Maisha's family struggled in Dhaka's slums. Forced to leave school to support her family, she now dreams of becoming a nurse. COVID-19 worsened their situation, but thanks to your support, Maisha could attend classes at the Drop-In centre and work toward a brighter future for herself and her community.
Drop-In Centres
Providing a safe and enriching environment where street children can receive nutritious food, health and education.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
The Project
Street children in Dhaka, Bangladesh, face anguish and uncertainty, often separated from families or abandoned. With approximately 450,000 street children in the city, root causes include extreme poverty, family breakdown, parental death or illness, and abuse. These children are highly vulnerable to exploitation and child slavery. The Drop-In Centres provide a safe and enriching environment where street children can receive a nutritious meal, education and other basic essential items, like clothes and shoes.
Objectives
- Provide healthcare access to street children who are unable to pay for medical care.
- Provide nutritious food to support children’s brain development and health.
- Offer psychological support for children dealing with alcohol or drug abuse, anxiety, or depression.
- Facilitate social support and recreational activities for informal and fun interactions.
- Ensure access to education so children can learn basic literacy and numeracy skills.
With your support, the Drop-In Centres run by International Needs Bangladesh provide a safe and enriching environment where street children can receive nutritious food, education, social and psychological support, recreational activities, health care services, bathing facilities and legal aid. We currently support three centres: Kamalapur Railway Station, Banasree and KDIC.
Impact
More than 500 children per week come through the Drop-In centre in Dhaka. The programme has helped reduce child labour by improving socio-economic, health and nutrition status of children.
Annually, we need to raise NZD 50,000 to continue providing a save environment for street children in Dhaka. Your support can make a real difference in their lives – please donate today and help us reach our goal.
Farzana’s journey: A path to education and a brighter future
Farzana, a seven-year-old from a Banasree slum in Bangladesh, lives in an unsafe hut and walks far for drinking water. Her father’s uncertain income as a rickshaw driver can’t cover their needs. Farzana works as a helper, earning a small amount each week, equivalent to about what a person in the USA would pay for a small latte at a coffee shop, to support her family.
International Needs Bangladesh created the Drop-In centres for children like Farzana. They arrange for her to have time off from work to attend the centre, where she can play, learn, bathe, and receive basic education and Christian nurture.
Farzana dreams of becoming a health worker. Imagine a world where every child can get an education, regardless of their family’s circumstances. Your support, whether sponsoring a child’s education or supporting ministries worldwide, helps turn this vision into reality.
Thank you for believing in these children and giving them the opportunity to explore their God-given potential.
Donate today to provide street children with a safe environment where they can receive nutritious food, education, and a place to simply be children.
We aim to raise $50,000 annually to enhance the socio-economic, health, and nutritional status of vulnerable street children in Bangladesh. Your support can empower these children and help break the cycle of poverty.
See the impact YOUR support has
