In Bangladesh, we are reaching the most vulnerable and marginalised children who do not have an opportunity to learn. Our drop-in centres allow 200 children who work to support their families with an opportunity to learn basic literacy, numeracy and life skills.

In addition, we offer income generating grants to parents to address the root causes of child labour. Almost half the children who visit our drop-in centres have successfully transitioned from working life into mainstream schooling, receiving an education and hope for a better future.

Education Access & Quality Improvement Program

The Education Access & Quality Improvement Program is a five-year education program implemented through ten local partner organisations. The program’s goal is to fulfil children’s rights to basic education through support to all stages of schooling in order to increase access, especially for socially and economically marginalised children.  It also aims to improve retention and progression through the creation of child-friendly learning environments.

The program works in four districts in Bangladesh and will include the upgrading of educational facilities, training of Early Childhood Development facilitators, and teacher training in child-friendly teaching techniques.

Life Skills Intervention for Empowerment

Save the Children’s Life Skills Intervention for Empowerment Program aims to empower vulnerable adolescents, especially girls, to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives.  

Adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh are a particularly vulnerable group.   They are exposed to things such as drugs and substance abuse, unsafe sex, truancy, violence, sexual harassment and, especially for girls, early marriage.  Young people in Bangladesh often lack the information, life skills and livelihood skills that could help them protect themselves from these risks.

Save the Children teaches and empowers vulnerable young people though life skills training and peer-led group activities.  The project also aims to develop a resource pool of life skills trainers from all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work with adolescents. A resource pool will be developed with government officials in 64 districts of Bangladesh who will implement the Life Skills Based Education training in district level.

Early Childhood Development Centres

Nine Early Childhood Development Centres have been established in the Daulatdia brothel, Bangladesh’s largest brothel, providing children of sex workers access to vital early childhood education.  The children, aged 3-5 years, attend the Centre for two hours every day.  The Centre is very important in providing these children with early education and a transition into primary education.  Findings from regular monitoring and evaluations show that the Centres have supported children’s development and school performance.

Human stories

Mukti

Mukti, 17 has lived at Save the Children's Safe Home Project for most of her life. Before living at the Safe home she lived with her mother who moved quite often. Mukti's mother brought her to the safe home so that she would be protected and have a stable home environment. Mukti has now completed her three tiers of education and hopes to begin her studies at university. She wants to work helping children like herself in the future. The program has provided education and support and structure that Mukti wouldn't otherwise have been exposed to.

"I want everyone beside me in my last stage of education. I am very much thankful to Save the Children for providing me a very safe place to take coaching in Dhaka. They didn't keep in hostel or other place; they have kept me in a boarding school which is very safe. Save the children is concerned about our protection in every step."