20 June 2013 - LEEDO - BANGLADESH

LEEDO

BANGLADESH

G'day guys,

Bangladesh is probably the furtherest place from your mind, but life goes on there, be it ever so harsh for many kids. Today I feature an organisation called LEEDO - Local Education and Economic Development Organisation. What is it? What does it do?

LEEDO is a national non-profit making charity and helping and working with most vulnerable & less fortunate street children who are living on the streets in the capital city of Bangladesh - Dhaka.

LEEDO was founded in 2000 but the organization commenced activities in 2001, working with the most vulnerable & less fortunate children living in and around the streets of Dhaka city. Its aim was to reduce their unbearable poverty, distress and vulnerability caused by the severity of street live.

VISION:

To make the society realize that the street children are very vulnerable and less fortunate so it's a responsibility for all of us to protect them towards a better future.

MISSION:

To educate people in all nations by mobilizing and empowering individuals into holistic missions which build a positive difference in their communities. To transform these communities through the implementation of programs which affect all areas of community life including: health, education, economic empowerment, rehabilitation and advocacy.

  

Values:

We are honest, open, trustworthy and accountable in all our dealings with all stakeholders, partners and donors

 

Children who are living in difficulties on the streets and without parents are our first priority

 

We carry out our activities with enthusiasm, integrity and humility

 

We show honour, love, affection, respect and compassion to all people no matter what their circumstance, religion or history.

 

We are committed to listening, developing relationships and responding to the most vulnerable children in need

 

We cooperate with national and international charities and community leaders

 

We practice hospitality and exercise generosity with joy.

 

Goals:

To organise street schools, staffed by volunteers, for children suffering from exploitation in Dhaka.

 

To stop children being forced to go to the city for prostitution and child labour by returning them to their families and helping them to survive.

 

We plan to open a rehab shelter for most vulnerable street girls, where they will obtain care and support 24/7

 

We aim to open up mobile school for the street children

 

To organize national campaigns to educate people to make them more  aware about street children

 

To work with children in areas affected by floods outside Dhaka to improve the lives of these children and reduce the risk of children being forced to come to the capital.

 

Sleeping in the streets

Why are they on the streets?

We know the root causes why children live on the streets is because of poverty and ignorance. The children are often neglected by parents who cannot care for them. Business owners keep their workers in poverty and do not provide enough for the care of children. The children expose themselves to many kinds of risk including drugs and sex.

“What do you like most about living on the streets?” “To live free!” responded Sohag a boy on the street in Dhaka. Why would a 12 year old enjoy the “freedom” of living on the street? When we are enslaved we are deceived into thinking we are free, but true freedom is only found through learning and development not when children are exploited and abused on the streets.

Ways these children survive on the streets

Begging– A young child can bring in BDT 1200-1500 (around $. 75 per day) a month begging. This money is then given to older street kids/men who “take care” of the child.
 
Stealing– Street children usually are not bold enough to mug a passerby, but they are
experts at picking pockets. They do this with razor blades, cutting the pockets of the unsuspecting; this method is more effective than reaching into one’s pocket.
 
Dealing– Some make money by selling drugs or other illicit items.
 
Prostitution– Both boys and girls make money by selling themselves.
 
Hazardous Work – Selling flowers amongst the busy and risky Dhaka traffic and scavenging from dust bins, drains and rubbish tips, collecting  items, which can then be sold for a few taka.

Self-harm

How can people help? I asked Forhad Hossain, who has been working voluntarily with these kids for the past twenty years.

“Our work is delivered by talented young self funding volunteers”
We are seeking young men/women keen about youth-led development to work with us on street kids program as an intern or volunteer
 
Volunteer Street Educators/Organizational Developers – Bangladesh
We are currently seeking for self funding volunteers as street educators/organizational developers to open up our shelter for street girls and HIV prevention program, aiming shelter to save street girls from the streets through shelter care facilities and a Sexual Reproductive Health Program for young street girls in Dhaka, Bangladesh." 

Ways you can help make a difference

You can help make a difference to the lives of street children by giving your time or money. We are looking for volunteers to help us at the project but we also urgently need funds:

* £2 will provide one class for 30 children for one day
*£12 will pay for a child to attend a school for one year
* £360 will pay for one school for one year
*£400 will pay for a member of staff supervising the schools for one year
* £70,000 would pay to build a shelter for the most vulnerable girls living on the streets

For more information please contact via email: helpstreetchildren4survive@gmail.com  or call us: 01819291567 (please use country code).

**  http://streetchildrenleedo.org/contact-us/


Clancy's comment: I have come across homeless kids in all major cities I have visited. However, the numbers of them in South Asia and South East Asia is staggering. So, please pass on the link to this post to anyone you know who might be able to assist LEEDO. Now, check out some more photographs that might make you think ... and act.

School under the sky

Mm ... I hope your kids and grandkids are safe and happily tucked up in a warm bed. If they are, give a thought for these kids.

I'm ...