ASPIRE

Your Monthly News & Updates
July 2019
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Asha, with her parents


OBAT's Students Advance to National Level Programming Competition!

The 'National Children and Youth Programming Contest" of 2019 is aimed toward nurturing tech-savvy youth to help achieve the goal of a digital Bangladesh- one of the development goals of the country. It is the biggest school-level programming contest held in the country.
This year's contest was preceded by a two day training provided for the contestants. Thirty students from OBAT's Junior School and Tutoring Center in Syedpur, participated in the competition on the 20th of June along with 15,000 other students from all over Bangladesh. Contestants from OBAT had received training on Python, a programming language. One student was selected from every district for the national competition that will take place at Dhaka next month.
 Asha, a bright girl studying in grade seven in OBAT's Junior School, Syedpur attained the 1st position from Nilphamari district. She has been invited to meet the District Commisioner of the Nilphamari district and will be going to Dhaka for the national competition.  Asha lives at Chamragodown Camp in Syedpur. Her father is a day laborer and her mother stays at home. In the Primary School Certificate or PSC exam, Asha performed remarkably well and achieved a 5.0 GPA. In spite of the many challenges that Asha's family faces due to their circumstances, Asha did not give up hope and continued to work hard. 
In Rangpur, eleven of OBAT's scholarship students participated in the competition and Sadia, a students of OBAT's IT Center attained the 1st position from Rangpur district.
We are so proud of Asha and Sadia and wish them the very best for the national competition!

Sadia



A child with her new Eid clothes

500 Students Receive Eid Clothes

With the help of AWARD and OBAT's Think Tank in Chittagong, Eid clothes
were distributed among 500 students in the Learning Centers for Rohingya children. The children have been prospering in the healthy environment of the Learning Centers which is a sharp  contrast from the trauma they have been through. Their life is still full of difficulties and challenges in the camp environment and we are thankful to both the Think Tank and to AWARD for spreading this joy among the students.



The staff during the training

Staff Undergoes Monitoring and Evaluation T raining to Improve Processes and Work Flow

OBAT's Director of Policy  and Partner Engagement in the US,  Masum Rahman, has been visiting the Bangladesh office  and extended a three day long training to all the staff from the local office as well as to the implementation partners. The objective of the training was to strengthen the reporting process of the execution of local projects, ensure better monitoring and evaluation and to improve work flow.
                                                                 


A student receives a sewing machine

Sewing Machines Distributed at  Chittagong Sewing Center


OBAT's sewing center in Chittagong is one of the three sewing centers where four month long sewing courses are offered to women. The Chittagong Center started in 2018 and fifteen students graduated last year. Current student enrollment is at twenty. Due to the generosity of local donors, four sewing machines were distributed to the most deserving students in the group. With their new machines, the students will be able to start their own home based businesses. Thank you to all the local donors for their generosity!

   


Distribution of Eid clothes

Think Tanks Spread Eid Joy 
    
Syedpur is one of the cities with its own youth Think Tank chapter. During last Eid, the Think Tank organized a program to distribute Eid clothes to thirty-eight women, children and elderly individuals. Eid is a festival celebrated twice a year in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, many of the camp residents are unable to participate in Eid festivities due to lack of means.  
OBAT's Chittagong Think Tank wanted to spread some Eid cheer in and around the camps as well. They organized a Mehendi (Henna tattoo) Festival and Eid gift distribution among the Borner School's Students. The Borner School is located outside the camps in Chittagong. For OBAT's Preschool children and their parents, the Think Tank organized a party in which they exercised their culinary skills by cooking popular local snacks, chaat and semai. The kids were also entertained through a movie and some fun activities.

Thank you to the Think Tanks for spreading Eid cheer!




Left: Mr. Miller

United States' Ambassador Visits Camps

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Earl R. Miller, observed World Refugee day by visiting the Rohingya camps. Together with his wife and other refugees, he participated in a rally and walked two miles to express his solidarity and support for the refugee population. We are grateful for Mr. Earl's support and participation in this important day that serves to bring attention to the plight of refugees.

Click here to watch the video of his visit.

OBAT volunteers distribute qurbani meat among camp residents

Spread Eid-ul-Adha's Joy through Qurbani in the Camps

Eid-ul-Adha is around the corner! With this Eid's preparation, comes our obligation to carry out sacrifice  of animals or qurbani. Since more than a decade, OBAT has been carrying out qurbani in the camps on behalf of its donors. Crippling poverty does not allow the camp residents to enjoy eating meat. Through our Qurbani Program, they get the opportunity to eat meat and celebrate Eid joyously.

With your help in 2018, the Qurbani program for Eid-ul-Adha had the following impact:
* Qurbani meat was distributed in 46 camps across Bangladesh
* 86 cows and 151 goats were sacrificed
* 55,000 people received the qurbani meat

Thank you for your contributions and for bringing joy to so many people during this holiday. You can find details for this year's qurbani and specify your requirements in this form. Please mail it back to us or email us at contact@obathelpers.org to let us know your qurbani needs. You can also donate for qurbani online at www.obathelpers.org.

May your sacrifice be accepted and many blessings come your way as you touch the camp residents' lives with your faith and generosity.


The students at the zoo

Students Enjoy a Visit To The Zoo

Thanks to the Chittagong Zoo Authority, eighty-seven students from OBAT's Sardar Bahadur Nagar Schools enjoyed a free  visit to the zoo. The visit gave them an opportunity to not only enjoy and have a good time but also to learn about the different species  of animals, their environment, rights and preservation.


Stories of the refugees on display

OBAT's US Headquarters Observes World Refugee Day

On June 20th, World Refugee Day, OBAT's headquarters in Indianapolis, United States, held a mini photo exhibit at the Indiana Interchurch Center. On display were powerful and poignant stories of Rohingya refugees who crossed hundreds of miles on foot to escape persecution and find safety and hope in Bangladesh. 
 

OBAT's booth at last year's APPNA convention


Upcoming Events!

Find us at:

APPNA Convention
July 4th-July 6th 2019
Hotel Hyatt Regency- 9801 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819

We are also looking for volunteers to help run our booth at the APPNA convention. If you are above 16, live in or are visiting Orlando, and are available to help us out at our booth at the convention, sign up here: http://bit.ly/APPNA19

ISNA Convention
Fri, Aug 30 - Sun, Sep 1
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX





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
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