It's my pleasure to write about social development journey of women and children in southern part of Bangladesh through Banchte Shekha. The development journey was not so easy while Banchte Shekha has started its journey in 1976 with few ignorant women. Dr. Angela Gomes, Founder Executive Director of Banchte Shekha had started this development journey for the women with empty hands. The objective of the journey was to rescue and set the vulnerable women free from all forms of violence in the family and the society. The ultimate goal of the journey was to ensure equal dignity of women in the family and society and empower them economically. So that women can enjoy all rights and live with equal dignity in the family and society.
About Banchte Shekha: Banchte Shekha is one of the largest women and children development organizations and its programmatic strategy is “women and children focused, particularly for the “marginalized women” for building minimum harmony and balance between women and men in the local communities.
Banchte Shekha’s Strategic Aims: In order to fulfill the Mission, Banchte Shekha seeks to ensure the capacity of the poor communities:
· Social Empowerment Sector: To combat all social injustice and inequalities particularly for women, children socially disadvantaged and excluded people.
· Quality Basic Service Sector: To improve access to and quality of basic services for the poor women, children and community people.
· Economic Empowerment Sector: To improve food security and livelihoods through skills development, capacity building and income generation.
· Climate Change, Disaster Management and Food Security & Livelihood: To adapt to climate change vulnerability and to mitigate disaster risk.
Thematic Areas of Work: Banchte Shekha had been working with thematic focus on social & human rights education, economic development through income generating activities and protecting rights of women and children in community through legal awareness and legal aid.
The specific intervention to achieve these thematic focus: Banchte Shekha has implemented wide ranges of activities which includes, creating awareness, combating violence against women & children, skill development with soft loan support , ensure justice through strengthening local government, promoting good governance at the local level and promotion of human rights awareness & supporting with legal aid, advocacy, networking and campaign on Domestic Violence Act 2011, Hindu Marriage Registration, increase and effective participation of women in the different standing committees of Union Parishad and Pourasava, and Activation of ADR mechanism in democratic way.
Main activities of the organization: The main activities of the organization includes - Awareness raising activities on different issue, Human, women and child rights issues, Good governance & public awareness on electoral process, Access to Justice issue and Women Empowerment, Water and Sanitation / WASH, Health and Nutrition , Humanitarian Response / Emergency Response and Relief Distribution, Food Security and Livelihood, Agricultural for Sustainable Development, Education, Health, Hygiene and Disability & Therapy issues, Leprosy awareness, Need based activates and technology transfer issues (fishery, agriculture, poultry and livestock, etc.), Skill Development and Capacity Building, Disaster and environmental issues (DRR and CCA), Shelter / Housing and Micro Finance / Micro Credit Program.
Finally I do convey my heartfelt thanks and greetings to all for effortless supports and encouragements for continue our journey for the development of women and children.
Mr. Palash Hubert Gomes
Executive Director
Banchte Shekha
