BANGLADESH
T hriving COMMUNITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2021
OUR STORY
Dr. Larry Ward was struck by the pain and sadness of knowing that thousands of children die each day from hunger-related causes. His work in relief and development opened his eyes, and he knew he had to do something more. In 1971, he founded Food for the Hungry (FH) based on a simple premise: If children died one at a time, he could help them one at a time. Thus began his lifelong mission to serve the world’s most vulnerable people in the hard places. Our organization’s name, Food for the Hungry, was inspired by Psalm 146:7, which reads:
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.” Psalms 146:7
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THE of
FH
VALUES (The principles that guide us. Our calling and response) We follow Jesus Our work is relational We invest wisely and focus on results We serve with humility We pursue beauty, goodness and truth
VISION All forms of human poverty ended worldwide.
PURPOSE Together we follow God’s call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty.
FH Bangladesh
MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR
The year 2021 was rather a blessed year for us because we continued to serve the most vulnerable people and communities by God’s grace during a time of immense uncertainty and challenges. COVID-19 and its aftermath have also put us at risk of reversing all our regular programs, while our humanitarian response program at Cox’s Bazar including three facilities in the camps and a community health program continued as a life-saving project. In addition to that with our five decades of history of humanitarian response, disaster relief, and community transformation work, we have quickly mobilized resources and launched COVID-19 response program for the people whose lives and livelihoods have been severely disrupted. I am encouraged by the fact that FH has been working with different stakeholders to mitigate the virus spread while also sustaining a long-term vision of graduating communities from extreme poverty. Our program interventions have strategically enabled us to use donor grants in order to drive transformative changes; from building new relationships with several agencies, to empowering men and women to become economically self-reliant, to facilitating communities to practice hygiene in 2021. I would like to express my gratitude for our donors' unshaken support, generosity and continuing an enduring relationship with FH Bangladesh. Also, I thank each and everyone of my colleagues for working hand-in-hand throughout the country, because without you we would not be able to fulfill our mission as an organization and as a team. Keep moving forward to see the exciting news that happened in the communities in 2021 despite the pandemic! Samaresh Nayak Country Director 4 | Annual Report 2021
FH Bangladesh
OUR APPROACH We believe that poverty is complex and ever-changing. We believe that ending poverty requires more than just providing raw resources. Our approach is holistic, meaning that we seek to end ALL forms of human poverty by addressing a person’s entire life. Our solutions for programmatic development address the physical, spiritual and relational needs of vulnerable people. We work towards a world without poverty through intentional and purposeful community development. Our approach allows us to partner with local leaders to develop transformative solutions, which are both sustainable and implemented at the hands of the communities themselves. We have four phases for community development that we believe create a foundation for resilience and self-sufficiency. We enter communities with the intention of graduating them in approximately 10-12 years. Our goal is to walk alongside communities so that they’re able to thrive once we leave.
FEATURED PROJECTS Health, Nutrition and WASH Education Livelihood Leadership and sustainability
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PHASE 1: DISCOVERY Food for the Hungry(FH) enters a community and seeks to walk with, listen, learn, assess potential risks and understand the needs and challenges of the people who live there, including how they impact the children.
PHASE 2: GROWTH Along with community leaders and local governments, FH helps to develop a plan of action and begins to train and build up teachers and community members to improve the lives of children through livelihood programs, educational structure, the provision of life-saving resources, and planning for potential threats.
PHASE 3: SUPPORT FH staff serve as mentors for the community members, helping them execute development projects, assisting where children are most impacted. FH staff walk with the community to implement solutions that tackle the communities’ biggest challenges in health, education, livelihoods, agriculture, spiritual development, and disaster risk reduction practices.
PHASE 4: FLOURISH FH begins to assess the success of programs by evaluating the positive impact on the children, while also creating a sense of ownership and independence. We’re beginning our preparations to exit the community.
GRADUATION After walking through each phase with a community, we celebrate graduation and exit the community. FH Bangladesh
HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND WASH GOAL
FHB Health sector’s overall goal is “Improved Health and Nutrition Status of Mothers and Children” “During the pandemic, FH has taught us a lot of things such as wearing masks properly, avoiding public places, maintaining social distances, and frequent handwashing. I would like to thank FH for standing alongside all of us in the midst of suffering.” — Umme Shafiya (Registered Child)
FHB has several purposes and activities at the community level to improve health and nutrition status of mothers and children. It focuses on three specific areas:health, nutrition, and WASH. Activities included mainly behavior change and direct delivery in WASH. The cascade group methods that FH pioneered or developed are now in use in many countries worldwide. FH Bangladesh promotes appropriate Umme Shafiya health behavior through the cascade groups because appropriate health behavior can save lives. FH cascades critical health messages and helps the community to practice. These include basic health and nutrition messages for mothers and children, and messaging on basic hygiene and medical practices. Additionally FH ensures that members are aware of services offered by the government. Staff work with young and expecting mothers to identify challenges as well as help them by sharing positive maternal and child health behaviors and practices. Currently, FH has 1480 volunteer partner health mother trainers working with over 13,125 expecting and young mothers. Other regular activities that helped FH communities reach their goals included WASH blocks in schools; sanitary latrines; tube well installations at the school,community and household level, deworming tablet distribution, different campaigns; nutrition campaign, day celebration also lead us to achieve our goal. 8 | Annual Report 2021
Hygiene has always been an important aspect of preventing sickness. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent hygiene practices have become more critical than ever. Global Handwashing day 2021 was observed at schools and in all FH communities. FH identified ‘’Handwashing Hero’’ from school students. Rallies, discussion sessions, quiz competition, and handwashing demonstration sessions Installed billboard about pregnancy care were organized. It was an enjoyable day of learning for the students and community people. The community also prioritized access to handwashing stations in order to prevent sickness and disease. 37 permanent handwashing stations were installed, and 1,516 portable handwashing stations were set up at markets, mosques, and road intersections. Children in the area learned handwashing steps to maintain hygiene.
Global Handwashing Day Celebration-2021
In March 2020, FHB postponed regular health lessons and staff delivered awareness messages about COVID-19 to community leaders and members, which helped to curb the spread of the virus. Lessons on symptoms of the virus, mask usage, and good hygiene practices have helped to lessen the spread. Starting in August 2021 we resumed cascade group training on a regular basis maintaining the health precautions in all communities.
FH Bangladesh
Community members using FH-provided handwashing station
Raising awareness about COVID-19
Children using permanent handwashing station
REGULAR HEALTH PROGRAMS IN FY21 In 2021, FH Bangladesh provided pregnant mothers and children lessons on nutritious and accessible food, and the importance of supplementing their diets with vitamins. To orient age-appropriate feeding practices for children FH has arranged nutrition campaigns in our communities. Mothers especially below two-year age children's mothers came to the campaign and learned how to prepare age-appropriate nutritious food for their children. In Godagari Area Program, twelve girl-friendly WASH blocks are handed over in school which is funded by the Guernsey Overseas Aid &Development Commission. The WASH 10 | Annual Report 2021
blocks include a latrine, changing room for girls, and handwashing station. This project also facilitated menstrual hygiene behavior change lessons for community adolescent girls. School students and authorities convey their gratitude to FH for providing the WASH facilities in the school. It also helps to create a better menstrual hygiene time for school girls. Forty mothers trained on making low-cost sanitary napkins in this GOAC project. Other WASH activities are also implemented on a regular basis. Those WASH facilities included community latrines, tube wells , and handwashing stations.
Girls reading toilet hygiene rules
A health campaign focused on gynecological disease was held in different communities. Women with this problem received a free checkup from a specialist doctor. Medicine and counseling services were given to all participants.
Training on making low cost sanitary napkin
FH arranged a coordination meeting with the health facility center. In this meeting, both FH and the health facility center introduced their activities and provided service to the community. FHB also distributed some hygiene materials, WASH facilities, and constructed a waiting room in the Community Clinic for better service.
The pandemic has left a wake of uncertainty in many countries across the world, including Bangladesh. To help deal with new mental health challenges, FH provided lessons to our savings group members to learn how to reduce stress through activities like gardening and how to communicate their feelings with others. 1,920 participants attended these lessons which helped them to learn to prevent stress.
FH Bangladesh
Face Mask Distribution
COVID-19 awareness message delivery using loudspeaker
Due to the pandemic situation, we had to postpone the annual health checkup of registered children until last year, but at the end of FY21, all communities organized annual health checkups where children went through an overall health checkup. After that, we ensured further treatment for those who required it. There were 35children who have been supported financially with minor and major medical treatment. They are having a healthy life.
Partho and his mother became happy after getting medical support
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ACTIVITIES:
7,258 group members received COVID-19 prevention messages 1,553 portable and permanent handwashing stations are installed 1,920 Community members attended lessons to prevent stress 2,527 individuals attended demonstrations on washing hands properly, wearing face masks and making soapy water for cleaning
2,865 community members received face masks 24,565 Billboards installed and leaflets distributed to create awareness on Covid-19 prevention
5,023 children received hygiene kits 164,325 participants received deworming pills
FH Bangladesh
EDUCATION GOAL
Improved holistic development of child through early childhood intervention for first nine years of life “The children were getting bored at home because of the ongoing lockdown and school closure. In such a situation, we could not understand how to keep them at home and continue their studies. In this case, FH has moved forward to continue their study in the child's home in a different way which is very commendable. Thanks to FH for this.” —Mst. Fahima Begum (mother of Arifa, Badhon ECDC)
BRIEF OVERVIEW/ HISTORY Previously the FH Bangladesh Education program emphasized on adult literacy activities as the illiteracy rate among the adults was high at that time. FH has run this community based literacy program using the “Friends in Village Development Bangladesh” (FIVDB) literacy materials, which primarily benefits women. After completion of Fahima Begum the literacy course, FH provides a “Box Library” for the newly literate women. Through the literacy program they not only achieve literacy skills but also get some life skills training. After introducing the main model of FH transformational development CFCT (Child Focused Community Transformation), FH reorganized that child development and community transformation had been part of programs. The first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their development. It’s important to learn to socialize, communicate, and play during this time. That’s why FH Bangladesh prioritizes education through 78 Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC). In ECDCs, children aged three to five years old learn their alphabet, play games, recite poems, sing songs, and draw pictures. These activities set them up to succeed in their ongoing education.
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In 2019, introduced the Education Cascade Group for the first time. Education cascade groups provide caregivers with different lessons on early child stimulation, toxic stress, school readiness, and early grade success. FH’s goal for the education sector is to see children reach their God-given potential through early child interventions in the first nine years of life. FH works with the caregivers, teachers, and community leaders. Along with these early-years’ child development centers (preschools), FH runs child libraries, child clubs and adolescent clubs to ensure the educational success of children at school and to reduce school dropout. FH also provides reading and learning spaces for the weaker and backward students with the collaboration of community members. To improve the children’s leadership skills, FH runs the child libraries. FH/B reorganized the child clubs and adolescent club programs and tried to bring more development opportunities for the children on social, cultural, spiritual (values) and leadership skills especially.
ECDC HOME-BASED TO COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVITY -SHIFTING TO NEW NORMAL
Community-based Activity
Home-based Activity
Initially the home-based activity guideline was developed for the parents so that they could continue their children’s learning activities at home amidst this Covid-19 situation.
FH Bangladesh
These guidelines have been delivered to as many as 2,000 children by 77 ECDC teachers. The teachers visited ECDC children at their homes twice a month to share lessons with students and their families, helping in the physical and mental development of the children. However, to cope with the prolonged school closures in 2021, FH Bangladesh developed new comprehensive guidelines for community-based activities. Here, the teacher formed four small study groups of ECDC students and taught them in a place nearby in the community. The lesson was based on the ECDC curriculum and yearly lesson plan developed by FH. The key activities of these lessons included preliteracy skills, pre-numeracy skills, creative works (rhymes, drawings and stories etc.) and physical exercise.
COMMUNITY-BASED TUTORIAL PROGRAM – LEARNING NEVER STOPS All the educational institutions faced prolonged school closure due to COVID-19 since last year. Millions of school going children remained out of school for a long time. Their learning is also hampered to a great extent. To address this learning gap, FH Bangladesh undertook an innovative program on a pilot basis in 2021, called the Community-based Tutorial Program. Its objective was to bring children to the study table, targeting the underprivileged primary level students of the working communities who need assistance in studying. The key activities under this program are to form small study groups of 10-15 students. An enthusiastic youth/adolescent volunteer from the same community who has teaching ability and at the same time interest to help younger students of his community was selected as a tutor.
EDUCATION CASCADE – EXPANDING THE EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING TOGETHER Cascade groups facilitate participatory learning in early childhood stimulation practices and improving the home learning environment. Modules include practical activities for caregivers to implement for every day learning with their children, for playing with their children, and encouraging caregivers to enroll their children in preschool. After a long break due to COVID-19, FH took initiatives to resume Phase 01 of education cascade group activities. Communities such as Balia, Suapur, Central Godagari and Char Borobila were included in that phase. However, by the end of FY21, FH had arranged staff training on the Education Cascade Group in Rajshahi for 16 | Annual Report 2021
Phase 02. This phase includes North and West Godagari, Taltoli South, and Borobogi Communities. Another 600 Cascade Group Volunteer -mother leaders are joining with FH in this phase.
BOOK READING AND ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION- AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO CHEER UP THE CHILDREN
Book reading competition
Essay writing competition
From the Education program FH has conducted book reading & essay writing competitions in FY21. Due to the ongoing school closure children were passing their days idly with no study and no learning activities. FH therefore began thinking about how to engage them in a productive way. Hence proposed these two consecutive competitions. For the book reading competition a brief syllabus was given earlier and on the appointed day, children gathered in a place for an examination. Based on their score FH presented them with prizes. In the essay writing competitions, children submitted their writings on an FH-assigned topic. Those essays were evaluated in the community offices maintaining the same rubric. Based on the score, children got attractive prizes. FH have received huge appreciation from the community people after conducting those competitions. Everyone including children, caregivers, and the local school teachers showed much appreciation to FH.
FH Bangladesh
LEARNING ACTIVITY FOR THE ADOLESCENTS- LET’S LEARN NEW THINGS & PRACTICE FH also arranged an innovative program called Let’s Learn New Things & Practice. It was a learning activity through fun and games- better known as infotainment. First, FH did a simple on-the-spot quiz competition for the adolescent participants in the community. Then FH played a communication game with them. The objective was to inform them about Let’s learn new things and practice COVID-19 and to teach them not to spread any rumors, rather share the authentic information. Really it was a joyful experience for them. Children enjoyed it a lot amidst the pandemic and school lockdown situation.
LET’S DRAW AS I WISH & DECORATE MY PLACE- A COLORFUL ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR KIDS
Child is drawing to decorate his home
FH distributed drawing exercise books and colored pencil boxes to all its ECDC’s 1,997 children. During the home-based learning days, children were engaged with a colorful exercise. They drew and painted as they wished and decorated their places with their own drawings, which was another fun part of this activity. 18 | Annual Report 2021
EDUCATION INFORMATION BOARD- BILLBOARD INSTALLATION Raising awareness among the community people regarding many important issues is one of our objectives. Reduction of child marriage and child labour is among those objectives. We have installed a number of Education Information Boards (billboards) in different communities so that the people become more aware about the adverse effects of it.
Billboard with the message “ Say NO to child marriage”
ARRANGING REGULAR CHILD CLUB SESSIONS
Child club meeting
FH has more than 320 child clubs, and thousands of children are under its coverage. Child promoters arrange the sessions weekly, and local child club members (children) from our working communities attend there in a joyful manner. Usually, each club gets this session monthly, or bi-monthly on an area basis.
CAMPAIGNS & DAY CELEBRATIONS Different campaigns have been observed under the Education sector. Last year we organized early marriage campaigns in some area programs. Also there were child development (CDP) days observed in different communities.
FH Bangladesh
NEW ECD CENTER OPENING IN DHAMRAI AREA PROGRAM
ECDC Inauguration
Three (3) new Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs) have been established in the Dhamrai Area Program, including, two in Extension South Dhamrai Community and one in West Dhamrai Community. A four-day teacher training has been provided to the new ECDC teachers. Following the training, regular ECD activities are going on there on a limited scale, maintaining all the safety precautions.
EDUCATION MATERIAL DISTRIBUTION IN ALL COMMUNITIES In 2021, FH Bangladesh distributed a set of education materials in all of its working communities. The set includes exercise books, pen, a water pot and a document carrier bag. These education materials have been distributed to as many as 13,600 registered children countrywide.
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ACTIVITIES
13,633 children received education materials 1,984 ECDC children participated in home-based activity 429 books were distributed to the communities and school libraries 512 children participated in the book reading and essay writing competition 5,671 child club members received values lessons on different issues 46 Information Billboards were installed to prevent child labour and early marriage 973 adolescent children, parents and community leaders participated in the awareness campaign on the ill effects of child marriage
463 children joyfully engaged in “Let’s learn new things and practice”
FH Bangladesh
LIVELIHOODS GOAL
Increased household income and its proper utilization
“Tailoring training not only contributed to economic growth but also brought awareness about the importance of maintaining hygiene and brought access to sanitary napkins in the community.” —Moriam Nessa (Program Participant)
Moriam Nessa
FH has been working for the sustainable development of the community. Across a range of issues and projects, FH’s approach is to involve communities in their own development. We believe society needs to be changed so that everyone, regardless of caste, class, culture, religion and gender, can live a life free from poverty to strengthen their livelihood. We want to make sure that the most marginalized, disadvantaged and vulnerable poor beneficiaries, including men, women and children's parents, have a fair chance to live a life of secure livelihood, happiness and dignity. 22 | Annual Report 2021
Cabbage field that transformed Hasem Ali’s life and now he runs a successful business.
Chamili Rani says, “I have come out feeling stronger and incredibly blessed for this small business!”
The majority of families in Bangladesh lost jobs or were unable to work or maintain an income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the food was available in the market, the price of food increased to the point where it was unaffordable. In order to meet the needs of families in communities, FH Bangladesh expanded the household garden and livestock distribution program. A few family members could meet the needs of their whole family by participating in a variety of activities like rice paddy cultivation, vegetable cultivation, poultry raising, cattle and goat rearing, or sewing clothes. Tailoring training has significantly benefited many participants. Many of them produced masks and sold those in the markets. This allowed them to earn and buy food for their family. In 2021, grocery items for small businesses were distributed among several small shop owners. By selling these goods, they were able to purchase more products for their store and keep their business moving. Also, community members received training and seeds to grow a wide variety of vegetables at home. Then in March 2021, FH distributed ducks and chickens to various households to start their own business. Each of these interventions promoted self-sustainability and resilience in the midst of hardship. FH Bangladesh
Duck rearing- Tanore
ACTIVITIES
229 women received training on tailoring 100 farmers received training on advance methodology of fish cultivation 104 men and women received training on livestock vaccination 618 members received training on poultry rearing 92 community people received training on entrepreneurship for small business 146 women received sewing machines 24 | Annual Report 2021
Small business impact
825 households received heifers/Goats 1,222 households received ducks/chicken 83 participants received auto-van/rickshaw (local transport) 221 households received grocery items for small business 155 fishermen received fish for cultivation 1,087 community people received training on homestead gardening FH Bangladesh
LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY GOAL Increased servant leadership, women’s participation, and community engagement, in implementing sponsorship communication and sustaining transformational development “During the pandemic, we got relief materials for the vulnerable people in our area through various means. Women of our CBO (Community Based Organization) have almost completed the construction work by accepting financial grants from the local representatives to build houses on the land purchased with our own money. We encouraged everyone in the area to wear masks during this critical situation. I hope that the women of our organization will one day act as representatives of the community and lead the society. I thank FH for helping us and developing leadership quality within us.” —Tauhida, CBO Leader
After facing a year full of uncertainty, it was more critical than ever for the vulnerable communities to have a strong core of leaders. Many men in the community suffered from job loss. This is especially damaging considering that in this region men often work for less than a living wage while cultural Tauhida (CBO leader) stigmas prevent their wives from seeking an income. Women have been encouraged to pursue their leadership skills, and during this crisis they came forward in big ways with FH. Women planted and utilized their household gardens to earn a living for their families. They mobilized public awareness campaigns on COVID-19, made and distributed masks, and contacted NGOs to acquire relief supplies for the most vulnerable families in the community.
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FH Bangladesh’s leadership training continues to support the leaders in our communities. Male and female leaders are stepping up to help eradicate child marriage, gambling, and other harmful practices in the community. FH staff members, together with these rising leaders, continue to promote unity within the community, encouraging those of different faiths to work together toward common development goals that will benefit everyone.
ACTIVITIES
386 men & women received training on leadership 143 CDC Leaders received training on community leadership 66 CDC Leaders received training on Community Transformation Cycle 40 Leaders received training on Disaster Risk Reduction 2,669 Savings Group Members received training on Values Lesson 1,090 Savings Group Members received training on Law Lesson
FH Bangladesh
OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE FINDING PURPOSE IN THE MIDST OF PAIN “I am grateful to FH as they have treated me very well in their hospital. I thank them for their care & nursing.” —(Beneficiary at Football field Primary Health Centre)
Since August 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, fleeing violence in Myanmar, settled in Cox’s Bazar District in Bangladesh, quickly establishing the largest refugee camp in the world. As of 30 November 2021, 913,660 Rohingya refugees resided in Cox’s Bazar of which 52% were children and 52% were female1. With a projected 5,000 new arrivals in 2022, and taking into consideration birth, onward movers and mortality rates, Bangladesh is expected to host over 943,600 Rohingya refugees by the end of 2022 in line with Joint Rohingya Response Plan (JRRP) planning figures2. Since 2017, with the technical support from Medical Teams International, FH has been providing comprehensive health services for Rohingya refugees and the host community in and around Kutupalong Refugee Camp.
1 2
UNHCR population factsheet 30th November 2021. https://hum-insight.info/plan/1082
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HEALTH Direct health services at 2 primary healthcare centres and 1 health poskey services offered, including OPD and IPD consultations, ANC and PNC services, maternity services, family planning services, laboratory services, EPI services, MHPSS consultations and referrals. Community health services include: HH health promotion visits, community health education sessions, community psychosocial group sessions, and individual-level focused psychosocial support. Systems strengthening activities include supporting referral hospitals with supplies and human resources for continuity of care.
COVID-19 RESPONSE JRRP operated a 50 bed capacity SARI ITC (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness- Isolation and Treatment Center) in camp 5. This admitted both suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 for case management as per ministry of health and family affairs guidance. A total of 1198 admissions were made of which 400 were confirmed cases resulting in a test positivity of 33.4% with a zero case fatality rate. JRRP achieved 98% COVID -19 vaccination coverage in round that targeted all adults aged 55 and above and average of 83% in the second round of vaccination that targeted adults aged 18-54. Among FH staff, 98% are fully vaccinated as per government guidelines.
FH Bangladesh
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Direct Health Services Total consultations (OPD and IPD) in FH catchment area stand at 104,831 for 2021 with the leading cause of morbidity in the under-five being URTI- (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) at 26% followed by skin infections that stands at 25%. The leading cause of morbidity in the above five years was chronic diseases standing at 29% followed by skin infections at 18%. The antenatal coverage stood at 8580 and the total deliveries were 720 which translated into 87.3% skilled attendance at birth. The postnatal coverage stood at 2963. MHPSS- (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) consultations stood at 2230 with the leading cause of morbidity among the mental health clients being severe emotional disorder (depression) and other non-specific psychological complaints.
Vaccination service
World Mental Health Day observation
Community Health Program A total of 13,181 households were reached and 27,039 referrals were made to different health facilities. Community health workers and community psychosocial volunteers conducted 8,956 and 6,970 community group sessions respectively covering 28,080 participants.
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Showing danger signs before, during and after delivery
Vaccination campaign
Systems Strengthening JRRP worked with different hospitals to support service delivery improvement for both refugees and host communities. The hospitals include Hope field hospital, Ukhiya health complex, and Sadar hospital. Security In 2021, Cox’s Bazar recorded several security incidents that included floods, fires, and riots including gunshots. Heartfelt incidents included: The death of Rohingya leader Muhibullah, age 50, who lived in Block-D6 of FDMN(Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) Camp-1 East on 29th September 2021 who was chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Writers (ARSPH) and was instrumental in the Rohingya repatriation process. Flash floods in July that damaged health facilities especially the Football field temporarily halted services for 2 days. Grave fire outbreak that ravaged camps 9, 8E, and 8W damaging shelters, health centers, schools. The incident claimed 15 lives and displaced over 10,000 households. FH Bangladesh
2021 HIGHLIGHTS A 5-bed maternity ward expansion was completed to accommodate increasing numbers of deliveries at the Football Field PHC-launched on June 22, 2021. JRRP responded to the fire incident in March reaching 801 individuals with focussed psychosocial and psychological support. JRRP successfully responded to the COVID-19 surge, deploying surge teams from June through December. JRRP grew its portfolio with grants from PRM multi-year funding to strengthen COVID-19 prevention and response structures. Figure: COVID-19 vaccination and campaign
COVID-19 vaccination and campaign
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ACTIVITIES
58,799 individual beneficiaries have been impacted by this project 19,891 children have been impacted by this project 13,181 households have been impacted by this project 1,198 admitted in SARI ITC both suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 104,831 total consultations (OPD and IPD) in FH catchment area 87% skilled attended deliveries in 2021 in JRRP catchment area compared to 64% in 2020.
FH Bangladesh
Staff Type CFCT Staff Emergency Response
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Male 120 108
Ratio 60% 54%
Female 79 92
Ratio 40% 46%
Total 199 200
Food for the Hungry (FH) believes all people are made in the image of God and should be treated with respect, honored for their intrinsic value, and cared for in ways that glorify God. Therefore, we introduced and trained 399 staff on safeguarding policy to protect all beneficiaries, including children and all vulnerable populations, from any harm that may be caused due to their involvement with FH programs. FH strives to provide an environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FH holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse between personnel and beneficiaries. FH commits to instituting safeguarding measures through prevention, reporting, and response. We want everyone to have confidence in our work. Ensuring safeguarding runs as a golden thread through all we do as a part of building that confidence within each and everyone.
GRADUATED COMMUNITIES FH is proud of the four communities that graduated this year: HABASHPUR, SONATOLA, MACHPARA AND KANIHARI. They’re self-sustainable and living out God’s purpose for their lives. We are celebrating their success as they came out from under the heavy weight of poverty.
SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 99% on-time communications have been maintained throughout the year. 4000 new children have been added to the system without any delay.
FH Bangladesh
IMPACT STORIES A STEP TOWARD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRACTICE … Moriam lives with her husband and two daughters in West Godagari, a rural community in Bangladesh. One day some years ago, Moriam was playing with her friends and her father called her to meet a new family. Since they were six siblings and her father had problems financially, they married Moriam off when she was only 14 with a man that she met on that day. She had to stop her education, cease Moriam Nessa playing games, and carry new responsibilities on her shoulders. Her husband has been a farmer who works as a sharecropper, and only the breadwinnerof the family. She wanted to support him but poverty was always the main constraint. Even after marriage, she used to hide herself during menstruation and had used old dirty clothes learning from her mother. When she conceived for the first time, she suffered from urinary problems and malnutrition. She did not have enough money to see a doctor. This is the story of many adolescent girls who lead unhealthy lifestyles and are married off due to poverty and stop joining school. “Since I had no skills to generate income and pay for my children’s education, I always struggled with their tuition fees and managing reading materials. At one stage, I thought about getting my daughter married and relieving myself from additional responsibilities. I was feeling so helpless, perhaps my father felt the same when I was a teenager” said Moriam. “It was in 2013, when FH started working in our community. Before that we had no motivating factors to improve our conditions. I joined the group in 2016 as a mother leader of the health cascade group. Gradually, I started to learn about the benefits of
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maintaining hygiene, prevention of child marriage and the importance of nutritious food. I was also fortunate to participate in sewing training in 2020.” While working in the communities, it was noticed that women were reluctant to talk about menstruation. Moreover, the attendance rate of female students in schools is significantly less during the monthly period. Girls were not aware of menstruation and even their mothers could not give proper guidance to girls. Instead of using sanitary pads, they use unhealthy old clothes. Sanitary pads are available in the market, but they are not affordable. “In these unsanitary conditions, FH with the support of GOAC initiated a training to make low cost sanitary napkins where I participated. They provided us with training and technical assistance along with production materials. After receiving the training, I have started to make sanitary napkins. Community women consider menstruation as a taboo and buying pads form pharmacies or open shops is embarrassing to them. Moreover, their price is so expensive, we could not afford them. Now girls can easily buy from my doorstep with a minimum price. I believe this would save them from embarrassment and also motivate them to use it. The training raised awareness of the importance of using sanitary napkins and remaining healthy during menstruation.” “I am fortunate that I know how to take care of my daughters and also other girls in the community. I share my experience with them and explain the harmful effects of unhygienic menstruation and child marriage in particular.” “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to FH Bangladesh and GOAC for all the health related activities and initiatives taken for the women in our villages. It is highly beneficial for our physical and mental health. I hope my daughters along with other girls will complete higher education so that they do not stop going to school just for menstruation. No girl should have child marriage. All girls should be able to take care of themselves physically and mentally by knowing all the issues related to menstruation from the time of adolescence. I strongly reckon that providing low cost napkins to the adolescents and women in the society will reduce child marriage and will improve school attendance rate.” Moriam said. Program Participant Information: Moriam Nessa, 28 years, Female Members of Participant Household: Belal Uddin, 32 years, Male (Husband). Sanjida Yeasmin, 14 years, Female (Daughter), Tanisa Akter, 07 years, Female (Daughter)
FH Bangladesh
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PROGRAM / COX’S BAZAR Violence and ethnic cleansing have forced Rohingya refugees to flee into Bangladesh. The new arrivals have little humanitarian assistance. The refugees and host communities face the risk of disease. Children under the age of five face the threat of dying from malnutrition and the risk of diarrhea because of the lack of safe drinking water, lack of appropriate hand washing behavior, and remote locations without sufficient access to healthcare. Aged people struggle with hypertension and other physical diseases. Mostak Ahmed, a 68-year-old male dealing with the same problems who had high blood pressure, unable to move one side of my body, and has difficulty in hearing. This forced him to no longer support his family financially, socially and performing marital duties was impossible given his problems in movement and hearing impairment. Looking at his conditions, a Community Health Worker (CHW) referred him to the nearest health post PHD in Camp 12 in 2020. After consulting and examining, the doctor referred him to FH-MTI JRRP PHC at camp 12. The CHW accompanied him to FH-MTI PHC as it was unknown to him. Staff helped him to find out his problems with various tests, taking his case history, analyzing his previous prescriptions of noncommunicable diseases. The doctor provided him with an NCD (Non- Communicable Disease) register book and advised him to come here to check up every 14 days, which was helping him to stay better from NCDs severity. Additionally, starting in the last few weeks in 2021, he has known about the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination campaign for FDMN refugees. He along wife were eligible for taking the vaccine. He already knew this well as the CHW informed them at daily household visits by providing messaging, leaflets, and vaccination cards. On the vaccination day, he came to FH-MTI PHC with the help of the CHW. After 1 year of following the doctor's guidance, he got the result. He has successfully suppressed hypertension and its complications through routine chronic care at NCD clinics of FH-MTI facilities biweekly. Now he is more strong and capable to walk and his hard of hearing issue solved. Mostak said, “I can now move and hear well, able to support my family at different service points in ration collection and other services. I never thought I will get well from NCD and will be able to hear again. It’s surprising that it happened. Also there are rumors in the community that if anyone takes COVID-19 vaccine, he will have various complications in body. I got COVID-19 vaccination without any complications and I
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am eager to receive its 2nd dose after one month. I am happy and satisfied with the doctors, medical assistants and vaccinators' behaviors, counseling and dedication.” Mostak Ahmed now is in FDMN camp 12 with his family. He wants to live a better life in camp as presently he doesn’t have any household here because he wasn’t registered as an FDMN after arriving here in 2017. So, he didn’t apply for FCN and registration card previously due to moving camp to camp at his relative’s houses. He expects they will go back at native village in Myanmar as soon as possible.
FH Bangladesh
LEADERSHIP AND TRANSFORMATIONAL STORY Ali Reza is a 43-year-old man with a career as FH’s Community Animator at Machpara. He lives with his wife and two children,Alisha and Jubair. His role has huge responsibilities – leading cascade groups, liaising with local leaders and forming personal relationships with community members. He is one of the FH staff who serves vulnerable communities for their development. Before joining FH, I was involved in agricultural work. I had no ambition in my life and was economically insolvent. Most of the villagers were dependent on farming. I like to work with people in the village and am always ready to address challenges and move forward. I believe in servant leadership. I joined FH as a contractual staff in 1999 and then in 2002, I started my journey as Community Animator [FH staff who work within the community teaching and facilitating] in Khoksha. Since the beginning of Machpara CFCT (September 2012), I have been working in the community. My favorite thing about my job is working and interacting with people who are left behind. I choose this job for mainly two reasons: to communicate with people, and to inspire them to fulfill their God-given potential. When I started working in Machpara in 2012, it was really challenging for me to make the community people and leaders understand the vision, values, and purpose of FH. They had some bad impressions about NGOs. We started a dialogue that involved discussing past pain and gave them opportunities to share their hopes for their community. We listened to their past grievances. Our willingness to listen built a powerful bonding with them later on. We invited them to our program and went to them to ask for their guidance and prayer for our work. Through this relationship building process the people now have a sense of togetherness that is helping us work in this community. Now, they love and respect all FH staff. I was especially encouraged by FH values. My behaviour has changed because of working in groups with FH staff and a good relationship has developed with the community people. I work in different villages and diverse people. I have learned how to lead an honest life, keep patience and respect everyone equally. I have brought economic solvency and increasing acceptability in field areas. At the beginning of the project, there was a high belief in superstition, a lack of unity and people were unwilling to educate their children. They had no interest in education,
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health and leadership. By forming cascade groups, FH brought change in leadership, brought income generation opportunities, training, health and law awareness among people. FH played a significant role in community transformation by organizing various types of training and workshops. Now the community is different because people help each other whenever there is a need, members have learned to pray, they respect each other, women are empowered, they now they use sanitary latrines, are aware of washing hands with soap, and drink pure water. The women are able to form a CBO (Community Based Organization). I feel very proud for being a part of this change through FH. I am lucky that I got this chance to transform the lives of communities who were backward. I was blessed that I got values training and could share my learnings in daily devotions and in group meetings. God developed my skills and this community in many ways. Staff Information: Md. Ali Reza, Male, Senior Community Animator, Joining date: October 03, 1999 Members of Staff Household: Mst.Swopna Khatun, Female (Wife). Mst.Alisha Ritu, Female (Daughter), Md. Jubair Al Mahmud, Male (Son)
FH Bangladesh
FAMILY FOR THE FUTURE Asma believed her struggles were because of fate. As a woman living in Char Borobila, she didn’t feel that she had the agency to make a difference in the life of her family. Her husband did not allow her to work outside the home to bring in income for fear of going against cultural practices. Asma thought poverty was all she was destined for. “Superstition was the main barrier [in our community],” Asma explains. “Girls were neglected in the family. Food, clothes, and education were all given more to the boys than girls. People in the area were indifferent to the education of girls. They would say, ‘Every girl will become a housewife, they will be in the house. What will they do with so much education?’ This meant early marriage was common.” Despite the continuing need for food and income, Asma had no way of making money. Caught in mental turmoil, she isolated herself from her neighbours and her community. That is, until her community began to change. Part of FH’s plan to bring holistic transformation to a community is to challenge harmful ways of thinking and stop harmful behaviours. By forming a leadership team of both men and women, FH Bangladesh staff were able to offer leadership training and invest in promising leaders who represented the whole community’s interests. Then, transformation began to happen in Char Borobila. Asma noticed that there were different women’s groups forming in the community which were helping women grow in self-confidence and leadership. Intrigued, she decided to join one. After joining, Asma’s life changed significantly. Not long after she joined the women’s group, she was connected to a Savings and Loans group and appointed the cashier. She also began managing a Community Based Organization (CBO) which helped many members in her community with income generating activities.
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“As a result of joining FH, I have a lot of peace in my family now and my family is very happy,” says Asma, beaming. “I can mingle and communicate with people. Now I help and advise women in the neighbourhood in various ways and lead the group. I feel proud of myself. All these became possible only because of FH, so I am grateful.” Asma isn’t slowing down either. She has big plans for her family and her whole community! She says, “I want to make my family economically prosperous and strong. I also dream that one day my community will be much stronger! All the families in the area will be poverty-free and children will go to school and there will be a society free from child marriage.”
FH Bangladesh
AFFILIATES AND PARTNERS Food for the Hungry, Canada Food for the Hungry, United Kingdom Food for the Hungry, United States Korea Food for the Hungry International Japan International Food for the Hungry
GRANT PARTNERS
FH also received donations such as medicine, medical equipment and supplies that helped us to serve the Rohingya throughout the year from different agencies including UNFPA and WHO. 44 | Annual Report 2021
FH Bangladesh
FH BANGLADESH FY21 BUDGET PER DONOR (IN USD)
Food for the Hungry Canada
$140,000
Food for the Hungry United Kingdom
$16,199
Food for the Hungry, Inc.
$2,459,301
Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission
$58,970
Japan International Food for the Hungry
$39,401
Korea Food for the Hungry International
$257,020
Medical Teams International
$222,507
United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees
$2,756,372
FH BANGLADESH FY21 BUDGET PER TECHNICAL PROGRAM (IN USD)
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General Administration
$26,000
Disaster Risk and Resilience
$6,254
Integrated Community Development Program
$2,682,625
Health, Nutrition and WASH
$3,254,891
FH BANGLADESH FY21 BUDGET PER AREA PROGRAM (IN USD)
Bangladesh Country Office
$145,488
Dhamrai Area Program
$792,644
PB Coastal Area Program
$292,973
Mymensingh Area Program
$253,410
Kustia Area Program
$98,161
Godagari Area Program
$603,479
Tanore Area Program
$430,626
Joint Rohingya Responses Program
$3,199,149
Chapainawabganj Area Program
$153,841
FH Bangladesh
FH Association (FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY) Country Office, Bangladesh Address: House 2/B (7th Floor), Road 04, Block B, Banani, Dhaka 1213. Tel: +880255034411, +880255033640 Web: fh.org For any queries, please contact SNEHA REDDY Sr. Officer- Communication sreddy@fh.org