CURRENT PROJECT
This project aims to enhance and create interest in education through nutritional support to children of a poor Bihari community in Dhaka.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Recent survey has revealed 90% women are illiterate and very few children attend schools. Therefore, there is no scope for education due to poverty. Moreover, adolescent girls from poor families who have never been to school are confined inside their homes and have lost interest in schooling.

It is also indicated that there are persisting nutritional problems and micro nutrient deficiencies among the poor children living in the slums. Health hazards and unhygienic situation precipitate the problem.

IDRF and PDAP are working together on a project that will provide nutritional support for children and adolescent girls, as an incentive for them to attend learning centers. They will develop practical knowledge for daily life, business skills, and numeric literacy skills. All the children will be provisioned with nutritious meals at the centre after attending the classes.

• To encourage pre school children for ECCD activity. for learning.
  
• To enhance the Bangla (alphabet and numeric) literacy skills amongst Bihari children.
• To help drop-out adolescent girls reach the level of mainstream primary school or develop life skills for better living.
  
• To provide nutritional support to children attending the centre.

PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

• Neo literates/children will be interested in education and learning.
  
• Children will be well nourished, happy, energetic; they will have a positive attitude towards education and holistically develop through the activities-based education.
  
• Bihari children (boys and girls) will be empowered in Bangla skills to cope the requirement of formal primary schools.
  
• The health/ nutrition message delivery programme will empower adolescents, women, families & communities.
  
• Skill dissemination from the centre will enable adolescent girls and women to earn an income and better cope with poverty to support their families.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

• The community leaders and parents will be informed at the start of project activities, specifically during local survey of the community for identification and selection of children.
  
• Parents will be involved in planning the timing of attendance at the learning centre.
  
• Parents will review the progress and implementation of the project activities during monthly meetings.
  
• Nutritional support leading to the growth and development of poor children and adolescents through the assessment of growth charts.
  
• Adolescent girls of slum families will have increased appreciation of, and access to, education which will give them hope and be able to come out of their status.
  
• Children will get admission to local primary schools and will be comfortable in the schools.
  
• Teachers and other staff will be recruited from the community and Bihari population.

Partner: Participatory Development Action Program (PDAP)
Co-Supporter: Children of Hope (COH)