Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 740,000 people from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh because of extreme violence in northern Rakhine State. Most identify as Rohingya, a Muslim minority ethnic group. Impoverished and living in camps, they depend on aid for survival.
Bangladesh
Why World Vision is in Bangladesh
Though still affected by widespread poverty, in 2018 Bangladesh moved off the U.N.’s list of Least Developed Countries for the first time. However, the capital, Dhaka, is still rated as the second-least livable city in the world. The country has seen growth in attitudes about education — a majority of Bangladeshi families want their kids to go to school instead of work, a positive shift in cultural norms. As well, government-run community health clinics are making healthcare accessible to thousands more families, contributing to overall improvements in health for families and decreasing infant and mother deaths. The hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims taking refuge in Bangladesh are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and human trafficking. The region’s resources to support them are becoming strained. And many Bangladeshi children and adults are also vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labor, a problem that’s not being sufficiently fought by authorities. Despite advocacy work to change this practice, the government passed a law in 2017 allowing children under 15 to get married for special circumstances. Thanks to the support of our donors, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children are gaining hope through sponsorship programs. Kids are learning to read better and getting skills for job readiness, so they can have brighter futures. They’re growing up healthier thanks to improvements in sanitation and training in good hygiene behaviors. And together with our partners, we reached hundreds of thousands of people affected by disasters or crisis, bringing them life-saving assistance like food and shelter.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Bangladesh ❯
Progress in Bangladesh
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- Communities are being empowered to advocate for children's rights in Bangladesh. Families, children, and faith leaders participated in trainings where they learned how to define children's rights and how to take action when they see children's rights being violated. Additionally, action committees were created to monitor safety of children in the neighborhood.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- In Bangladesh, mothers and caretakers received training on good nutrition practices for their children. The trainings focused specifically on helping mothers prepare healthy meals with locally available and sustainable ingredients.
- Parents and children were given resources and training to improve their personal hygiene habits and home cleanliness. By giving families these resources, children will likely be safer from preventable diseases and will have improved health and well-being.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- Collectively, kids voices are being given a platform in Bangladesh so that they take an active role in bettering their schools and communities. Trainings are helping kids take an active role in bettering their learning environments. Additionally, kids are being empowered to teach their peers hygiene practices and safe internet use.
- Vocation training provided by World Vision prepared youth to enter the job market. Using these resources, youth are able to find employment with a steady income that they can use to support their families.
Prayer Requests from Bangladesh
World Vision's staff in Bangladesh are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
The government would create laws that benefit our programs to help the most vulnerable people.
Our advocacy efforts for gender equality will have real impact, especially in better working environments for women.
News from Bangladesh
From the Field
In the kitchen: Papadum recipe
In Bangladesh, this crispy and glossy cracker, called papadum, is a popular snack, but it’s also often sold to help families have more income.
From the Field
2019 life frames: Storytelling from World Vision photographers
World Vision’s award-winning photographers travel around the world every year, capturing moments of God’s grace and faithfulness as we follow Jesus’ example to show unconditional love to the poor and oppressed. They bring back stories that inspire us to action and compassion.
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