December 14th, 2016
We started our day in Khulna by visiting our preschool programs. The kids were busy taking a yearly exam. I cherish these moments, when I get to spend time with some of the kids. We have tried to inspire leadership qualities in our youth to make them more self sufficient- to help them and empower them with education, so they can take control of their own lives.
We had the pleasure of meeting the executive staff of Abdul Wadud Memorial Hospital (CSS) and discuss the ongoing cataract surgeries that were taking place. Twenty patients had their cataract surgeries yesterday and seventeen were completed on the morning of our arrival. Three patients were awaiting surgery. We had the chance to visit the patients and see their progress. They were all in high spirits and were recovering well from the surgery. Mr. Sazzadur Rahman, Director of Health, and our team were able to sit down and discuss and review our collaborations and brainstorm possible ways we could continuously collaborate and help the underprivileged communities in the area. We are very excited to work with the competent staff at Abdul Wadud Memorial Hospital, so we can continue serving the local communities in engaging and effective ways.
After a wonderful lunch at the hospital, we made our way to Gilatala, Khulna, where we had a meeting with the parents of our Tutoring Center students. They expressed their concerns with the issues that the local community was facing and requested assistance. We told them that we would assess their needs and try to provide help and support wherever it was possible. The key to our involvement though would be that the community should come together and take responsibility of their issues related to water and sanitation. We were able to visit some small initiatives that we had started in the local area.
Sunny, our executive intern gave a training session to the volunteer youth, OBAT tutors, and teachers from OBAT Khulna Primary School, on Human Centered Design. The goal of the training was to increase creative confidence when it comes to problem solving and using design methodologies to tackle social and economic issues facing the community.
Talking to a cataract surgery patient
A student from OBAT’s Khulna School taking an exam
Meeting with the guardians
Sunny giving a training on Human Centered Design
Talking to Younus, a cataract surgery patient