BITA E-News Letter
14th Issue
January – April 2018
Message from Executive Director
This Issue
Over again we are in the lead of our readers with E-News letter- 14th issue. At first we would like to share our feelings of happiness as United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
declared Bangladesh, a developing country, regard as
our economic growth is at 7 percent or higher. In this period, BITA has engaged Rohingya adolescent boys and girls with cultural initiatives successfully aiming to child protection. Continuation of ROSC phase II project extended educational, training and employment opportunities for slum children and rural youth. This issue highlights other notable interventions including International Women Day Observance with enthusiastic participation of girls, health camp for older people, youth engagement for peace, tolerance and harmony, TIE presentation before young learners.
Intervention with Rohingya adolescents Social theatre to enhance psychosocial development
“Ananda School”: Education centre
for underprivileged slum children
“Time is now: Rural and Urban activists transforming Women’s lives”
Promote tolerance and diversity among the youth
Providing Health camp to older people at Ramgoti upazila
Theatre In Education (TIE)
Joyful education for combating human trafficking & safe migration
Let me say once more, we greet all attachment for flourishing e-news letter in future and collectively raise our voice to promote rights and foster humanity. We welcome your ideas and piece of advice . Please do
favour to email us at [email protected]
Steps toward building skills and creating job opportunities of Youth
PVT(Pre Vocational skills Training)
Graduation Course : Certification ceremony for PVT graduates
Appreciation of youth’s power
working for peace and harmony
Sisir Dutta
Executive Director
Intervention with Rohingya adolescents
Social theatre to enhance psychosocial development
In August 2017, violence erupted in Rakhaine state of Myanmar. More than 7 lakes people have
fled to Bangladesh to escape the military’s large
scale campaign of brutality. More over half of them are children. They took shelter at Ukhiya
and Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district. They
made makeshift settlements at Kutupalang, Balukhali, Moinarghhona, Hakimpara, Jamtoli, Unchiprang of Ukhiya & Teknaf. Still they are caring the fear of inhuman brutality of
Mayanmar’s force.
The adolescents particularly girls became traumatized as they witnessed of rape, violence, killing of their nearest persons. Being refused citizen of the country for a long time, they hardly enjoy any human rights. The Rohingya people have been suffering from several annoyances like polygamy, child marriage, and gender-based violence and many other superstitions.
Following conditions, BITA in support UNICEF started a project titled “Promoting psychosocial wellbeing
through cultural initiatives for protecting Rohingya adolescents from abuse, exploitation and GBV
(PPCIPR)” since December 2017 that continued till March 2018. The project accommodated the adolescent
boys and girls aged 12-18 years in cultural initiatives. Directly10,000 adolescents of Moinarghona, Hakimpara, Unchiprang refugee camps participated in the activities . Total participants were divided into 400 groups. Among them, 70% were girls while boys 30%. The decidedly addressing issues making a concept of awareness towards them were like so: Child marriage, polygamy, child trafficking and child labor, Gender based violence, drug addiction, radicalization, sexual and other violence. The whole process carried on by group orientation, processing socialization, skill development activities, develop social theatre production and in house and street drama performance. Attentiveness all the way through amusement among the adolescents getting free from panic was one of the important intentions. Simultaneously 2400 stimulating sessions were held involving 400 groups.
Block leaders( BLOCK MAJHI), parents and religious leaders also included with all the efforts. For each group, two mentors were selected. Five- day skill development trainings were held with them for expertise and capacitate of total 800 mentors. Afterwards they shared all about the views and know-how with the own group. Rousing sessions and expatriation process initiated them to set up 400 social theatre show on six in progress issues. Every single team staged a particular drama at the makeshift camp of Mainarghona, Hakimpara, and Unchiprang. A friendly Football Match was organized against drug addiction. More to the point an exemplary incident happened when through following sessions encouraged to stop a child marriage in the camp. To build capacity for effective implementation, BITA organized 3-days TOT on Facilitating Cultural Initiatives for Promoting Psychosocial well-
being of Rohingya Adolescents in Cox’s Bazar for Technical
Officers and 2-days orientation for Community Mobilizers. After completion of activities forty groups awarded for their performance out of the 400 groups. Colorful cultural program and discussion meetings were held in each 3 camps. Prize giving ceremony was graced by the presence of Camp officials & NGO personnel including Jannatul Ferdous Ruma, Program Officer, Child Protection, (UNICEF). In addition, a discussion meeting was arranged to enrich the glory of International Women Day with participation of Technical Officers and Community Mobilizers. World Theatre Day also observed with participation of Rohingya children and adolescents through colorful manners.
“Ananda School”:
Education centre for underprivileged slum children
Since 2017 Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts ( BITA) has been running the Urban Slum Children Education program through “Reaching Out- Of- School Children (ROSC) phase 2 project under the ministry of primary and mass education. Its aim is to ensure standard education and to resist drop out of slum areas’ school going children. Through this project totally fifty thousand unprivileged children, age group of 8-14 years, are getting education. This programme is providing facilities in 10 city corporation
slum areas’ children. BITA has established 40 Ananda schools at 21 wards of Chittagong City
Corporation area. Government endorsed 5650 children selected through various processes. The children are getting education in encouraging environment. They are acquiring educational materials like pen, pencil, text books, free of cost including stipend. Each student got total 2700 taka for nine months as stipend. Parents, government school teachers, local elected representatives, bank officers, managing committee of Ananda schools were present during the educational support distributed among the students. Foremost intention of the programme is to ensure education for unprivileged children and liberated them from the curse of child labour.
Uttering the above slogan this year BITA
celebrates the “International Women Day”.
Intending the success of the day three -day series program (6th March -8th March) have been taken
where most lucrative part was “The Football Match of Adolescents Girls”. The Match was held at
Beltoli Railway Housing Field of Pahartoli ward(9no). Along with the supportive youth team local journalist Md. Nuruddin Khan Sagar steered the match. Twenty two participants were divided into two groups –Red and Green. The match was drawn by 1-1. Then referee called for tie-breaker. The Green group won the match by 3-1 goals. At the end of the match, prizes were distributed among the players of both teams. This was the first opening sports of adolescent girls in this area. Local people from all walks of life enjoyed the match. They showed gratitude from the core of their hearts to Action Aid Bangladesh and BITA for this pretty observance.
“Time is now: Rural
and Urban activists transforming
Women’s lives”
Sultana one of the participants of the match
expressed her joy, “I am really excited being a
contestant of the match. I enjoy the freedom of playing in open field and wish to continue in
future.”
Another participant Tahmina echoed the same
opinion, “Yes! I also want to play up coming days.
Several times I watched female football and cricket match on television. For the first time I am in the
field as a player”.
Match referee Nuruddin Khan Sagor also stated his aspiration of further involvement with such different initiatives for adolescent girls.
National Day Celebration
At present advent of violent extremism where youth are largely involved, violent extremism and radicalization could become a huge threat of our independence and sovereignty. In the context of Chittagong, a good numbers of socio- cultural organizations existing. But most
of them are not proactive. That’s why BITA
who carries a large amount of experiences of work for a long time with grass root people as well as community people to deal with PVE issues using alternative culture based approach. Most important intention was to promote the idea of tolerance for diverse judgment.
Promote tolerance and diversity among the youth
With the support of USAID’s Obirodh, BITA
organized a one-day program to engage 300 youth through different methods, including puppet show, local song performance, open discussion, and quiz on PVE issues. The initiative was taken by a platform Youth Idea Chittagong. The platform celebrated the 48th Independence and National Day 2018 on 26 March at Chittagong Muslim Hall ground. More than 300 Youth participants from the 21 wards in Chittagong City Corporation participated in this occasion. Youth volunteers took the responsibility to provide T-Shirt, badge & national flag to every participant. Participant filled the registration form from five booths.
The program started with recitation of national anthem and paid tributes to the martyrs and veteran freedom fighters of the Liberation War 1971 and remembered the martyrs through various programs. Organizer wants to enthuse youth on the spirit of liberation war, PVE Messages in festive manner. The
platform campaign conceives a slogan “ Together with diversity”. Former professor of Chittagong
Women College, Anowara Alam gave the inauguration speech. ABM Abu Noman, chairman, law department of Chittagong University discussed with youth in participatory way on their experience, questions, ideas & thoughts. The platform also arranged local folk song, quiz, discussion with youth and attractive puppet show.
Providing Health camp to older people at Ramgoti upazila
BITA has been working with communities in support with The HelpAge International aiming to reserve the rights and resist the poverty and increase the skilfulness
- of
- senior citizen of Ramgati
Upazila in Lakshmipur District.
The project is heading as “Building
- Preparedness
- of
- Vulnerable
Communities through Inclusive
- Disaster
- Risk
- Reduction
Initiatives”.
Under the project of (IDR-2) BITA operated the three- day long campaign of health camp. The health camp was organized in collaboration with Ramgati Upazila Health Complex. Through the health Camp, 305 senior persons including male and female facilitated with free health service and taka 500 to each person at 6no Char Algi, 8no Borokheri, 9no char Gazi union. Eight MBBS doctors provided service. First Day camp was launched by the presence of Md. Abdul Ali, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Ramgati, Lakshmipur district.
That day camp was presided by Md. Zakir Hosssain Chy, chairman, 6no Char Algi Union Parishad, Ramgati, Lakshmipur. On second day at health camp, the chief guest was Abdul Wahed, Chairman of Upazila Parishad. Dr. Nahid Raihan from upazila health complex, Female vice chairman Marzia Begum also visited the camp.Third Day Tawhidul Islam, Chairman of 9 no Char Gazi union presided the camp function. On the part of BITA project officer of IDR Md. Ibrahim and volunteers were present. All invited guests and advantaged senior persons appreciated BITA for such initiative. They expressed their prospect to do continue for further effort with BITA.
Theatre In Education (TIE)
Joyful education for combating human trafficking & safe migration
TIE (Theatre In Education)- classroom based Theatrical performance – organized to educate school students about combating human trafficking & safe migration issues. In this regard, one TIE production made by BITA at BITA Culture &Communication Trust (BCCT), Patiya. The activities are taking place under Bangladesh Counter Trafficking-In-Persons (BC/TIP) program which is supported by USAID and WINROCK INTERNATIONAL . Basically TIE is a popular & exceptional cultural tools to help and give support to learning process of interactive theatre. The production making process consisting the steps: issue analysis, message finalization, story making, script write up, materials making, rehearsal and audio recording etc.
In this intervention, two youth cultural artists directly performed. Among them one is present peer leader at Chhohora Union, Patiya upazila, and another one is BITA cultural resource person. BC/TIP project staff and cultural artists were also closely involved.
In the mean-time, 8 TIE shows were presented in front of 5 schools’ students at different unions of Patiya
upazila. The schools were Myfulalabir School & College, Haidgaon High School, Alfa Karim High School, Chhonhora High School and Sarodchoran High school. Total 521 viewers including male &female students,
teachers, SMC members, BC-TIP project staff and respective local persons observed these shows. It’s
noteworthy that the presentations made before students of standard Eight & Nine.
Steps toward building skills and creating job opportunities of Youth
Reaching Out-Of- school Children (ROSC) phase -2
Youths are the most important sector of Bangladesh for constructing a developed country. Under the ministry of Primary and Mass
Education, a project titled “Reaching Out-Of-
school Children (ROSC) phase -2 is doing collaboration with BITA offering a pre- vocational schooling of youth people for budding skilfulness since last 24th March, 2018 at Ratnapalang union
of Ukhiya upazila in Cox’s Bazar district. This
project is running at 90 upazila for providing training of 25000 youth trainee, aged 15 – 22 years, of all over the country. Essentially the poor unprivileged students who dropped out after standard five are getting the opportunity of three months instruction on multiple sectors. All these
facilities are free of cost. It’s noteworthy that
BITA already completed training of 200 trainees on five different segments.
Recently the huge influx of Rohingya people affected the host community of Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s
Bazaar. They are facing huge difficulties as price hike, joblessness, and scarcity of essential belongings of daily life. Particularly the underprivileged people are suffering mostly. To face all these awkward and to create the scope of employment of youth, BITA & Govt of Bangladesh jointly running the program over
the six unions of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazaar district; offering training for 1800 trainee.
On 24th March’18 a training centre at
Valukia palang was inaugurated by Md. Khairul Haq, chairman of Ratnapalang union. The centre endowing with training of four trades as follows: Electronics & Mobile phone servicing, Petrol & diesel Engine Mechanics, Electric House wiring and Solar System, and Beauty Care. 100 apprentices are receiving training here. Under four skilled trainers this training will be
continuing till June, 2018. “Save the
Children International” is providing technical assistance in this project funded by
“The World Bank”. Within couple of days,
high officials of Government part and the donor organizations have visited the centre. Alongside on last 24th April,18 another training centre started at Sadar union of Teknaf upazila. The centre was launched by deputy project director of ROSC Md. Nuruzzaman Mallick. Here 100 apprentices are also receiving training.
PVT(Pre Vocational skills Training) Graduation Course
Certification ceremony for PVT graduates
- Certification
- ceremony
- has
- been
organized by BITA on 28th March, 2018 at Upazila Parishad hall room of Lama upazila under Bandarban Hill District. In the occasion, Md. Nuruzzaman Mollick, deputy project director of ROSC phase-2 attended as chief guest. The age of the training participants are 15-22 years old who have completed the level of class five and involved with ROSC phase -1 program of Ananda school Education and Shishu Kalyan Trust (SKT) Program.
The objective of the training is to increase of vocational and technical employability skills of youths and involving with job market. BITA implemented PVT program operating 4 trade based skill development where 100 youth trainees completed the 3 months duration courses successfully. Among them, 75 are male and 25 are female participants. Each trade is designed for 72 days where each participant obtained skill on particular trade and able for employment. In the 2nd batch, the trades were: Electronics & Mobile phone
Servicing, Beauty Care, Electric House wiring & Solar System and Petrol & diesel engine mechanics.
In the certification ceremony Shahida Begum, Program Director of EYE, Save the Children International, was present as special guest. In the occasion, Mirza Nishat, deputy programme director of EYE, Save the Children International, Md Moshrakul Alam, Assistant Director of ROSC phase-2 and Jesmin Taslima Banu, Assistant Director of ROSC phase-2 project were also present and delivered their speech in front of graduate students.
Sisir Dutta, Executive Director of BITA gave the welcome speech. The delighted graduate youth received the certificate from the guests. Ashok Barua, Focal Person of BITA, informed that BITA already started to link the graduates with the job market. Most graduates are accommodating them with self employment and
- group
- based
- business
initiatives, and some of graduates engaged with salary based employment.
Peace and security are integral parts of human rights, fundamental freedom and poverty alleviation. To fully develop and utilize human qualities, talents and conscience we need a peaceful and safe social atmosphere that could satisfy human needs appropriately.
Appreciation of youth’s
power working for peace and harmony
Unfortunately, it has seen in Bangladesh that extremism has taken a new shape for the last couple of years as we had to behold some of the incidents where we have experiences that a large numbers of youth are participated in the horrific and dastardly terrorism attack in the country.
Insecurity, tension, restlessness increased in people’s mind. So it’s important to proactive the
youths power evoking of culture of harmony, open-mindedness and human rights for the equitable and sustainable national development. From realization of context, BITA feels to address violent
extremism issue through the proposed project “Youth Engagement of Preventing and Responding to Violence Extremism through Cultural Action of Puppet in Chittagong City Corporation” with
active participation of youth to reduce their vulnerabilities and engagement in creative and nationbuilding activities.
“To promote social harmony through youth engagement for reducing risks of VE” is determined
as goal of the piloting project for the 10 months duration on May 2018 to February 2018 covering of 2 numbers of Chittagong City Corporation wards of 12 no. Saraipara and 13 no. Pahartoli. It was intervention of forming a youth based puppet groups where about 100 are involved aged of 15-25 years old and they would be capacitated on puppet based interventions and ultimately a community level awareness campaign happed on preventing and countering violence extremism through puppet intervention. A total of 32 (thirty two) planed puppet shows are performed in community and institutional level where around 10,000 direct audiences observed the puppet shows. Through the puppet shows story the context are visualized how the youths motivated and involving them into extremism, its impact and sense of family and community level awareness
initiatives etc. It’s a well appreciated aesthetic puppet production where developed counter
narratives, familiar story journey, common characters in our everyday life imposed into the production recognized by the audiences and another 6 (six) shows also performed in different of prestigious spaces.
Approximate Direct audiences ratio
- Male
- Female
42%
58%
At the completion of the project there are good amount of lesson learn and recommendation were found community level less information and awareness on PVE, community youth have intention to get involve with creative action but less practice initiatives in community, more creative campaigning and using of ICT media could support to get involve of more community youths as audiences for observing puppet shows, the form of puppet could support to participate adolescent girls and female youth at community level satisfactory. Under the project duration the dropout rate of female in puppet team is less, different development issue such as drug addiction, domestic violence and child marriage also can relate with the issue of PVE and that could support to build a balance approach and using of ICT support within the campaign could support to the youth for developing of creative and critical thinking ability etc. BITA believes that working for peace and harmony such kind of intervention and new creative program ideas should be explore and speared out over the country. By the support of Democracy International BITA implemented the piloting project. BITA would like to show thanks and gratitude to all relevant parties and stakeholders who supported to achieve the interventions.
