Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Friday, 12 March 2010
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation's Establishment and So On
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has been working in the field of Health & Sanitation (Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS/STDs/STI prevention), Gender discrimination, Adolescent Girls Empowerment(AGE), Non- Formal Education (for Disadvantage/poor people), Environmental issues & Ecosan, Sustainable Development, Leadership Development Program and various training programs etc. since its inception in 1996.
Organization Values and Principles
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation encourages the following values to be practiced both at individual and organizational level.
1. Honesty
2. Transparency and Accountability
3. Mutual respect
4. Creativity
5. Gender sensitiveness
6. Cost efficiency
7. Participation
8. Solidarity
Guiding Principles:
1. Utilization of local wisdom and resources.
2. Encouragement of innovation and creativity.
3. Prioritizing quality.
4. Enhancing coordination and networking.
5. Accepting challenges
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation believes:
1. In the potential power of the poor to participate actively in development initiatives within their community.
2. In equal opportunity for man and women in society irrespective of class, age, ethnic, culture or religion.
3. In freedom of expression, movement and choice by man and woman alike.
4. In social harmony free from communal bias.
Programs:
For the past 3 years we have been working in the field of:
1. Non- formal technology-based education
2. Human resource Development
3. Training (human, leadership & skill development)
4. Waste water management and environmental sanitation (ECOSAN)
5. STD/HIV/AIDS Preventative Program
6. Women and Child welfare
7. To promote research progamme and publication (both print and electronics media)
Member/ partner/ donor of
PMNCH The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health hosted by the World Health Organization (Switzerland)
Global Found for Women (GFW), USA
BCC Network, Bangladesh
NYC STOP Human Trafficking, USA
International Journalists’ Network, USA
Changemakers, USA
Asian Harm Reduction Network, Thailand
Solution Exchange, India
Wiser Earth, UK
The Developer's Network (DevNetwork Forums), USA
World Wildlife Fund, USA
WINGS, USA
Sight savers International, USA
Bangladesh Social Network,
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), USA
American Foundation for the Blind
Krityanand UNESCO Club, Jamshedpur, India
Bangladesh ECD Network, BRAC, Bangladesh
Naripokha, Bangladesh
Church World Service community (CWSC), USA
Voyagers world
Take Part Social Action Network, USA
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, USA
K4 Htalth, Knowledge for Health, USA
FX Network
blurtit
UNYK, UK
FBO, USA
National Partnership for Women & Families, USA
Family Care International, USA
Health Program of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation 1996
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM:
Observing the devastation of HIV|AIDS worldwide Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has been conducting its activities and spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS since early 1997. From starting it upholds the vulnerability of HIV/AIDS nationally and internationally by advancing its social warning with a view to spread awareness among the prostitutes on the vulnerability of HIV|AIDS. Its first project was implemented in Goalando Brothel, and later we started in Dhaka city with the financial support of the Global Fund for Women, USA. The purpose of the project was to reduce the vulnerability of STI/HIV/AIDS among the target beneficiaries especially the youth, street children, youth /adolescent students, domestic workers, transport workers (drivers and helpers of truck, bus and tempo), hotel/restaurant workers, commercial sex workers, industry workers, professional blood donors, injecting drug users etc. The objectives of the project is to create a vast awareness on the knowledge on HIV|AIDS. So with this view to initiated peer Education, Referral of STI patients to clinic, counseling, condom promotion and awareness building to improve awareness scenario, understanding and knowledge of the target populations about prevention of HIV/AIDS by taking preventive initiatives and awareness raising programs.
Beside these to give more emphasis on HIV/AIDS among the all kinds of people it spreads its activities by giving entertainment so during this period, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation produced several animated cartoons, songs, banners etc. These BCC materials provided with the necessary information about HIV/AIDS to both literate and illiterate people. About 1500 people, basically the youth, adolescents, transport workers (drivers and helpers of bus, track, and tempo), injecting drug users, sex workers, call girls, NGO workers or staff, factory workers, vulnerable youth and women groups, and MSM received awareness training on HIV/AIDS, STI/STDs, and its protective means alongside gaining knowledge on reproductive health, sexual health, primary health care etc. In the aftermath of such trainings target groups are being more conscious about HIV/AIDS & also about sexual health, reproductive health, primary health care etc. These trainings will help these people to disseminate their knowledge among their family members and neighborhood and make them aware about HIV/AIDS, STI/STDs & different social issues. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation organized 2 district level workshops/seminars, 8 action researches among sex workers and their clients (Goalanda brothel, Mymensingh brothel, Residence Sex Workers, Floating Sex Workers), 10 grassroots-level workshops, 10 awareness programs for NGO workers, hundreds of community meetings, hundreds of courtyard meetings, 2 rallies on HIV/AIDS awareness and over 500 home campaign on HIV/AIDS and STI/STDs.
MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH CARE INTERVENTIONS:
The connections of HIV/AIDS with humanitarian crisis are establishing a great problem for all over the world. So motivation, awareness raising and dissemination of knowledge through different means and media are the most important activities under the program to improve the overall health status of the target people.
Women are disproportional infected with HIV/AIDS for biological, social, economic reasons. Heterosexual and vertical transmission of the virus has resulted in its wide distribution in the general population in sexually active adults and adolescents so with a view to make the vulnerable group conscious about health related issues, awareness activities were carried out on personal hygiene practice, dehydration & importance of ORS, Antenatal Care (ANC), Post Natal Care (PNC), delivery care, health & nutrition, family planning, water & sanitation, immunization, etc. The staff of the program organized small and large scale of group meetings, conducted household visits, displayed video films and arranged audio folk songs to create awareness & motivation among the target people. Several Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) materials like posters, leaflets, flipcharts, stickers etc. were mainly used for different promotional activities.
To achieve the objectives under Maternal Health Care program, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started providing several trainings for its target groups.
Motivation, awareness raising and dissemination of knowledge through different means and media are the most important software activities under the program to improve the overall health status of the target people. The software supports comprise all the services, which lead to sustainable behavioral change. Keeping this in mind, awareness raising acts on health related issues within the community people have been emphasized at as one of the most important parts throughout the reporting period.
Among many health related issues, awareness activities were carried out on personal hygiene practice, dehydration & importance of ORS, Antenatal Care (ANC), Post Natal Care (PNC), delivery care, health & nutrition, family planning, water & sanitation, immunization, etc.
The program staff organized small and large level group meetings, conducted household visits, displayed video films and arranged audio folk songs to send a message to raise awareness among the target people and motivate them. Several Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) materials like posters, leaflets, flipcharts, stickers etc. were mainly used for different promotional activities.
To achieve the objectives under Maternal Health Care program, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation is now providing several trainings among its target groups.
FAMILY PLANNING INTERVENTIONS:
With view to reduce over population from Bangladesh Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan foundation emphasis on family planning as it is one of the most important and vital components of health program. The staff put their earnest efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of having a small family and to increase the percentage of users of family planning devices through motivation. Therefore, the program staff provided trainings on how to use contraceptives and distributed the materials (in a small scale) among the fertile couples within the target groups. Such training campaign has got a momentum as well as popularity in the project domain.
ANTI-TRAFFICKING MOVEMENT of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation 1996
Bangladeshi girls and women are trafficked to India in maximum number by the several district of Bangladesh such as Kustia, Jessore, Rajshahnd even from other districts. As this country is one of the victim countries for internationally trafficked persons primarily women, girls and children. Trafficking in young women and children are matter of great concern all over the world. Several thousand women and girls are trafficked annually from Bangladesh for the purpose of sexual exploitation, primarily to India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Most trafficking girls and women are sexually abused; often they also experience other forms of physical and psychological brutality. They are in high risk of being infected with STD's including HIV/AIDS and they are by the surrounding society seen upon as unchaste and lowest ranked group in the society. One of our surveys at Goalondo brothel under Rajbari district in Bangladesh found out that almost 53% of sex workers enter the profession before the age of 20 years, and 30% do so between 20 to 25 years of age, and some of them get into this profession through deceptions of the traffickers. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started Anti Trafficking movement on 2006. In this long run, we have been able to bring in several organizations in Anti-trafficking movements, through our comprehensive training.
Bangladesh is one of them victim countries for international trafficking, primarily the women, girls and children. Several thousand women and girls are trafficked annually from Bangladesh for the purpose of sexual exploitation, primarily to India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Most trafficking girls and women are sexually abused; often they also experience other forms of physical and psychological violence. They are in high risk of becoming infected with STD's including HIV/AIDS and they are by the surrounding society seen upon as non-pure and considered among the lowest ranked in the society.
Alongside extreme limit of poverty, gender inequality plays a vital role too behind all these; also frustration and risky behavior cause a major damage behind the scene. The link between poverty and gender inequality helps the decline of the socio-economic progress. This link creates several anti-social and fatal issues too; such as, trafficking for prostitution, selling of sex for livelihood, breaking down of family norms to create frustration and driven drug point etc.
It is not just the problem of girls; even little boys and women are victimized to trafficking to countries like India. They are trafficked even within Bangladesh, often from the villages to the major metropolis areas with the promise of work opportunity and a better life. These little boys and girls are then forcefully involved in physical labor at rich households, child labor, pick pocketing, illegal drug selling, criminal activities, thieving, commercial sexual selling and many other unfair jobs etc. India is one of the major markets for trafficking as people from most of the countries are trafficked here. Bangladesh is a big market where from these victims are trafficked.
Bangladeshi girls and women are trafficked to India in maximum number from these districts of Bangladesh- Kushtia, Jessore, Rajshahi and also from other districts. India shares 4,222 kilometers of border with 28 districts of Bangladesh, most of which are open with rivers running across. So, Bangladeshi trafficking groups have been able to build up powerful bases in the border districts of India in West Bengal and Assam, to the north and west, and these have now become favorite transit points of trafficked women.
One of our surveys at Goalondo brothel under Rajbari district in Bangladesh, it has been found out that almost 53% of sex workers enter the profession before the age of 20 years, and 30% do so between 20 to 25 years of age, and some of them get into this profession through deceptions of the traffickers. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started Anti Trafficking movement on 2006. In this long run, we have been able to include ten organizations in these activities. By mid 2007, our team of experts trained Anti-trafficking actions among some NGOs working in the border areas.
EDUCATION PROGRAM of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation 1996
EDUCATION PROGRAM:
Bangladesh is a being a poor country here illiteracy is considered as a curse of getting development. So education is necessary for human and social development and it is a basic human right. Unfortunately, the people of our country are still suffering from the curse of illiteracy. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation believes that as soon as the people of our country will ascend on the educational ladder, economic and political stability will be restored and; as a consequence, a just society will be established.
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation upholds emphasis on Basic Education (BE) comprising functional education, literacy, post literacy/continuous education, livelihood development, life skill development, adult education, early childhood education, human resource development and so on for keeping its target groups (disadvantaged and poorest people especially women and children) on the right track towards sustainable future. So it stared its function to spread the light of education among the illiterate people. Internalizing the fact, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started its Education Program back in 1996 through providing need-based education to the community people catering to them. Our education programs/projects/courses are designed to provide literacy and numeric along with general knowledge, skills and values to the target groups through constructive and basic education. The activities under Education Program includes about 20 general social issues, such as nutrition, environment, pollution issues, basic business management, child care, prevention of communicable common diseases, health and hygienic, balance diet, family planning, HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention, personal health care, leadership development etc. It contains Community Demand Driven (CDD) and problem solving holistic approach. The BE classes have proved to be an excellent forum for group information and motivation.
Since 1996 under education program, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has been conducting and organizing institutional development program making the disadvantaged people organized through group formation that they can be able to achieve necessary life skills and develop leadership within effective and comprehensive interaction. For example, through its three adult education centers in urban areas of Dhaka City, about three hundred illiterate beneficiaries are getting the opportunities to take complete livelihood development oriented education in every shift. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation offered an opportunity for education to the adolescent girls from the poor and landless families within the program intervention areas who either have never been enrolled in a formal school or have been dropped out due to extreme poverty as well.
Recently, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation launched its primary education program called Basic Education for Working Adolescents and Street Children (BEWASC) to provide access to the working children with basic rights to primary education, especially who do not have the family support or whose families are dysfunctional. So far, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has established two BEWASC schools with the funding from dedicated individuals from the community and through the organizations own fund as a pilot project.
BASIC EDUCATION FOR WORKING ADOLESCENTS (BEWA) PROGRAM:
Having vast experience of working with people living under the poverty line, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation always endeavors to understand the basic problem of the poor. BEWA is a continuous effort of the organization to utilize the experience concerning such poor people as well as adolescents.
Several NGOs provided the necessary materials and curriculum for this pilot project as per mutual support harmony. The duration of the course has been designed for one year, where there are 4 teachers for conducting the course and the target students are mostly the adolescents between 8-14 years of age all working class or street children. The BEWA classes start in between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and continue for two hours. The times are to set according to the students’ convenience, as the students are more than often engaged in working.
EXPANDED HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (EHEP) PROJECT:
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started implementation of EXPANDED HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (EHEP) PROJECT in 1996 by expanding its own fun only to keeps hands beside the destitute people with a view to expanding health and education program its always supported the illiterate and poor people by advising education and health treatment. To make the society free form the illiteracy, diseases need proper way of giving basic education and nutrition. The necessary technical the necessary technical and materials/logistics support have been provided by the Dhaka City Corporation, (DCC). The intervention area for this project called ‘Expanded of Immunization Program’ (EPI) is Lalbagh area, Dhaka. The project is covering both mothers (15-49 years of age) and children (0-5 years of age).
Women have less access to get information and education so they are less able to get information and response to the disease. Bangladeshi women especially in the rural part have a poor knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its transmission and prevention. In many developing countries where diagnostics facilities may be minimal, epidemiologists employ a case defection based on the presence of various clinical symptoms associated wit immune deficiencies and the exclusion of other known causes of immune suppression such as cancer, or mal-nutrition under the under the integrated support services on health and nutrition paramedics, one Program Officer (PO) trained in nutrition, food processing and general health, two Assistant Program Officers (APO) trained in health, nutrition and non-formal primary education, were involved with Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation in the project.
SOCIAL MOBILIZATION PROGRAMS of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation 1996
Social mobilization is a major part of all activities taken up by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation, which aims at creating a major thrust to solve problems of individuals, families or concerning social magnitude by promoting participation of all possible sectors and civil society, mobilization of local resources, use of indigenous knowledge and enhancement of people’s creativity and productivity through mass campaign. The concept has an extreme positive significance where a real change could be initiated by orchestrating joint efforts against the alarming health & education situation. To face the serious alarming scenario in health, education and some other areas, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation realized that the standard of living could be raised through an overall improvement of socio-economic and demographic conditions by undertaking an integrated social mobilization program with components of information (providing), health and basic education as the major components.
To promote and improve the socio-economic status and demographic conditions, promotional activities have been facilitated in the intervention areas through different forums. Young men in impoverished communities have many needs. Sometimes the only means of income available involves strenuous manual labor, low job security and little or no control over working conditions. Though such type of work may not have a risk of HIV infection in itself, but can lead to intense frustration. The lack of personal satisfaction may turn into adopting escapist behaviors like excessive drinking, taking drugs or sexual association with prostitutes/sex workers and so on. Therefore, the youth groups of the society fall easy victims to HIV infection. With this understanding, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation promotes sex education targeting the vulnerable youths and women through different communication materials and thought provoking activities.
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation believes that the focus on HIV/AIDS and other general & reproductive health issues must be expanded to the youth groups. But it has been observed that resources and attention are limited to protect young women from falling victims to HIV infection. This point is correlated with women's rights and reproductive health. Before adopting any approach for preventing HIV/AIDS, it should be acknowledged that young women are far more vulnerable than young men in this regard. Therefore, initiatives have been taken for raising awareness and highlighting the means those perpetuate the power relations in different societies and cultures to exploit the disadvantaged women at all levels. The endeavors are still being put in to eradicate the violence against women.
It should be admitted that still the women in our country have less opportunity, lower status and less access to any skill development training and resources and hence perpetuate their lower socio-economic status. The women are the main sufferers of trafficking, victims of sexual violence and pervasive illiteracy. Their representation in different forums is insignificant which also leads to a weak voice from them when it comes to decision-making.
All these facts and findings urged Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation to empower women and to prevent and control HIV/AIDS. We provide services to women vulnerable to HIV infection, especially those aged 15-40 years. This includes women working as low-paid industrial or house workers and women living in slum areas. Services include Behavior Change Communication strategies on HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, condom promotion, referral to reproductive health services, advocacy to local officials and agencies and; linkages with other development and HIV prevention activities. Now these women are becoming aware of these sensitive issues and trying to protect themselves from being forced against any sort of sexual violence or any chance afflicted with HIV/AIDS. They also have started taking up their own responsibilities and their own choices for their lives.
POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK PROGRAM of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation 1996
The Poultry and Livestock sector is an important one for the farming in Bangladesh and is contributing tremendously towards poverty alleviation, self-employment, nutritional enhancement and agricultural resource development. Less capital and time are required to adopt the program while it generates a substantial return for the households engaged in this sector.
Approximately 70% of the landless women are directly or indirectly involved in traditional poultry rearing activities. It is a good source of income for rural women as they have some experience in poultry rearing.
Poultry rearing could be more effective if poultry mortality could be reduced with the improvement of local breed. At the same time, nutritional level of the family could be enhanced.
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation started its poultry and livestock program since its inception and has vast experience in operating this program. In 2006, we started the eagerness-building program in this sector. We are implementing the program with the assistance from Livestock Officer (Govt.) and with the own source of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation. Selected group of members are provided with different types of trainings on poultry and livestock rearing and management. We also make vaccination facility available to the beneficiaries through Govt. Livestock and Poultry Department. We also spread beef, Mutton, chicken etc among the destitute people to stand beside them.
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