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ASPIRE
Your Monthly News & Updates
August 2019
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New Partnership Paves The Way for More Educational Opportunities for OBAT students
Badshah Faisal Institute is one of the most reputable educational institutes in Dhaka- it was established in 1976. The institution had recently expressed an interest in collaborating with OBAT due to its work with marginalized students. OBAT's SSC (secondary school certifica
te) exam students were invited to the Badshah Institute campus to participate in a quiz competition. After inviting OBAT's staff and students to a couple of other occasions, they accepted five OBAT students in their college section. Three of these students are from our scholarship program. We are grateful for this new collaboration which will pave the way for more educational opportunities for OBAT's students.
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Eid-Ul-Adha Mubarak!
Wish all of our friends celebrating, an Eid-ul-Adha full of blessings and happiness. We will be accepting qurbani requests up to Saturday, August 10th, 8 pm ET. Qurbani donations can be made online
here.
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Establishing Meaningful Connections through Technology
OBAT's Humanitarian Assistance Program is using innovation and technology to make the most impactful difference. On July 29th, it launched the COX'S BAZAR Shared_Space
PORTAL! During this exciting event, the team had portal conversations with Tokyo and Paris.
The portal was set up and organized by Shared
Studios. Similar portals are set up in
cities across the world, such as Delhi, Seoul, Gaza and Melbourne. Through these portals, strangers are connected from two different cities to engage in meaningful conversation. When people enter a Portal, or Shared_Space, they feel as though they are sharing the same physical space.This new portal in Cox's Bazar is the only portal in Bangladesh. It will be set up indefinitely, allowing global connectivity on a regular basis and helping to share information on the realities of the Rohingya crisis with people around the world.
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| The new sewing machine at the Rangpur Sewing Center |
Sewing Machine Donation Empowers Women
The sewing programs of OBAT train women to learn to sew. At the end of the four month course, they are able to stitch articles of clothing and establish small businesses for
themselves or find employment as a seamstress. Donations of sewing machines enable us to train and empower more women. Thanks to the contribution of a generous donor, an industrial
sewing machine was donated to the Rangpur Sewing Center. Industrial sewing machines offer training that enable the women to work in factories, thus earning a better income. Thank you
to all donors who are committed to making lives better for the people we serve.
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| The two students with Mr. Jabbar |
IT Competition Contestants Receive Award
Two of OBAT's students, Asha and Sadia, had earlier participated in the National Child and Youth Programming
Competition. They both won the district level competitions from Rangpur and Syedpur. In July, they both participated in the
national level contest. Both of these bright students received an award for their success in the district level competition. They also met with the ICT and Telecommunications
Minister, Mostafa Jabbar. We wish Asha and Sadia the best for the national level contest!
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Some of the surgery recipients
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Thirty-Five People Receive the Gift of Sight
With the help of local partner, CSS (Christian Service Society) Eye
Hospital, sixty people received cataract eye surgeries. These surgeries were conducted at the Rev. Abdul Wadud Memorial Hospital which is funded by the German Embassy. In a couple of more days, another thirty-two surgeries will be conducted.
Thank you to all the partners who helped us give the gift of sight.
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| OBAT's volunteers at the job fair |
OBAT Offers Skill Development Training at Local Job Fair
On July 6th, the Employment and Skill Development Fair was held at Ukhia High School. OBAT participated in this event along with many other organizations and offered employment and skill development training to local job-seekers. We interviewed some of the candidates and appointed three as our new TLC (temporary learning center)teachers. All the candidates were examined and interviewed separately and they were given jobs according to their qualifications.
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Think Tank members wheel in a patient for admission
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Syedpur Think Tank Serves Patients at a Hospital
OBAT's Syedpur Think Tank got the chance to serve at a one hundred bed
government hospital, along with SUVA (Syedpur United Volunteer Association). This hospital serves about 250,000 people and is grossly understaffed. To address this issue, the UNO (Upazilla Nirbahi Officer) of Syedpur created the volunteer association, SUVA. SUVA consists of thirty volunteers. OBAT's volunteers helped and guided the patients to meet with doctors, get admitted into the hospital, procure medicine etc. The Think Tank was grateful for the chance to serve with SUVA and will be doing so once every month. We are very proud of the sincere efforts of the Think Tank as they continue to make life better for communities around them.
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UNICEF representatives with the kids
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OBAT's Digital Learning Program Attracts Widespread Interest
OBAT was delighted today to provide UNICEF representatives with a tour of the pilot digital learning program in Temporary Learning Center # 8! The children loved the visit to their unique learning space. UNICEF expressed great interest in this innovative teaching method. Many organizations are very interested in this pilot program and we are always happy to provide tours and information on this project. We are very proud of our
digital learning program and partnership with Teach the World Foundation and intend to scale this project with the help of our supporters. |
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Visit by MIT explores possible partnership with OBAT
Martha Thompson from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visited OBAT's projects in the Rohingya refugee camps from June 29th until July 6th.
Martha's visit was geared toward exploring a possible collaboration of MIT with OBAT in the Rohingya Camps.
She is a humanitarian worker with a focus on gender and exclusion in crisis
situations and has set up MIT Design and Innovation Labs in refugee settings earlier.
OBAT assisted Martha with the coordination of the needs assessment she was
conducting in the Rohingya Camp. She was a lovely guest and was very grateful for the
hospitality, translators and volunteers that OBAT provided to support her work. Martha shares her thoughts here
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Mr. Mostak, conducting the training
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Preschool Teachers Learn Through Workshop
OBAT Chittagong organized a workshop
recently for the teachers of of its Chittagong Preschools.
The workshop covered the areas of designing the syllabus,
handwriting (English and Bangla) and Drawing. OBAT is vested in this early education program as preschools set the foundation for a solid education and contribute to the future academic potential of the students.
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First Batch from IT Center Graduates!
We are excited to report that our first batch from OBAT's Raufabad IT
center has graduated from the course and have taken their final exam.
The exam was taken by eighteen students. The computer center conducts
an hour long class, six days in the week. Five classes consisting of five students are conducted daily. The graduating students will be able to use the skills they acquired to find jobs and improve the quality of their life. We wish them the best!
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P
alliative Care Services Offered to Rohingya Refugees
OBAT is now offering palliative care, a service which greatly relieves the suffering of terminally ill patients, to the Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong Camp. No other organization is providing this essential service in the camp currently.
Watch
this video
to see how OBAT is helping improve the lives of
patients and their families.
Please donate to our
Rohingya relief page
for this project. We need $35,000 USD to sustain this project for six months!
As always, we thank you for your continued support!
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| Think Tank conducts camp clean-up |
Chittagong Think Tank Draws Attention to Environmental Issues
OBAT's volunteer driven Think Tanks are constantly engaged in projects that improve the communities around them.
One such project was undertaken by the Chittagong Think Tank with an intent to draw attention to multiple issues facing the camp community. Some of the issues that they shed light on through a rally, were:
-Avoiding use of polythene bags
-Saving the city from waterlogging
-Saving the environment
- Deforestation
-Garbage disposal
- Avoiding the contracting and spread of Dengue and Chikungunya
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Math Training Hones Teachers' Skills
On the 12th of July, OBAT arranged a training on teaching Math at OBAT's Junior High School in Chittagong. All Math teachers from OBAT's Halishahar, Ferozeshah and SB Nagar
Schools, participated in the training. The training was conducted by Mohammad Sahidullah, a well-reputed Math teacher and by Dr. Khastagir who is known as a very competent trainer as well.
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OBAT's booth at last year's ISNA convention
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Upcoming Events!
ISNA Convention
Aug 30th - Sep 1st
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX
FOBANA Convention (Federation of Bangladeshi Association of America)
August 31st - Sep 1st
Long Island Marriott Hotel, NY
101 James Doolittle Blvd., Uniondale, NY 11553
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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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