From The Children

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="0bc8a9e0.jpg" border=0 width="138" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Society for Underprivileged Families"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Project Areas"><U><B>Project Areas</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Programs"><U><B>Programs</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bright Girls Bright Boys"><U><B>Bright Girls & Bright Boys</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>From The Children</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Involved"><U><B>Get Involved</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Advocacy Awareness"><U><B>Advocacy & Awareness</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shop"><U><B>Shop</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partners"><U><B>Partners</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Society for Underprivileged Families</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><B>(SUF)</B> </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >|     </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#009933" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >H<A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Society for Underprivileged Families"><U>ome</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Project Areas"><U>Project Areas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Programs"><U>Programs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bright Girls Bright Boys"><U>Bright Girls & Bright Boys</U></A>   |   From The Children   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Involved"><U>Get Involved</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Advocacy Awareness"><U>Advocacy & Awareness</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shop"><U>Shop</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partners"><U>Partners</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>From The Children</B></div> <div> <B>Salam's Story</B></div> <div> Salam and her family migrated from rural Bangladesh to Dhaka in 2005 to escape the poverty and hardship they were facing.  They arrived to Dhaka with very little as such shortly after migration Salma began working as a child domestic worker to help support her family.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009933" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><B><IMG SRC="136e79a0.jpg" border=0 width="231" height="154" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Salam and her parents wanted to enter the education system however they could not pay the school fees or afford to lose Salam's income.  SUFs free Non-Formal Education Program recognises these family needs therefore caters for working and marginalised children by delivery classes three times a day.  This allowed Salam to continue supporting her family.  Salam completed NFE, graduating in 2010.  </div> <bR> <div> While at SUF Salma was involved in the child club activities where she was able to learn about child rights, life skills, build confidence and establish friendships with other children in a safe and secure environment.  Salam's parents were also involved in the Parents Groups, giving them a social network and place to discuss family and community issues.</div> <bR> <div> After graduation Salma enrolled in SUFs electronic Vocational Training course.  After the completion of one year of electronic's training Salma got a job at Nishat Electronic Company where she now earns a monthly salary of Tk. 2,500.  Her increased skills and knowledge of her rights has allowed Salma to ensure her employer is providing her with a non-hazardous working environment and a fair wage.  Through Salma's education she has been able to teach her family about child rights and life skills as well as provide an increased income to improve their standard of living. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Shafiqur's Story</B></div> <div> Shafiqur Rahman is 19 years old.  Nine years ago his family migrated to Dhaka from Barisal in search of work due to poverty. To assist his family with income Shafiqur started working in a rickshaw garage with his father.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009933" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B><IMG SRC="134e99b0.jpg" border=0 width="233" height="155" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being motivated by a SUF teacher, Shafiqur's parents admitted him in Grade I at SUF. He completed and graduated from grade VIII within 4 years after which was admitted in a sewing and embroidery vocational training course.   After completing this course Shafiqur successfully joined the production unit program at SUF, gaining a monthly wage of Tk 2,500.</div> <bR> <div> After gaining the required production experience Shafiqur started his own business.  SUF financially supported Shafiqur with a loan of Tk 5,000.  With this he was able to start his own business with one sewing machine at Rampura.  With time Shafiqur involved a partner in the business who was linked with a boutique shop to get technical support. Shafiqur receives regular support and mentoring from SUF and since establishment he has now expanded his business to six workers and receiving a monthly income of Tk 35,000. </div> <bR> <div> Shafiq's income has greatly improved the living conditions for his family and the neighbouring residents.  His dream is to establish a big boutique shop in an upper-class area of Dhaka.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Rina Akter</B></div> <div> <I>“I didn't think that I would have been able to go to formal school or have the ability to be able to attend with new dress and books.  Now my dream is happening and I feel my dreams will now continue.” </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >Rina Akter 14yrs</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>“I am very proud of SUF and grateful for this opportunity in my life.  I wish for SUF to continue in the future as there are many more poor children that also need this opportunity. I hope SUF can also help them.” </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >Rina Akter 14yrs</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 14 years ago Rina's family lived in a village outside of Dhaka however due to the development of a river their house and land was destroyed, leaving them with no money or home.  Rina's family then moved to Dhaka where Rina was born.  Rina's father is sick and cannot work and her mother works as a domestic worker.  To help the family Rina starting working as a domestic worker at the age of 7.  Rina's parents could not afford to send her to school therefore applied with the many other for SUFs free NFE Program.</div> <bR> <div> Rina graduated NFE program, after which she enrolled in SUFs electronic Vocational Training (VT) program.  After completing the VT program SUF supported Rina to find employment.  Rina started working for an electronics company where she was able to earn Tk 2000 per month.  After 4 months of working at the company Rina decided to continue her education through SUF's mainstream Bright Girls Bright Boys sponsorship education program.  This now means that Rina's family does not receive the help of her good wages so after attending mainstream school from 8am - 2pm Rina then has to continue her work as a domestic helper to support the family however Rina is happy that she is able to continue her education and hopes with SUFs continued support she will be able to graduate and become a teacher.  </div> <bR> <div> Rina's parents are very happy to be able to see their daughter continue her education.  Without SUF's Bright Girls Bright Boys sponsorship program they would not have been able to fund Rina's mainstream schooling costs.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>