ASPIRE
Your Monthly News & Updates

December 2018


A Rohingya woman stands outside her shelter
What you helped us achieve in 2018

Supporters like you, fuel the constant growth in our projects. Thanks to you, in 2018, we were able to initiate the following projects:

  • Sewing center in Rawfabad, Chittagong
  • 2 preschools in Sardar Bahadur Nagar in Chittagong 
  • Sewing center in Rangpur
  • A Junior High School in Syedpur
  • Back To School program in Syedpur
  • Computer Training Center in Mymensing
  • Tutoring Center in Bogra
  • 2 preschools in Bogra
  • A scholarship program in Bogra
  • Family Assistance program in Bogra
  • Digital learning program for 25 students from host community 
  • Digital learning program for 90 students in the Rohingya community
  • In Rohingya camps: 2 bridges, 13 learning centers, 1,504 shelters and 78 tubewells were constructed. Two medical clinics have treated over 70,000 patients to date
  • 4,564 shelter upgrade kits were distributed in Rohingya camps. These benefited over 20,000 individuals and consisted of materials such as tarp, bamboo, rope and sandbags to reinforce their shelters against harsh weather
  • One community gathering place was constructed in Rohingya camps

Women at the sewing center
New Sewing Center will empower 60 women annually.

A new sewing center was started in Chittagong at Rawfabad. 
This is OBAT's first industrial sewing training center.Training will be 
provided in both industrial and traditional sewing machines. One batch of the sewing course will run for four months.
Harvard University's Graduate School of Design's student, talks about her visit to the camps

Harvard student recounts her visit to the camps
Harvard student recounts her visit to the camps

The revamped IT Center
OBAT's Syedpur IT Center gets a facelift


The OBAT IT Center in Syedpur, Bangladesh got a well-deserved face lift with freshly painted walls, new upholstery and flooring. This center may be small with only 10 workstations, but it has churned out national-level talent
from its students who live in displaced population camps. One such student, Umme Hani Rafa, learned her skills at this center before coming in 9th place  in all of Bangladesh at the National Youth Programming Competition!
Many students have gone on to supplement their family incomes with freelance IT jobs, with the help of the education and technical skills they acquired at the center.


The Eye Camp in progress
O BAT Canada kicks off cataract surgeries in Rohingya camps

On October 28, OBAT Canada launched the first ever restoration of eyesight program for Rohingya refugees!  The program kicked off with the screening of 317 patients; 152 were provided refractive services and spectacles; 163 received medication; and 31 underwent surgery to restore their eyesight.
Activity will now be ramped up and the plan is to complete 1,000 surgeries in 2018-2019.

Thank you for your support during #GivingTuesday!

Thank you to all of you for supporting our #GivingTuesday campaign. The global day of giving attracted generous contributions on our Facebook fundraiser. We are so very grateful for all your support!



Popy Akter receives the laptop
Scholarship student is gifted a laptop

Popy Akhter was a student of OBAT's Halishahar School in Chittagong. She started
receiving a scholarship from OBAT after graduating from grade five. She is currently a student of textile designing and pattern making and is in her fifth semester at the Mohila Polytechnic Center.
OBAT awarded a laptop to her recently to help her continue her studies which require the use of a notebook computer.


BLS School students celebrate end of PSC exams
495 students take PSC exam

Several hundred students from 8 schools and two tutoring centers of OBAT, participated in the PSC or Primary School Certificate exam. This exam is a public exam that is taken at the end of grade five.
This year, the total number of students taking the exam was 495. After they pass this exam, the students will proceed to the middle school academic level. Most of the schools also organized mini celebrations for the graduating students and recognized them with a certificate.

The Our Aim team
Team from Our Aim visits the camps

A team from Our Aim, a US based nonprofit,  visited the Rohingya camps in November. The team consisted of four doctors with different specialties, who volunteered their expertise in OBAT's medical clinic in the Rohingya camps and extended treatment to the patients during their visit. We are grateful to Our Aim for their valued partnership in extending much needed services in the Rohingya camps.
Sultana Akhter
Another student makes us proud

Sultana Akhter studied from OBAT's Primary School in Halishahar, Chittagong. She lives with her family at the Halishahar Trade School Camp. To help out with her family's finances, she makes and sells chat (a savory snack), inside the camp.Sultana was a very bright student and hence received a scholarship from OBAT for her higher education. 
We are so happy and excited to share with you that she is the first student from the Trade School camp to get admitted into the renowned Chittagong University.
Sultana is keen to receive higher education and become a banker in the future.
Mr. Sohail Khan, OBAT's Program Manager, accepting the gift
 
Rangpur School students receive an exciting gift

The International Grammar School in Rangpur recently gifted a smart android TV to the students of the Rangpur School. We are very grateful for this gift as it enables the Rangpur School to kick off the digital learning class for its students.



Mr. Rial Ahsan exercising with the students
Ferozeshah School students welcome a visitor

Mr. Rial Ahsan, CEO of LIFE, is a frequent visitor to OBAT's projects. His visits are uplifting and engaging for the students. Recently, he visited the students at Ferozeshah School and spent some time with them and the staff, sharing thoughts and ideas for development.
OBAT's Project Officer,  Mr. Mostak, accepting the check
Generosity of local partners is an inspiration to OBAT

Columbia Sportswear, a local company in Bangladesh, has been an avid supporter of OBAT.
Previously, they have donated for the renovation of OBAT's SBN School. Their latest contribution in the month of November, was for education materials for the school.
Partners like Columbia Sportswear make a huge difference with their support and we really appreciate their generosity.


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 any more for nonprofits.
Raise away!

Inspired? DONATE to our projects!

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