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ASPIRE
Your Monthly News & Updates
December 2019
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Encourage Generosity this #GivingTuesday!
#GivingTuesday, a Global Day of Giving, is on this December 3rd. The day is observed on the next Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the objective is to foster collective good and encourage charitable giving. We invite you to use the power of social media to spread generosity and good. You can donate to OBAT's #GivngTuesday campaign
here and also share it with your friends and family.
OBAT also currently has a campaign hosted on
LaunchGood for lifesaving health treatment for Rohingya refugees. Access the campaign
here and spread the word!
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Children Contribute to Camp Clean Up!
Late last month, the students of OBAT's Learning Centers participated in a camp cleaning campaign in Rohingya camp 8W, blocks E and F.
The children were taught about waste management, disposal and hygiene by the CIC (Camp in Charge), SMS (Site Management), and a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) focal point.
T hey enthusiastically contributed to the effort, cleaning the entirety of the two blocks! Well done, students!
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Rangpur Preschool Children on Universal Children's Day
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Universal Children's Day Brings Joy to the Kids
The Universal Children's Day was designated by the United Nations in 1954 and is celebrated every year on November 20th to draw attention to the welfare of children. Some of OBAT projects to celebrate the day, were the Chittagong, Syedpur and Rangpur Preschools. OBAT's Preschools educate 4-6 year olds and prepare them for admission to regular school. A program focused on various activities such as games, dancing and singing, was held to engage the children of the preschool. The children had a fantastic time belting out tunes and dancing to their heart's content!
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St.Louis Welcomes OBAT
On November 23rd, the Ambassadors of OBAT- St.Louis (a local informal chapter of OBAT), held an awareness and fundraising brunch for OBAT for the local St.Louis community. We are very grateful to the organizers, Dr. Helal Ekramuddin, Dr. Zia Moiz, Dr. Azfar Malik and Dr. Ahmreen Khan, for organizing a wonderful event. The biggest number of volunteers have visited the OBAT projects from St. Louis so far. The group is also a yearly sponsor of OBAT's SB Nagar School which has a strength of 637 students. We are very grateful to this generous community for their dedication and commitment to the cause.
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A student receives books from the Think Tank
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Fierce Fire Takes Over Syedpur Camp
Due to a recent fire in Syedpur camp, twenty-five houses were totally burnt down while five more were damaged. OBAT's Think Tank in Syedpur held a meeting to determine ways of addressing the disaster. So far, it has distributed books to students who lost their books during the disaster.
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The team from Fransiscan Health
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Six Doctors from Indianapolis Volunteer in OBAT's Clinic
For the first time, a team of Doctors from the Franciscan Health Group, journeyed all the way from Indianapolis, OBAT's home ground, to volunteer at the OBAT Clinic for Rohingya refugees.
The team included: Dr. Kevin McNulty, Dr. Hira Naqvi, Dr. Kami Smith, Dr. Jeffrey Jones, Dr. Gregory Specht and Dr. Adam Paarlberg. The Doctors spent their time treating patients at the Rohingya Medical Clinic. The clinic treats an average of 300 patients per day. We are extremely grateful to the team for lending their time and expertise to provide life-saving treatment to the Rohingya refugees.
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Students during the Khan Academy Lab
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OBAT Introduces Khan Academy to its Students!
Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Rajeev Agarwal and Jawaid Ekram, OBAT's Chief Advisor from Seattle, free online courses from the Khan Academy have been introduced to the students at OBAT's Schools and Tutoring Centers. Mr. Agarwal and Mr. Ekram are friends who are jointly running the tech4future initiative. The idea is to supplement the learning of the students and enhance their Math skills while also increasing their comfort level with usage of desktop computers. Students are very excited at the introduction of the new courses and are keen to participate in them. Thanks to our team for implementing the program!
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| Dr. Wasty, with the refugees |
Dr. Wasty Follows Up With
Rohingya Eyesight Restoration Program
OBAT Canada's founder, Dr. Shujaat Wasty, visited Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp recently.
He met with several beneficiaries from the Rohingya Eyesight Restoration Program, some of whom are finally able to see, after as long as 12 excruciatingly long years.
During the meetings, beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude for the gift of sight and vision. Many beneficiaries also shared their harrowing stories of escape from genocide in Myanmar, most of whom had to do so without being able to see.
Dr. Wasty also serves as Vice-President on OBAT Helpers Inc.'s board and is a frequent visitor to the camps.
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Purdue University's MSA Dedicates Refugee Gala to OBAT
The Muslim Student Association of Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, recently held a Refugee Gala in support of refugees all over the world. The student association generously donated the proceeds of the Gala for OBAT's work for Rohingya refugees. The event was attended by students upwards of 100-some parents accompanied their children as well. As a part of the engaging program, the audience were able to watch a short video about the Rohingya crisis and OBAT's work to address it. Thank you to the Purdue MSA and to all those who attended!
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PSC candidates of Ferozeshah School
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Exciting Growth in OBAT's Education Programs!
We are so proud of the growth in our education programs over
the years! The first PSC (Primary School Certificate) exam was taken by 13 students from OBAT's Halishaher School. Ten years later,
505 students will be taking the exam in five cities in Bangladesh. OBAT's education projects are the heart of its programming. 406
students have also participated in the JSC (Junior School Certificate) exam this year. The Back to School Program which is a program geared toward students who had to drop out of studies, also had a total of 19 candidates of JSC and 10 candidates of PSC exam participate in the board exams in this year. This is a great achievement and a source of encouragement for these students as they have received a second chance at an education.
We wish all the students the very best for their results!
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World Diabetes Day Observed at OBAT's Clinic
OBAT's Health Clinic in Rangpur treats approximately 6,000 patients per year. Every year, the clinic also holds a Diabetes Camp on World Diabetes Day. This year, the camp tested 79 patients for the incidence of diabetes. The Diabetes camp also serves as a preventative measure against the disease and helps identify patients who are borderline diabetic.
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Rangpur Students Practice with Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy!
OBAT's Rangpur School's Girls Cricket Team recently practiced with the Women Dreamer Cricket Club at Rangpur Stadium. Twenty girls practiced from OBAT's cricket team. The girls want to dream big and become skilled enough to play at the national level one day.
Way to go, students!
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Chittagong Think Tank Volunteers Attend SDG Seminar
OBAT's Think Tanks consist of young volunteers who partake in different activities and undertake initiatives to make the lives of camp residents around them better. The Think Tank group from Chittagong recently attended a seminar hosted by the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Youth Forum. The seminar focused on the 13th SDG Goal, "Climate Action" and was held at the offices of the Environment Department. The youth gained valuable insight on how to spread awareness about climate change among their counterparts and how to initiate various climate and environment friendly projects.
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Kids enjoy the slide in the playground
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Rebuilt Playground Restores Children's Smiles
Thank you to Dr. Henna Qureshi (OBAT's board member & lead consultant on medical committee for OBAT's clinics), for raising funds to rebuild a playground built by OBAT for Rohingya children. This playground was destroyed during the monsoon season, leaving no area for the kids to enjoy their childhood. This playground is the only recreation space available for children in the entire area.
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Rangpur Girl Scouts Attend National Event
The Bangladesh Girls Guides Association held its annual day in Rangpur
district. OBAT's Rangpur School has a thriving Girl Guides/Scouts program. The team got a chance to participate in the National Girl Jamboree which will be held in February 2020.
The Rangpur School also has a robust Boy Scouts program and presents many opportunities to the scouts to partake in Scout related activities.
OBAT is trying to expand such opportunities to projects in other cities as well.
The Chittagong group has also registered with the Scouts program.Three teachers from the SBN School joined a four day Scouts unit leadership training at Dhaka recently.
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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!
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Inspired?
DONATE to our projects!
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OBAT Helpers Inc.
317.203.0603| contact@obathelpers.org |www.obathelpers.org
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