Organizing Diversified & Holistic Initiatives on Knowledge Acquisition for Rural ethnic children (ODHIKAR) project.

Title of the project:  Organizing Diversified & Holistic Initiatives on Knowledge Acquisition for Rural Ethnic Children (ODHIKAR) project.

Introduction of the project:

Bangladesh is a land of multicultural people with the majority of Bengali population. Among the total population of the country, there are few communities who are treated as

marginalized communities. The ethnic communities are major part among the marginalized communities. The ethnic communities have their own language, glorious history and culture. Social discrimination, poor financial condition, diversity of culture and language, less literacy rate among ethnic people are main causes for lagging behind. To change this situation GBK is implementing a project named “Organizing Diversified & Holistic Initiatives on Knowledge Acquisition for Rural ethnic children  (ODHIKAR) project in 19 ethnic communities at 8 unions under Dinajpur Sadar Upazilla. The project mainly focused on ethnic children’s primary education. It aims to build a harmonized society for the ethnic community people where they can live with dignity.  

Project Participants/Beneficiaries: ( Number-Male & Female, Community ,Ethnicity, Age group, Socio economic status and any other specialty)

Total targeted participants of the project: 2901 (female: 1471, male: 1430)

Total targeted communities: 19

Types of ethnicity: Santal, Mahali, Musohor, Karmokar, Turi, Rabidad

Age group: 2+ children to above

Socio economic status: Mostly day labor

Project period: 3 March 2021 to 29 February 2024 (36 months) 

Project Objective:

Overall Goal: People of marginalized community (Rural ethnic) live in a harmonized society with dignity.

Project purpose: Holistic learning opportunities for marginalized children  (Rural Ethnic Children) have been strengthened through mobilization of different stakeholders. 

Donor /project funded by: SHAPLA NEER

Major area of Intervention/Component:

·                 SDG 4: (Quality Education) “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Major Activities : ( in brief) 

·       Discussion and sharing with teachers and SMC members

·       Formulation and Implementation of Annual Activity plans of each targeted school

·       Support to SMC regular meeting

·       Implementation of learning sharing visit for SMC members

·       Supports for student council activities

·       Project orientation for the targeted area

·       Establish Community based Learning and Cultural Center in favor of child education

·       Awareness for the community people

·       Community level education support for children

·       Promote ethnic people’s dignity

·       Advocacy and cooperation with Local Government Representatives and Govt. Service providers.

·       Organizing coordination meeting if different level

·       Volunteer involvement and promotion of volunteer activities

·       Promote volunteer initiatives

·       Information dissemination on project initiative through media

·       Advocacy with Govt. and other stakeholders in support of marginalized children education.

Significant Change/ Case study ( Please give as attached ) New project so the changes is not observed yet.

Study Research & Publication (From beginning to till date) ( Please give as attached ) No publication is done till now.

Video Documentary ( Please give as attached ) We do not have any video documentary.

Information on Covid-19 Response:

·       90 families of the project area received COVID-19 relief support (food package) from GBK

·       The project is ensuring health safety measure issue by providing mask, hand sanitizer, soap in each meetings, seminar, gathering that is arranged by the project.