Jagorani Chakra Foundation - Bangladesh

Jagorani Chakra FoundationJagorani Chakra FoundationJagorani Chakra Foundation’s “Haven”:
Children and Youth that were Born in Brothels are Empowered!
justgeneration.ca / PWRDF partner The Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF) began in 2002 as a small program for children born in brothels. Now, JCF has a goal of creating facilities to rehabilitate and care for children born in brothels, and to provide them with proper food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare facilities. At the onset of the program, children from the Jessore, Fultola and Magura brothels were brought to the shelter home. Currently, there are 83 children in the shelter home, which is named “Children’s Haven”.

Among the residential children, 53 are going to an outside school and the remaining are studying in the shelter home school. There are 4 tutors who assist the children in their study. The children are learning singing, dancing and public speaking as a part of their curriculum. They are also learning computer applications and receiving training on clothing tailoring and candle-making. 10 children have received training on Small Engine Mechanics from the nearby Christ Church Trade School.

Older people with economic privilege occupy much of the Bangladeshi cultural arena and there is often minimal space for the involvement and empowerment of youth and children, especially youth and children born into such circumstances. However, the children of the 'Children's Haven' Programme are learning to participate fully in society through the amazing work of the Jagorani Chakra Foundation. Their achievements have brought a positive return into the community, which has seen the rehabilitation, empowerment and inclusion of the children. A concrete example of this empowerment is that one participant from the JCF shelter home was recently elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Child Parliament and another was selected as Member of the Parliament!

A Micro-credit Fair was arranged at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Hall from the 5th to the 8th of March 2007 and 82 selected NGOS participated at that event. Jagorani Chakra Foundation's cultural team that was comprised of the 'Children's Haven' Program children won the ‘best cultural team' prize and the Nobel laureate of Bangladesh Prof. Dr. Md. Yunus handed over the crest and certificate to the JCF team.

Jagorani Chakra Foundation has a plan to empower the children/youth until they reach the age to 18 years. After 18 years of age, some will continue their education and JCF will support them in these pursuits. Children who do not go for post-secondary education can engage in jobs with JCF and other like-minded organizations.

Jagorani Chakra Foundation receives support from The Primates World Relief & Development Fund (PWRDF) – The Anglican Church of Canada.

http://www.jcfbd.org/