HN Issue 12: Improving Access for All

MYMENSINGH, BANGLADESH

Access to education is not always a given in the developing world, but part of the long-term goal in each FH partner community is accessible education. Child sponsors, parents, teachers and the children themselves all play a part in making these promising changes.

Gender inequality is a major issue in this area, and women and their children are not given an equal opportunity at education. FH is teaching mothers about their value as women and is helping them earn an income, and now many families send both their sons and daughters to school!

Another group that is discriminated against are the Horijon, part of the “untouchables” in the Hindu caste system. Teachers didn’t realize that Horijon children were just as capable of learning as the other students, and so never encouraged them or invested in them. FH began encouraging these children and families to reach their God-given potential, and they began to excel. Teachers were both thrilled and shocked to see them do so well at their exams — placing in the top-ten percentile of their classes!