
extreme
poor
households and their children To build
capacities of Non State Actors and local
governments, thereby making them
accountable
and
responsible
for
improving conditions of working
children in three districts by May 2012
Child labour is one of the most critical issues in the
context of Bangladesh. According to the UNICEF
study in Bangladesh approximately 45 percent of
the total population are children (under 18 years)
whereas a significant portion is working children.
The children who work in different factories, shops,
garments are deprived from fundamental rights and
sustain physical, psychological, emotional and
moral damages. Violence, abuse and exploitation
against children are regarded one of the burning
issues around the country. Even in a sense generally
speaking
Children
in
Bangladesh
face
multidimensional forms of violence, abuse and
exploitation. It happens almost everywhere like
within family, street, community, workplace, school
or any state and non state institution. On regional
dimension it is found that comparatively the number
of violence against children in Lalbagh area is
higher than that of any other areas of the city. Such
types of violence prevail upon largely in the
Lalbagh area due to have high population density,
slum and squatter’s settlement and different types of
factories in that locality.
Why NSA Project Focus on Lalbagh Areas?: Lalbagh Thana (DHAKA
district) with an area of 5.74 sq km Population 365323; male 59.09%,
female 40.91%; Muslim 97.73%, Hindu 2.01% and 0.26%; population
density per sq km is 60645. Lalbagh is characterized mostly by Medium,
small, and local factory. Textile factory, Plastic factory, Printing and
packaging factory, bidi factory, Cosmetics factory everywhere children
aged from 5-18 years old are the main labor source. Many children cannot
remember when and how they started working. Day after day, year after
year from early childhood they are working even most of the children said
that they did not come to their current work of their own choice. In most
cases children are asked to do a particular job by adult male guardians,
often by command, sometimes by request and encouragement.
MAJOR SUCCESS
60 NO WARD
a. Health Service
Mode of Service
Health Red card (Red card)
Eye Camp
Free Spectacles
Health Service through Satellite Clinic
Vitamin A+ Campaign
Anti warm Campaign
Polio Vaccine
Bangladesh Crescent Society
Total
I.
Total Service Covered
Male
Female
Total
80
30
110
250
193
443
76
19
95
325
211
536
270
185
455
300
239
539
121
221
342
93
67
160
1515
1165
2680
Vitamin A+ Campaign:
With the
collaboration of UPHCP. Prodipan NSA
Project
Organized
Vitamin
A+
Campaign in every ward. In 60 no ward a
total of 455 children under the age of five
have been administered life-saving
vitamin A doses. Before Days prior,
messages had been sent throughout all
LRCs and ward wise announcement.
II.
Health Red card (Red card): The
Government of the People’s Republic of
Bangladesh has been implementing Urban Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP) since
1998. The goal of the project is to improve the health status of the urban population
specially the poor through improved access to and utilization of efficient, effective and
sustainable Primary Health Care services. In 60 no ward With the cooperation of NSA
Project, UPHCP issued Health Entitlement Card (commonly known as Red Card) for
working children hence working children can get health services at free of cost. It is
estimated that a total of 110 red card issued for children among them 80 are male and 30
female.
III.
Anti Worm Campaign: A total of 539 children aged between 2-5 years provided with
anti-worm (Elbendazol) tablet. The Campaign has been conducted with the mutual
collaboration with UPHCP.
IV.
Free Eye Camp:
With the
collaboration of Islamia Eye Hospital
Prodipan NSA Project organizes the eye
camp Targeted to eliminating blindness
of working children. Approximately 443
working children got treatment whereas
95 children got spectacles for free of
cost.
b. Education
Total Service Covered
Mode of Service
Mainstreaming Children to Different Schools
Mainstreaming Working Children to Vocational Training Center
Total
Male
Female
Total
09
04
13
06
03
09
15
07
22
I.
Mainstreaming Children to Different Schools: From NSA project Students with
specific leaning mainstream to different schools in different classes for the purpose of
higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem, and better social skills. From 60 no
ward LRC a total of 15 working children mainstream to Different Schools along with a
total of
II.
Mainstreaming Working Children to Vocational Training Center: NSA project
Mainstreaming Working Children to Vocational Training Center has started with a view
to providing functional skills to children in order to rehabilitate them and mainstream
them into socio-economic sphere. Evidently a total number of 7 children Mainstream to
Vocational Training Center.
c. Recreation:
Mode of Service
Participation of Different Course in Bangladesh Shishu Academy
Total
I.
Total Service Covered
Male
Female
Total
02
03
05
02
03
05
LRC Wise recreation:
Every child spends two
and a half hours a day, six
days a week, at a learning
centre. During this time,
working children get some
respite
from
their
hazardous occupations in
an enjoyable environment.
They learn basic literacy
and numeracy skills and
gain knowledge on life
skills, healthcare, their
rights, ways of identifying
hazardous work and other
issues relevant to their
situation. The hours at the
learning centre are regarded as a first step in discouraging working children from
engaging in full-time, risky and exploitative occupations and encouraging them to seek
safer alternatives and pursue their educations.
I.
Participation of Different Course in Bangladesh Shishu Academy: Last 14th July
Bangladesh Shishu Scademy started class of working children with the regular student. A
total of 31 working children attended the schedule class course on different events
namely Dance, Drawing, Play etc. Whereas 5 students got admitted to different course
from 60 no ward.
D. Participation:
Mode of Service
Participation in Different programs in Bangladesh Shishu Academy
Participation in Different Competition in Bangladesh Shishu Academy and others
Participation in Child Film Festival
Total
I.
Total Service Covered
Male
Female
Total
149
103
252
25
13
38
17
10
27
191
126
317
Participation in Different
programs in Bangladesh
Shishu Academy: A total
number of 252 working
children
participated
in
different
programs
in
Bangladesh Shishu Academy
namely National Girl Child
Day program 15 augustnational
mourning
day,
Everest Conquer M A Muhit
program etc.
II.
Participation in Different
Competition: in 60 no ward A total number of 38 working children participated in
Different Competition namely 6th International Children-Art Biennale Competition and
Exhibition-2011, Art Competition on the occasion of world day against child labour, Art
Competition in Department of Archiology, Shishu Ananda Mela etc.
III.
Participation in Child Film Festival: On 22 September 2011 at Art Gallery of
Bangladesh Shishu Academy, arranged a free show of Amar Bondhu Rashed (My Friend
Rashed). My Friend Rashed is the story of 1971 liberation war seen through the eyes of a
young boy. The backdrop happens to be a remote small town, and the characters are a
few students of a school. The story of My Friend Rashed ends with the liberation of
Bangladesh. When the fallen apart residents finally return back to the small town to their
utter surprise they become aware of the fact that Rashed, the amazing little boy, is
missing. Conspired by the anti-liberation force he has been killed by the Pakistan Army.
The story ends there, although his friends reminisce about him for a long time—even
when they grow up. This outstanding film carries out an immense feeling of liberation
war of Bangladesh among the working children. Remarkably a total number of 36
working children enjoyed the free film show.
d. Community Contribution
Community Contribution for Eid ul-fitr: Eid ul-fitr is a source of merriment among
Muslims. Especially this year’s Eid ul-Fitr brings a very joyous day for working children
through getting a new dimension of contribution through the community. According to the
commitment of NSAs Prodipan collects and distributes it among the needy working children
in the form clothes to bring Eid enjoyment among the poor children. A total of 510 children
got new clothes to wear throughout the Eid. Md. Enamuddin Enam one of the prominent
NSA Said “Many parents cannot afford to buy new clothing for their working children
because retailers charge high prices. This is our responsibility by realizing the intrinsic
social religious value of Eid”. Prodipan Family is Much Beholden with the generous
contribution of Taka 102000.
Other Community Contribution: NSA project committed to sharing and building the local
community by organizing a wide range of charity activities through a series of community
engagement activities. From the very beginning NSA Project gets both material and financial
support accumulated to the intrinsic value amount of 545000 Tk. The remarkable
contributions are as follows:
 Three hundred warm cloths donated by four NSAs of Lalbagh area.
 Two hundred blanket donated by a NSA of Lalbagh.
 Two eye camp were organized for working children at free of cost with the support
of Islamia Eye Hospital, Dhaka.
 Three children have got the sewing machine at free of cost from Azad Muslim
welfare Complex.
 Three benevolent NSAs given three Color Television (21") for better recreation of
working children.
 Mr. Iqbal Hossain, Vice Pesident, Killa Sava Songah has provided an Almirah
made of steel for working children
e. Awareness, Training, Capacity Building and Service Skill:
I.
Theater for Development (TFD) Training for Working Children: For increasing
the efficiency and assertiveness a five days TfD training was conducted including one
day practical demonstration was organized with collaboration of Rupantar in 60 no
ward. Under this training in two different LRCs two moral drama namely A Tale of
Wicked Tiger and Bondhu taught by facilitator.
II.
Children Participating Rally on Eve Teasing: As parts of activities of the social
action project Prodipan 60 no ward LRC arranged a 3-day program date on 20 June,
14 July and 16 July 2011 to create social awareness regarding Eve-teasing. The Main
activities Distribution of posters and leaflets produced against eve-teasing,
discussion, conducting rally, Documentary show on eve-teasing prevention. Other
activities Distributing posters, leaflets that bear the message about the negative and
harms of eve-teasing to all people and writing awareness message on the walls and
digital banner on the road side.
III.
Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge Into Community:
Training on Earthquake, Fire Hazard Mitigation Evacuation and First Aid
Service for Community Level Volunteers: According to Asian Disaster Risk
Reduction Report Lalbagh under old Dhaka is hazardous for fire. Even it is estimated
that approximately the Bangladesh is the world largest Fire Service and Civil Defense
with the technical support of CDMP, Organized a Training titled “Training on
Earthquake, Fire Hazard Mitigation Evacuation and First Aid Service for Community
Level Volunteers”. A total of 22 Participants participated with the training. From the
Prodipan family 60 no ward 4 Project personnel along with 7 selected NSA
participated. The
Concerned
authority of Fire
Service and Civil
Defense
committed that
they
will
organized
this
type of training
for
Prodipan
personnel
and
other
stakeholders
under
especial
consideration
immediately.
Workshop on Chemical and Fire Hazard: Roundtable workshop on chemical
Hazards on working
children
and
occupational
safety
and health in urban
Informal Sector in
Dhaka October 9, 2010
It is estimated that over
15,000 small and big
informal factory units
have been set up in
residential buildings in
Old Dhaka. Many of
them
use
highly
flammable substances.
The residences are also
used as a storehouse of the combustible materials. Many industries in Old Dhaka use
such goods including artificial rubber, synthetic goods, foam, sponge, raw plastic
materials, fabric, chemical dyes, polish, varnish, enamel, acids, battery, fibreglass, tyre
and tube. For the purpose of making resilience children’s working environment. From
60 no ward a total no of 05 factory owner joined with this roundtable meeting and they
have committed to make risk free factory.
IV.
Advocacy Meeting on HIV AIDS and STD Issue: Ministry of Health and Family
Planning organized an advocacy open discussion meeting concerning the issue of HIV
AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease. The main idea revealed that Bangladesh is
especially hazardous in the transformation of AIDS. Hence we need necessary steps to
protect against it. Here also analyzed some statistical analysis and projection. The
program was inaugurated by Md. Jashim Uddin Sarkar (District Civil Surgeon), Md.
Abdul Salam (Senior Health officer), and Dr Abdul Oahed(Head STD). In this
specialized advocacy meeting from Prodipan Family a total of 25 members including
7 CPC members and 3 Project Personnel were attended from 60 no ward. According
to the special request of Prodipan NSA project Coordinator, the Civil Surgeon Mr.
Jashim Uddin Khan committed to organize a special meeting with Prodipan NSA
network regarding these issues.
V.
Capacity building workshop NSAs: Two workshops were organize and in the venue
of Azad Muslim Club Hall Room Prodipan Project office addressing the issues of
child protection policy, right based approach to develop child issue, probable
responsibilities of NSA members, better ways of working Safety for children,
Children Act etc where 31 members were spontaneously participated with this two
workshop.
SUCCESS STORY
Access to basic health services through linkages and
referrals, this is one key project activity which is
supporting the children through the initiative on
proper health and treatment services. This activity has
been organized by the NSA (Non State Actors’)
members accompanied by the support of the Islamia
Eye Hospital on 17 April, 2011. A team of eye expert
doctors provided support to the children having eye
disease and disorders. It is well-documented that
Substantial feedback was received from the
participants undertaken 92 free Spectacles along with
213 got free treatment facility. This interventions also targeted doctor’s counseling to avoid
eye diseases and disorders.
Hence, with the coordination of prodipan’s NSA project Islamia Eye Hospital negotiate to
give eye treatment for the destitute economically disadvantaged children. Through this
benevolent initiative the disadvantaged children got a spectacles and necessary medicine.
Now they can look far….. Obviously there is no doubt that this initiative through NSA
project made the whole program a success.