December 16th, 2016 After a long night’s journey, we returned to Dhaka from Khulna with the OBAT team. Our team grew in numbers with Dr. Rezwan Khan joining us from Dallas, TX and Arishaa Khan joining us from New York City. Our first engagement of the day involved visiting AWARD, another organization which works for the camp dwellers of Dhaka on different issues such as education, health, sanitation and so on. We had a great meeting with...
December 15th, 2016 We started our day by visiting OBAT Primary School, Khalishpur, Khulna where we began by attending a guardian/parents meeting and had an interactive session where parents could ask us any questions. Parents consequently requested to increase capacity up to Secondary School Certificate (SSC) grades. Afterwards, during discussion with parents, they expressed some health concerns regarding their kids such as incidence of brain tumor, bone disease, eye disease and so on. Their parents requested us to do...
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...
December 13th, 2016 After an eight hour journey, we arrived in Khulna and were greeted by the members of SPGRC (Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee) and the local camp leaders. There was a small community meeting held at the OBAT Khulna Primary School. The community leaders welcomed me with open arms and discussed the various issues each camp was facing, while expressing their hopes and dreams for the future of the community at the same time. Some of the...
Dear readers, Every year, I visit Bangladesh usually once, sometimes twice a year. These trips are made in December when I can take time off from my position at General Motors to visit the people and place where my heart lies. I spend my time visiting with camp residents to find out their needs, meeting potential and current partners, monitoring and evaluating projects as well as training the youth and the staff. This year, I was joined by my daughter, Arishaa Khan,...
On June 7, the Interfaith Center was scene for one of the most engaging interfaith events seen in Central Indiana. → ...
When Suleman finishes his education, he hopes to become employed in a challenging position in a growing company. He would like to get an MBA, which he feels will prepare him for success. Currently, he is studying in grade nine and lives with his parents, Mohammad Sultan and Sima, and two other siblings in Geneva Camp. His father earns about $77 a month working in a coal factory. Suleman has set admirable goals. He wants to form an organization to work for the betterment...
Shirin lives with her father Mohammed and mother Yasmin in Geneva Camp. Her brother is their family’s only source of income. Working as a rickshaw driver, he makes a monthly income of $38. This has to support seven family members. Shirin’s favorite person is her mother, and the personality she greatly admires is the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She likes to watch television during her free time, and also likes to go skipping with her friends. She is very proud of...
Sadia Akhter lives with her siblings and parents, Mohammed Monu and Razwana, in Geneva Camp. Her father works in a shop that sells biryani (a rice dish) and earns about $77 a month. Razwana has played a very important role in her children’s lives, and Sadia feels that it is because of her mother’s encouragement and positive attitude that she can get through her problems with ease. Sadia greatly admires the Bengali social reformer and feminist from a century ago, Begum Rokeya, because...
Noor is a fan of the video game “Clash of Clans,” which he plays every chance he gets. That isn’t his only pass time, though. He likes to play cricket, and sometimes writes stories. He thinks that there’s a huge pool of talent in Bangladesh, but because of a lack of education, these talents go unrecognized and all too often undeveloped. Noor believes in the value of hard work to achieve one’s goals: “it is not your fault if you are born poor,”...
