A Dream Comes true: First community-led initiative at ChorBin Para

[Sneha Farzana]

We have started individual salt conversation in Charbeen Para from March 31.  Since the women of Charbeen Para have come across the river and are involved in other occupations including flower selling, almost all of them expressed concern about their small children at home during the FGD.  Many women talk about becoming more involved with city occupations and choosing a career of their own while doing SALT, but for some women it is not possible to go outside the home.  They suggest if they can help in any way to look after the children of other women who leave behind young children.  When everyone's opinion was asked in the monthly meeting of Arshirbad, they all agreed to open a small pre-school for children to receive education through play.  When they sought the help of Arshirbad in this regard, Been Para facilitator Sumita Didi agreed to teach the children. 

On the third day of school opening I took time off to visit the school.  I went to Bin Para in the morning to satisfy my curiosity.  As soon as I entered there, the kids greeted me together which I really liked. Some children also recited poem.

I did not expect the people of Bin Para to take such a quick step not only individually but also collectively through SALT.. It was their dream that their children learn from early childhood, but most of the been para women are uneducated. So they could not teach their children that way. They kept telling me that we had never thought about it that way before talking to Sumita.It did not occur to us that one can participate in the development of society even sitting at home.  They thank Sumita Didi and Arshirbad, as well as GFC for this project.  They hope that in the future they can do more good work together for the development of Bin Para.