Bangladesh: Development Program for Health and Quarters

Background

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries of the world. More than 80% of the population have to live with less than two US Dollars a day. Specially affected by the poverty are woman and children. The Development Program for Health and Quarters of YWCA Bangladesh reaches 27’000 people. The YWCA wants to enhance the living conditions of the poorest population class in the slum quar-ters. YWCA operates in the following three areas:

Health

The Health program’s main focus is on women and children. 85% of all women in the rural area of Bangladesh are still giving birth outside of a hospital. The YWCA Bangladesh is training traditional obstetricians on a regular basis to reduce the death rate among mothers and children. Further on, YWCA offers simple medical treatment, pregnancy controls as well as a nutrition- and vaccination program for children. Information on HIV/Aids, sensitization of the slum population on the impor-tance of proper drinking water and the use of sanitary facilities are also provided by the YWCA. The main goal is to support the population with the idea of self-help in building latrines and wells.

Education

In an international comparison Bangladesh brings up the rear when it comes to education – and this despite compulsory schooling. That leads to a high rate of illiteracy: 50% among men and 59% among women. The Education Program of the YWCA Bangladesh trains women in reading news-papers, writing letters and solving simple arithmetic problems. Additional education possibilities are offered to women and young girls in different handicrafts (e.g. sewing) and the YWCA is counsel-ling women in legal and women-specific questions.

Earnings provision

With the help of a Micro Credit from YWCA women are offered the possibility to open up an own store (e.g. a sewing studio). The woman can learn the most important rules of self-employment in a 12-week course. YWCA advises the women in the choice of possible activities and helps with the commercialization of the products. With this women and their families are granted economical autonomy and acceptance. For example Khadija Beghum from the City of Khulna: Within ten years she could work her way up from an impecunious slum resident to a successful tailor. She and two employees sew clothes for the quarter inhabitants and she has trained over 70 women to sew.