PaxWorks in Bangladesh

Rimi Hasain lives in the middle of Dhakka with her family. She grew up several hours away in Dardaria, a village surrounded then, as now, by rice fields and huge tropical plants. She not only has kept in touch with her home village, but she is still part of it. The villagers hitchhike to Dhakka to ask advice when difficult decisions must be made, or legal, medical, or financial help is needed. Networking with friends and family in Bangladesh and abroad, usually resources are found. One request was for computer training at the village school. With the first computers from PaxWorks the training has begun. The children will need this skill when they are ready to find work.

On our first trip to Dardaria we were greeted by a checkerboard of intense lush greens. At least 2 dozen brightly clad men, women, trailing children walked out to welcome us a long distance from the village. Word of our coming must have been passed along. We all gather in a circle and the women and men tell of recent events, which often are retold as other small groups arrive. Finally we sit down to a magnificent meal cooked on 2 small fire pits in the earthen floor. After the meal all the women gathered and now told more personal stories, of family troubles, illnesses, hopes and dreams. Then we all walked to the school, the place where now their hopes reside. The government provides for walls, roof, and one single teacher for almost 100 children. This school is fortunate – it has a large support system without which the children would not have the second teacher, books, paper, pens and pencils, uniforms - nor healthcare. Most of the children's parents are landless illiterate tenants, and their girl children could expect no more. Now things have changed. In this school the emphasis is on teaching both sexes, and the girls shine. The girls in this school teach their parents and siblings to read and write. They gain confidence by instructing their elders in matters of hygiene, and the consequences of poor environmental practices. The first girls who attended school took a great risk in breaking the taboo against education for girls. No more! Education is now a point of pride, particularly since educated daughters are contributing to family finances even when they move to the city. People say 'when you teach a boy you help him and his future family. When you teach a girl you educate her, her village, and all those she touches in a lifetime.'

Now a new venture is beginning. It is a school in honor of Tajuddin Ahmad, the 1st Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He was a statesman with a passion for equal education for all girls & boys, as well as adult life-long learning. PaxWorks has committed to support the school with IT equipment for the students and Teacher Trainings as soon as it is ready.