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Global Grant Proposal Form for Project G-1273 1. Host Partner Information
2. International Partner Information
1. Describe the benefiting community including its location, using any relevant geographic and demographic information (Please be as specific as possible). If the activity is a scholarship, enter "N/A". This project is to provide education to a marginalized linguistic minority community in Bangladesh. This community of urdu speaking people numbering around 200,000 has been living in camps & shanties (totaling around 160 locations ) since the war of independence in Bangladesh in 1971 in extreme poverty. These shanties are located in various districts of Bangladesh namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Ishardi, Bogra, Syedpur & Rangpur. 2. What community needs have been identified? If the activity is a scholarship, enter "N/A". Al-Falah Bangladesh is a government registered NGO in Bangladesh working with the community since 1981. Over the years they have worked with Red Cross & various multilateral agencies such as UNHCR, UNICEF & on various surveys and community services. This community was not recognized for decades as Bangladeshis and was living without any benefit of citizenship. In 2003 & 2008, the High Court of Bangladesh recognized the citizenship rights of the community. However, they continue to face enormous odds in their struggle for survival. In 2006 the young boys & girls in the community under the banner of Al-Falah concluded that education & skill development was the only way out of their poverty & misery. They started an initiative to educate the community on a self help model. The idea quickly gained ground under the leadership of Al-Falah Bangladesh. A project under the name of Education Development Program (EDP) was established under which community students were given support in the basic education by establishing Foundation Schools and simultaneously, scholarships were given to the students for studying secondary, higher secondary and college level education. In exchange for financial support selected senior students teach the pre-school children. The project EDP has been providing pre-school education to 700 children annually to prepare them for their admission in class I .The project supports their admission in the public primary schools after one year of pre-school. This preparation helps reduce dropout rates specially as they are taught in Bengali language from the start (the national language for education) while at the same time helping their long term integration in the society. The project is providing regular scholarship to 40 teachers and supervisors for conducting pre-school classes in 22 Foundation Schools In addition, the project has planned to provide a total of 400 one time scholarships to be granted to the students of class VI to Degree level of education as the program in scaled up in 2017 & beyond. 3. How are these needs currently being addressed with local resources and/or government agencies, NGOs, etc.? If the activity is a scholarship, enter "N/A". In absence of any government support, the program has been funded so far from individual well-wishers of the community within & outside Bangladesh. In addition over the past few years the Target Foundation, USA has been supporting the organization for the continuation of the EDP under its corporate social responsibility (CSR). Target Foundation provides 44% of the total project budget while 56% is met from individual donors. 1. Summarize the proposed activity(ies) in 250 words or less, including the need it will address, the intended beneficiary(ies), and the potential benefits to the community. Over the last 10 years the low budget self-help nature of the program has already began to bring some long term changes. The idea is to upscale the program to increase the number of children under the program which has the potential to totally rehabilitate this community socially & economically within another 10 years as the critical thresh hold in each family is reached in terms of education & economic rehabilitation.
The current & proposed numbers under this program are as follows:- Current to 2017 December Proposed 2018 & 2019 700 pre-school students 1,000 pre-school students 40 teachers & supervisors 50 teachers & supervisors 22 centers for pre-schooling 30 centers for pre-schooling 400 one-time scholarships 600 one-time scholarships for higher education 10 staff & one office 12 staff & one office Significant features of the program are:- Gender Bias: To date 89% of the teachers & 58% of the students are female. As such it may be said that this program has an impact on the faster overall uplift of the community. Sustainability: The program has brought about an awareness(among the community members) of education & assimilation within the country as the two critical pillars of the community’s rehabilitation in the country. Given the participation of the community the program can sustain over long term & scaled up easily depending on availability of funding. Community integration: Importance of formal education in Bengali language for this linguistic minority is also a key to their acceptance in the main stream of the society. 2. Please list any cooperating organization(s) or university(ies) involved in the proposed activity(ies). N/A 3. Describe how the benefiting community will be involved in the activity(ies) (Provide specific examples). If the activity is a scholarship, enter "N/A". The program is largely designed as a self-help program where community participation is its cornerstone. The project grants scholarship to the students of the community in secondary & college level education. In lieu of that they are conducting pre-school classes for the 4-5 yrs old children. Some young students are supervising pre-school classes and sponsorship program. One time scholarship helps the young students of the community to pursue for higher education thereby opening up opportunities for employment & economic rehabilitation of the family even when one member completes education. 4. Has the benefiting community(ies) confirmed that it would like the activity(ies) to take place? The project is in operation in the community since 2006 & fully relies on community participation. The project invites other community members in respective settlements by organizing School Management Community (SMC) in every location where the project has its presence. So the senior members of the community are in SMC while the young students of the community conduct pre-school classes. They are very enthusiastic for the project for its continuation and its potential of scaling up (by increasing its reach to larger number of students) . They feel that education is only means to bring social & economic rehabilitation of the community. 5. Proposed Start Date: 1-APR-2017 6. Proposed Completion Date: 31-DEC-2018 1. With which area(s) of focus is the proposed activity aligned?
2. Please describe how the activity(ies) will address the goal(s) of the area(s) or focus. Basic goal of the program is the social & economic rehabilitation of a dispossessed & marginalized minority community. The entire community believes that education will assist the young generation in finding gainful employment. They could then contribute in the national development of Bangladesh as responsible & useful citizens of the country and live with dignity. 1. What will be the immediate and long-term outcomes of the activity(ies). Immediate:- The Preschools prepare students for primary education & reduce dropout rate. Female education rate will be increased making them the bedrock of education & progress within their families; Confidence among the students will increase encouraging them to pursue higher education; Long-term:- The graduate and post graduate community students will be able to compete in their respective career The community will be able to rehabilitate itself socially and economically in the mainstream of the Bangladeshi society. As more in the community enter job market, more families are lifted out of poverty & the ability of the community as a whole to continue & sustain the virtuous cycle increases. 2. Explain how all involved parties will act to ensure the sustainability of the activity(ies) and/or outcomes.
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