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ASPIRE
Your Monthly News & Updates
January 2017
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Lots of good stuff is happening at OBAT and you are behind it!
Aspire is now being released monthly to keep you informed of the never-ending good news and the impact you are making.
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Camps abuzz with visitors!
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Mr. Khan with OBAT's Dhaka School student
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At this time of the year, OBAT's President, Mr. Anwar Khan and so
me of OBAT's board, volunteers and supporters are usually visiting the camps. Mr. Khan spends his time visiting
with
camp residents to find out their needs, meeting potential and current partners, monitoring and evaluating projects as well as training the youth and the staff.
This year, he was joined by his daughter, Ms. Arishaa Khan, a long time volunteer for OBAT and his brother Dr. Rezwan Khan who serves on the board.
Among other things, Mr. Khan, was the key speaker/trainer of a day long training event.
This training program was aimed towards inculcating further leadership qualities among the OBAT Helpers team and was based on the leadership laws of John Maxwell. Some of the photos from his ongoing visit can be viewed at:
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Cover page of 2015 annual report |
Annual Report for 2015 shows enormous impact
We are excited to bring to you our second electronic annual report for the year 2015. Read about all the impact you helped us to generate at this link: bit.ly/OBAT2015AnnualReport
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We are a .NGO!
OBAT's website now has acquired the .ngo domain name granted to only credible and validated non profits. According to
https://enset.ngo, the only non-profit registrar for .ngo domains, "
The domain provides instant credibility to organizations who want to join a movement that is promoting increased accountability, transparency, and connections in the communities they serve and the potential donors they seek."
At present, both obathelpers.org and obathelpers.ngo will direct you to our website.
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The entrance to the bathroom |
New bathroom for women
A new bathroom for women was constructed at Trade school, Halishaher Camp in Chittagong. Access to private bathing facilities is severely limited for camp women. The new bathroom will provide some welcome relief to women needing such facilities and is expected to
benefit one hundred and five women.
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An eye exam is underway |
With the support of HCI (Human Concern International ) and RS Foundation, OBAT organized a cataract surgery program for the camp residents of Khalispur.
Technical support was provided by CSS. Sixty-three cataract surgeries were conducted with the technical support of CSS (Christian Service Society). We are very thankful to our supporting and implementing partners for conducting this project.
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Partnership underway with JADE
JADE
(Japan Association of Drainage and Environment)
is a
Japanese
NGO that has been working in Bangladesh since 2004. It designs and implements sustainable solutions for water and sanitation.
Plans are underway for OBAT to partner with JADE on not only creating awareness but to develop a strategic partnership on sustainable sanitation projects, as well. JADE's expertise could be invaluable to developing sanitation projects in the camps and both organizations are hoping to build a strong relationship in the future.
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A class at NLJ School |
OBAT to take over elementary section for NLJ High School
Previously, OBAT was running grade sixth through eighth of NLJ High School while PLAN Bangladesh, another NGO, operated the playgroup class through grade five. With the phase out of PLAN's support, OBAT has now assumed the financial responsibility of the grades previously supported by PLAN.
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Successful PEC students from Halishaher School, with Mr. Khan |
OBAT's students shine in the
PEC and JSC exam results
The results for the public PSC (Primary School Certificate) and JSC (Junior School Certificate) exams were announced recently. Collectively, four hundred and ninety one students took these exams from all of OBAT's educational institutions. Thirty-five percent of these students passed with an A grade.Congratulations and well done to all the graduating students!
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Mr. Iqbal (front, right) visiting an OBAT preschool |
Mr. Aftab Iqbal visits the camps
Mr. Aftab Iqbal (brother-in-law of Dr. Iqbal Zafar Hamid, APPNA's President-Elect) arrived in Dhaka in December from Bay area, California. Among the projects he visited were, OBAT's BLS High School and Mirpur Preschool. He also met with OBAT's scholarship students as well as Think Tank volunteers to discuss their growth and future projects. We are very thankful to him for his time and interest toward making a difference in the camps.
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Middle: Mr. Shahjahan |
Empowerment creates future income stream
In Chittagong, a rickshaw was provided to Mr. Shahjahan under the Self Empowerment Program. Mr. Shahjahan lives in Sardar Bahadur Nagar's camp and was in financial distress due to lack of employment. By operating this rickshaw for public transportation, he will now have access to a stable and reliable source of income.
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Human Centered Design Training for OBAT's staff
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Sunny conducting the training
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Sunny
, OBAT's first executive intern conducted an effective training on HCD (Human Centered Design) to our tutors, volunteers, and teachers at OBAT Primary School in Khulna in mid December. The training was focused on building creative confidence through problem-solving, brainstorming, prototyping and implementation of social solutions.
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The MOU signing |
Renewed partnership feeds more school children
Euglena, a Japanese company has been providing nutritional biscuits to OBAT's Dhaka School kids under its Genki program. Under a recently renewed MOU, the company has extended its support to other schools includng OBAT BLS and OBAT NLJ High School as well as Mirpur Preschool. Under the terms of this MOU, Euglena will not just provide nutritional biscuits but also training and informational seminars for the schools' teachers during the year 2017. The goal is to solve malnutrition among the poverty-stricken camp children.
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Help OBAT through Facebook
Facebook's appeal can extend beyond posting selfies and tempting photos of meals. Now you can use the social media site to raise funds for charities as well! Imagine the ginormous impact if all of our donors created a fundraiser for OBAT on their personal Facebook pages and invited their Facebook family to participate!
We promise, it will take not more than five minutes of your time.
Check it out!
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Inspired? Click here to DONATE to our projects
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OBAT Helpers Inc. | 317.203.0603| contact@obathelpers.org |www.obathelpers.org
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