Sponsor's update from Dhaka, Banglasdesh

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2008

Dear friends,

It is great pleasure to greet you again as the very important member of our world-wide big SOS-family. We would like to inform you of the recent developments in your sponsored facility.

During this year 4 boys and 2 girls have been admitted into SOS Children’s Village Dhaka. Among them three are cyclone ‘Sidr’ victim siblings Shahida Akter, Rozina Akter and Md. Tarek Rahman. During devastating cyclone ‘Sidr’, hit Bangladesh coastal belt on 15.2.2008 with stormy winds of over 240km an hour, the shade of their house flown away. They came out swiftly to find out a safe shelter, but in vain. The youngest brother Tarek was on the lap of the elder sister Shahida and the younger sister Rozina also caught the hand of Shahida. Suddenly, they were swept away by 10 to 15 feet high strong tidal wave and became detached from each other. Fortunately, Tarek was blocked at the top of a palm tree, Shahida and Rozina was also able to save them by holding broken branches of tree.

After 6/7 days dead bodies of their mother and sister were found in clay at about 3 to 4 miles away from their house. Sidr destroyed their family but now the siblings are found happy and confident being sheltered in a secure home in SOS Village Dhaka.

Activities for children at Dhaka

Six girls and 8 boys appeared in the Secondary School Certificate examination and Higher Secondary Certificate examination. One boy and two girls completed their 4 years honours course while two boys and two girls have completed Diploma Engineering course. One intellectually challenged child - brought laurel to Bangladesh by wining gold in Soft Ball Throw and Silver in 4x100 meter relay race in the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2007 held at China. Two girls got 1st and 2nd prize in the Drawing competition organised jointly by Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Wildlife Rescue Centre and Bangladesh Birds Club. Our girls participated in the Dhaka Metropolitan School Volleyball Tournament and became runner-up.

Our children are busy with ensuing International SOS Children’s Village Day on 23 June 2008 through different programmes. Open discussions on various issues were organised with active participation of our young boys and girls such as health education, harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, HIV/AIDS, child protection etc. Different national and international days were observed through specific programmes like good handwriting competition for children, discussion sessions, outing programme, drawing competition, cultural programmes etc.To grow the habit of reading books, a mobile library attends the Village regularly. A get together programme of our integrated boys and girls and their families was held to share experiences among them.

This year, two girls have been married, 2 boys and 3 girls have been integrated through employment.

Looking forward to have your ensuing support and wish you a lot of happiness, peace and good health.