Programs
Program for People with Disabilities (PWDs)
In the working area JANOSEBA found people with disabilities (PWDs) are socially neglected and financially dependent to others. Because of negative attitude from society they are deprived in every aspect. They are struggling for whole life for existence. Considering their vulnerable situation, JANOSEBSA has launched program in association with Bangladesh Governments Ministry of Social Welfare to support them with devices, health service and financial aid. Since 2003 JANOSEBA is implementing rehabilitation and development program ‘Initiative for Building Capacity of Disable for Self Sufficient’. JANOSEBA emphasize on creating social awareness through building social communication among members and providing necessary supports like device, loan, and information. In the meeting of device and other service giving JANOSEBA gathers the Local Government representatives, the Government officials, NGO activists, journalists, mass people, local elites, cultural activists and others with PWDs. This gathering gives opportunity of social interaction to PWDs. It also creates social empathy on the issue.
Mr. Abu Taher of South Salimpur Chittagong a PWD who got a wheel chair from JANOSEBA says, “I lost my both leg. Because of that I could not go any where. Now I have a wheel chair which has given me a new speed. I am thankful to JANOSEBA”.
The scale of program is very small that covers only Sitakunda and Pahartali area of Chittagong. In small scale it observes some positive change like positive attitude towards PWDs, participation of PWDs in socio-cultural and economic events, access of PWDs in education, rights awareness among PWDs, rehabilitation etc. Social elites are considering JANOSEBA’s activities positively and supporting cordially. In future JANOSEBA hopes to launch program on this issue at a large scale.
Adult Education
Education is a life long process and age is not a bar to get that. In the working area JANOSEBA found community women are mostly illiterate even to maintain daily need like counting, watching time, looking after children etc. For these women JANOSEBA runs adult education centre to give them basic education which enables them to fill the basic need. More than 100 women have successfully completed adult education course under close supervision of JANOSEBA. Now they are capable to run their life more skillfully.
Ms. Asma Akter an adult learner from community expressed her gratitude as she learned basic education from the centre of JANSEBA. She added that the teacher taught them different laws too. Now she sends her child to school at just time. Even she can look after her children’s study.
In the coastal community JANOSEBA has launched this program in a small initiative but it has got a good response from community. Community expects this initiative from JANOSEBA in a large volume. JANOSEBA feel the same and hope to launch in a broader scale in future.
SHONGLAP- Adolescent Development Program
SHONGLAP is a method which creates awareness in daily life and enhances literacy capacity and skills for livelihood development of the adolescent. It helps them to become self-reliant.
SHONGLAP has 3 phases-
1. Awareness raising and life skill– 6 months
2. Literacy skill development 1 step up– 3 months
3. Occupational training and start IGA– 3 months
Major Impacts of SHONGLAP Program: 1) Neat, clean and smart analytical capacity among the girls.
2) Girls are confident, able to provide opinion.
3) Can take action in own life, in the family.
4) Can speak about their rights.
5) Can take action against early marriages.
6) Peaceful environment in the family.
7) Occupationally skilled.
8) Can make financial contribution to the family.
9) Can eradicate poverty.
Tree Plantation
JANOSEBA consider tree as a guard to protect this coastal area from high tide and cyclone. JANOSEBA facilitate campaigns through participation of its girls’ & women’s organization to plant trees and provide seedlings for planting. The facilitators of JANOSEBA discuss about importance of tree plantation with the members in group meeting. By last year, JANOSEBA has distributed 6,000 seedlings among the group members. JANOSEBA received those seedlings from the Upazilla administration and distributed by own costs among villagers. In the group meetings community leaders facilitated by JANOSEBA also discuss on the need of plantation and the process of proper tree plantation. After distribution, JANOSEBA also follow-up the activities and provide suggestion and support to the community. JANOSEBA always encourage the knowledge management of community, especially indigenous knowledge.
Through the campaign of JANOSEBA now coastal women are conscious about the need of plantation. JANOSEBA has planned to distribute such seedlings more in future to protect lives of coastal community.
Sanitation
Bangladesh Government has a plan to ensure 100% sanitation in Bangladesh by 2010. NGOs are supporting the Government to achieve that goal. In working area JANOSEBA at Mirshari Upazilla supports Upazilla administration to achieve this goal. In regular group meeting, JANOSEBA discuss and motivate people to take action in favour of sanitation.
In 2003-2004 JANOSEBA implement Community Managed Water & Sanitation Program in Coastal Area of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar with financial & technical support of NGO Forum. Under this project, JANOSEBA launched activities among 600 families of Goliakhali and Mahmudabad of Sitakunda, Chittagong. JANOSEBA arranged baseline survey, provided skill development activities, organized Village Development Committees, created awareness on sanitation issue through media activities, supplying safe water and establishing sanitary latrine. The staffs of JANOSEBA also motive people to use sanitary latrine and change their behavioral pattern in personal hygienic.
In the coastal zone the need of such program still remains. In some extent, the sanitation conditions are deteriorated after the natural disaster, water logging, poor conditions of water drainage and sewerage. Considering such situation, JANOSEBA think about this issue with importance and includes it as one of the significant topic for group activities. JANOSEBA would like to address such issue in its future plan of action especially for fisherfolk communities living in Sitakunda Upazilla under Chittagong district.