BanglaKids celebrates 25 years of helping children!
Bangladesh. Children. Poverty. Donors. Education. The future. These are the key words of the BanglaKids programme, which this year celebrates 25 years of helping children in Bangladesh. Thanks to your support, we have changed the lives of over 8,000 children. It wouldn't have been possible without you. Your unwavering love and solidarity has enabled us to fulfil the hopes of children who would otherwise have no chance of a better future.
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Humble beginnings
In 1999, thanks to dentist Milan Moskala and the enthusiastic Alena Rusová, we joined forces with our donors and began helping children in Bangladesh. In a country where poverty, illiteracy and social problems prevent children from getting an education and escaping poverty, we focused on giving children a chance for a better future through education. This has been achieved thanks to your selfless support.
What have we achieved together?
Over 25 years, we have reached many important milestones. Your help has had a lasting impact on the lives of children, families and whole communities in several key areas:
Education: We supported over 8,000 children and students. Children from poor families gained access to primary, secondary and even university education. Some of our graduates have gone on to become teachers, managers or professionals, making a difference in their communities and society at large.
Health and nutrition: We provided quality meals and access to medical care for children who would otherwise be at risk of malnutrition. Your support helped children grow up healthy and develop their potential.
Infrastructure: We renovated schools, repaired roofs, built playgrounds, renovated a library and canteen, built a village school and a new kitchen. We bought hundreds of new fans, two tractors and an irrigation pump. We built wells to provide drinking water not only for the children, but also for local residents.
Family support: We also helped families. Through projects such as the distribution of goats and chickens to ensure a stable income, we supported economic independence and the development of local communities.
Covid-19 response: During the pandemic, we responded quickly to school closures by distributing food and cash to more than 1,400 children and families. Your support ensured that we prevented hunger during this challenging year and a half.
Together we go further
In our efforts to raise funds for the children of Bangladesh, we have organised several fundraising events together with our sister programme Čalantika.
Examples include Vávra Hradilek's Ganga Expedition and nice film documentary, journalist Tomáš Poláček's marathons across Bangladesh, Mark Jelínek's scooter adventure Dobroběžka, Honza and Sváťa's motorbike trip, travel blogger Weef's BanglaKids film and two episodes of the Czech TV show On the Road from Dhaka and Bangladesh, directed by Jana Počtová.
Together with a Photographer without talent, we published the book We, the children of the slum. Other celebrities also helped, including sports commentator Barbora Černošková and Miss Czech Republic 2023 Justýna Zedníková.
-> STORIES AND CHALLENGES <-
Stories that change lives
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The greatest reward for us are the concrete stories of children who have participated in the programme. For example, Ranika, from a village in northern Bangladesh, was able to complete her secondary education and study nursing at a higher vocational school thanks to a Czech donor. She now works as a specialist nurse in a private hospital with a cardiology centre and is studying to become a trainer for future nurses.
Through education, she has become a strong and confident woman who inspires parents and children in her community - because education should be accessible to everyone. Stories like these give us hope and the strength to carry on.
Challenges and the future
In Bangladesh, some 3.7 million children still face barriers to education. Worldwide, the figure is around 250 million. This alarming situation highlights the urgent need for our help. Child labour, early marriages, poverty, geographical barriers or political instability - all make the path to a better future difficult for children.
We will continue to focus on giving these children the opportunity to learn, grow and change their futures.
Thank you!
We thank you, our donors, for your selfless support and solidarity over the past 25 years. Your donations have changed the lives of thousands of children in Bangladesh, opening the door to a brighter future. You are part of this beautiful service with a profound human meaning.
We look forward to another 25 years of working together. Everything we do is for the children. And together with you, we will continue to change the world for the better.
PS: See also the extensive annotated photo gallery below the article.
