ASPIRE

Your Monthly News & Updates
November 2019
_________
JSC students from Chittagong Junior High School

406 OBAT Students are All Set for the JSC Exam

The JSC or Junior School Certificate exam is required to be taken by students at the end of grade 8. This is a public exam mandated by the Government of Bangladesh. Students can progress to ninth grade a fter passing this exam. Our students recently undertook mock tests for these exams and did very well. OBAT's tutoring centers also prepare camp students to prepare for these exams. A total of 406 students  from OBAT's educational projects will be taking the JSC exam on November 2nd. We wish them all the luck!
Students waiting to be tested

209 OBAT Students Undergo Vision Testing 

An eye test campaign was conducted on the 28th for a total of 209 students at OBAT's Chittagong Schools. This campaign was organized by Manobik Shahajjo Shangstha, a national level NGO in Bangladesh, focused on poverty alleviation programs. Their representatives included, Program Assistant,  Ms. Iren Akter, Dr. Bajlur Rashid and Paramedic, Mr. Jane Alam. As a result of the eye exams, ten students were identified  to be in need of glasses which the NGO will be providing as well. Medication was prescribed to three students.  After two years, the NGO will perform surgery on our grade four student, Robin. Manobik Shangstha will be supporting the cost of the surgery as well. We are very grateful to them for providing much needed vision care which would otherwise not be accessible to these students.
The Scout Group

OBAT Scouts Bag 2nd Position Among 120 Schools!


The Cub Scout group from OBAT's Rangpur School was among 40 schools which participated in the 1st regional camporee in September. The School was one of the 16 schools which were selected for the 2nd regional camporee held on October 26th in Dinajpur. A total of 120 schools participated in this camporee and OBAT's Cub Scout group bagged the 2nd position! The third camporee will be held in Dhaka and 15-20 Cub Scout groups will be participating at this level. We wish our Rangpur School Scouts the best for the 3rd camporee.

The program's participants

Program on Intl. Day of Girl Child Sheds Light on Important Issue

Friday October 11th, was the International Day of the Girl Child. Programs are usually structured on days like these to benefit the students in some capacity. This time,
the Syedpur School staff organized a program on menstrual hygiene for all the girls of the Syedpur school and Tutoring Center. The program was conducted by a special
guest, Dr. Atia Fairooz Ankhi from Dinajpur Medical College.

Adolescent girls living in camps or surrounding areas of Bangladesh do not have much information about issues related to menstruation, maintaining personal hygiene during this period, and dealing with associated physical discomfort. They usually don't have access to a proper platformto get information on such issues. During this awareness session, all associated topics related to menstruation were explained to adolescent school girls,  including maintaining personal hygiene, use of sanitary napkins instead of traditional methods and more. Questions by the attendees were answered by the facilitator.

The facilitator also explained the functions of both the napkin dispenser and incinerator.
A total of 80 girls were present in this program. Sanitary napkins were provided to each girl.
Chittagong teachers receive the gift

SB Nagar IT Center Receives the Gift of a Computer

M&M Transport Agency, a leading logistics provider in Bangladesh, recently gifted a new computer to OBAT's SB Nagar IT Center. The company made their gift in celebration of World Teacher's Day. Mr. Faisal Moon, the company's representative visited the center to make the gift. The new computer will add tremendous value in increasing the capacity of the computer training center which teaches youth basic computer skills along with providing training on different programs which will increase the students' prospect of finding good jobs.

Farha Akhter, Secretary of OBAT Think Tank

OBAT Think Tank Participates in Dialogue on Gender Equality

A dialog on Gender Equality and Quality Education for Marginalised Communities, was
organized by OBAT Think Tank and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Youth Forum at OBAT Junior High School in Chittagong. The Chief Guest was Dr. Mojahid Rahman, former Principal of Ram Thakur College,  Tripura. Other guests included Jesmina Sultana (PARO Women Leader) and Amanullah  Baha (SDG President).
One of the speakers was OBAT Think Tank's Farha Akter. Farah serves as General Secretary of the Think Tank. We are very proud of her representation of the camp community and also for being the principal force behind highlighting gender inequality related issues through this forum.

Students holding up their clean hands

Students Taught Basic Hygiene  on Global Hand Washing Day

Chittagong Preschool, Junior School, Syepur School, Khulna School and the Learning Centers for Rohingya Children were some of the projects that observed Global Hand Washing Day. Students were taught how to wash their hands properly to reinforce good personal hygiene  practices. Many diseases spread in the camps due to contact with unclean surfaces. Showing kids how to properly perform this simple act, reduces the incidence of illnesses and infections and leads to a healthy environment and community.

Children hold up their new books

New Uniforms and Books for Rohingya Children

Our students at the Rohingya Learning Centers love coming to school, and get so excited when they receive new materials and books! This passion for learning will serve them well in the future and will open so many doors of opportunity
that would otherwise be closed to them. At OBAT we aim to encourage and
foster this passion for learning with all our students. During October, we distributed new workbooks as well as new uniforms to the students. We can assure you
that there were a lot of gleaming smiles going around the centers!
   

Cricket match at Syedpur School

World Teachers Day Celebrated in a Big Way at OBAT!

October 5th is designated as World Teachers Day by UNESCO. This year, various education projects of OBAT made efforts to make this day a special one for the teachers. The Back to School Program  students in Syedpur surprised their teacher with a cake and enjoyed a little celebration with the cutting of the cake by their teacher. 
In Syedpur, a cricket match was organized between two teams of teachers. The teachers were also awarded with gifts and certificates. Thank you to all the students and Think Tank volunteers for making the event successful. The Chittagong office organized a discussion on, "Young Teachers, The Future of the Profession." 
Gilatala Tutoring Center was also one of the education projects observing this day.
Cake cutting and eating at the event!

Elderly Camp Population Receives Special Love and Care

The elderly in any society tend to get ignored and neglected as their younger family members become busy in their own lives. This leads to intense loneliness and depression which is the foundation of many illnesses. OBAT's Project Managers don't let this happen by celebrating a special day, the International Day of Older Persons, designated by the United Nations. In an upbeat program organized by OBAT Khulna, elderly folks had fun singing songs and reciting poems. Some of the attendees shared their life experiences with the rest of the attendees. They also participated in a fun competition, at the end of which they were awarded prizes. The program served to bring much needed joy in the lives of the elderly camp residents. Kudos to OBAT Khulna for organizing such an event!

A volunteer helps transport a patient

Think Tank Volunteers Help Out at Local Hospital

OBAT's Think Tank in Syedpur is a part of SUVA (Syedpur United Volunteers Association). As a part of this association, they have volunteered at the Syedpur Hospital a few times. During October, the group served there for a fourth time. The Syedpur Hospital is a large hospital and has a capacity of one hundred beds. The Think Tank group usually participates in activities such as attending to the patients, helping transport them to the rooms or in and out of ambulances as well as other suitable work. The work they do is an immense help to the hospital and patients and we are so proud of their efforts!
The women, in the midst of a training session

Cooking Training Builds Skills of Women

Five students are receiving a 6th month long professional cooking training at Chittagong Women Technical Training Center in Nasirabad. This training center is a government institution and the training is free of cost. OBAT encouraged some women from the camps to take this course to improve their prospects of earning an income. The group has already completed four months of the training at this time. The training will enable these women to start their own home-based businesses or to work as a cook at a local restaurant. 


Dr. Zia Moiz, at last year's event

Upcoming Events!

Awareness Program and Fundraiser in St.Louis
Hosted by: Ambassadors of OBAT, St. Louis
Date: November 23rd, 2019
Time: 11am
Venue: Kababish Restaurant
17 Nationalway Shopping Center, Ballwin, MO 63011
To RSVP please reach out to Dr. Azfar Malik at 314-629-9356



Use Facebook to Multiply your Philanthropic Impact! 

Most of you probably have hundreds of friends on Facebook. Imagine harnessing all their philanthropic leanings into a fundraiser that you create for OBAT on Facebook! 
The result could be tremendous! 
All you need to do:
  • Go to your Facebook home page
  • Click on "Fundraisers" on the left side of your screen, under the "Explore" heading
  • Next click on, "Raise Money" and then "Get Started"
  • Choose OBAT from the Nonprofits area
  • Enter a few details and invite your friends
  • You are all set!
The good news is, a full 100% of the amount you raised will be sent to OBAT- Facebook does not deduct transaction fees for nonprofits.
Raise away!

Inspired? DONATE to our projects!

OBAT Helpers Inc. 
317.203.0603| contact@obathelpers.org |www.obathelpers.org
STAY CONNECTED