Prepared July 2015

CHILD PROTECTION IN BANGLADESH

October 2014–March 2015 Report

1 Campaign Report

Program SummaryGod bless you for supporting this program, which assisted 32 traffi cking survivors in the fi rst half of the fi scal year. You are empowering them to recover and return to family and community life, with skills to earn an income.

Our Child-Friendly Spaces continue to keep hundreds of children safe from exploitation, neglect, and other harm.

As the program operates for a fourth full year, signifi cant steps are being made toward sustaining progress. Local groups such as Counter-Traffi cking Committees uphold their responsibility to protect children, parents learn to provide safe home environments, and peer educators teach youth about personal safety.

Thank you for partnering with us in this comprehensive effort to prevent traffi cking and abuse and help survivors.

CHILD PROTECTION

BANGLADESH

Program Update

1,293,604people have benefi ted

from the program since it began in May 2011.

Children from a Child-Friendly Space take part in games during an annual competition.

25 vulnerable families trained in vocational skills or income-generating activities

163,987adults and youth reached with traffi cking awareness and prevention messages

FY15 Target: 318,657

797 vulnerable youth educated in life skills

FY15 Target: 1,200

FY15 Target: 105

Fiscal Year 2015 ProgressOctober 2014-March 2015

© 2

015

Wor

ld V

isio

n, In

c.

2 Campaign Report2

Goal and Outcomes

BangladeshThis map shows World Vision Area Development Programs (ADPs) in which the Bangladesh Child Protection Program is operating.

YOUTH LEARN TO STAY SAFE FROM TRAFFICKERS

Th e program has successfully taught youth to be more aware of traffi ckers and their tricks so they can protect themselves. In this reporting period, more than 73,000 students attended sessions at school while nearly 800 vulnerable youth took part in life-skills training conducted by peer leaders (shown at left), which included personal safety.

Sharmin Akter, 15, explained the impact on her: “I [was] not aware about the various techniques of traffi cking and demerits of child marriage. After receiving the school program awareness session, I became more confi dent to lead my life escaping traffi cking and child marriage incidents. Now I am working to sensitize my family members and the peers of my community.”

SIX-YEAR PROGRAM GOAL THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2016

REACH 884,339 CHILDREN AND 775,224 ADULTS with activities that reduce children’s vulnerability to traffi cking and abuse and increase recovery and reintegration of survivors

© 2

015

Wor

ld V

isio

n, In

c.

Each fi gure represents 100,000 individuals.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Increased public understanding

and awareness of trafficking issues

Increased collaboration between anti-trafficking and

child protection stakeholders

Improved protective environment for

children

Improved psychosocial well-

being and livelihood opportunities for

abuse survivors and those at risk

Note: Two ADPs in which the Bangladesh Child Protection Program had been operating—Chitalmari and Laudob—closed in fiscal year 2014, per their planned timelines. However, World Vision continues to carry out Child Protection Program activities in those areas.

LEGEND

CHILD PROTECTION ADPS

CAPITAL CITY

MAJOR CITY

PROVINCE OR DISTRICT BOUNDARY

1 AGALIJHARA 2 ASSASUNI 3 BARISAL 4 BHANDARIA 5 KACHUA 6 KALKINI 7 KOTALIPARA 8 MONGLA 9 MORRELGONJ 10 MUKSUDPUR 11 PIROJPUR 12 SATKHIRA 13 SUNDARBAN

ChittagongKhulna

DhakaDhaka

1

5

67

89

10

32

4

1312

11

AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRA

79 families took part in parental skills training, learning how to create a more protective home environment for their children.

3 Campaign Report3

758 children regularly enjoyed learning and other activities in the safe environment of our 20 Child-Friendly Spaces.

All 758 children have their birth registration certificates.

222 children transitioned from the Child-Friendly Spaces to primary grades in the formal school system.

Government-sponsored Counter-Trafficking Committees convened 166 meetings. Since it began, the program has helped establish 46 committees at four levels of government. Their purpose is to implement Bangladesh’s national plan of action to combat trafficking, which includes investigation, rescue, and prosecution cases as well as supporting public awareness raising.

MORE SEMIANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Partnering with police in southern Bangladesh

In December, World Vision and police for the Khulna area in southwest Bangladesh formed a “coordination cell” to prevent traffi cking and assist victims. It is an innovative partnership between World Vision and two branches of Bangladeshi law enforcement. Th e cell will make police stations more welcoming for traffi cking survivors, protect victims as they move to residential care, and ensure legal and reintegration support. Already, the cell has rescued two girls from a brothel and helped them transition to a shelter.

Training of border security personnel

Twenty-seven security offi cers working on the India-Bangladesh border participated in training to help them engage sensitively with child and women victims. Th ey also gained skills and knowledge in best practices for rescue, repatriating survivors from India to Bangladesh, and referring survivors to social services.

Assistance for traffi cking survivors

Th e program provided assistance to 32 victims of traffi cking. Nine recently rescued survivors received emergency assistance such as transportation, food, clothing, and medical care. Th irteen survivors received healing care in a partner’s shelter. Another 10 survivors benefi ted from non-shelter restoration services.

One survivor, who received sewing training through the program, was hired in February to be a tailor at a reputable, internationally recognized foundation. She also has returned to her family. She said, “Th e training I received with the support of World Vision Bangladesh has helped me a lot to stand [on] my own feet. Now, I can earn for my own and also contribute to my family. I am grateful to World Vision Bangladesh because they supported me to draw my dream and also to make it concrete. I can share my joys and sorrows with my family now. Th at’s why I thank World Vision Bangladesh.”

Activities

Semiannual Highlights

In the fi rst half of fi scal year 2015, an unstable political and social environment in Bangladesh precluded the program from reaching all of its objectives. Th is was particularly true of planned cultural events (such as local dramas or musical performances that would draw large crowds) and training in life skills, parental skills, and income-generation activities. While benefi ciaries were served, the target numbers were not achieved.

Th e situation began in January, when the opposition alliance called for a countrywide blockade and strike and demanded a national re-election. Opposition

Political Unrest Impacts Program Implementation

party supporters threw bombs at vehicles and fi red guns at people. Many died and much of the population was fearful of going outside.

Out of concern for people’s safety, World Vision Bangladesh restricted travel by vehicle, and staff curtailed large gatherings such as meetings, education sessions, and advocacy work.

While the unrest is ongoing, our program staff members use periods of peace to implement activities and make best eff orts to reach our planned number of community members with training and other group events.

Th en Morjina took part in a traffi cking-awareness program organized by World Vision through the Child Protection Program. She shared her fi nancial struggles to keep her girls in school. World Vision responded by training Morjina to raise goats and provided her with two goat kids. Armed with her new knowledge and investing her time and labor, Morjina quickly expanded her goat population.

Along the way, she sold 11 goats and bought a milking cow with a calf. She made money selling milk and used that income to buy books and supplies for her girls. She raised chickens, ducks, and geese and grew vegetables for her family’s consumption. Neighbors are replicating her goat raising and vegetable farming.

Morjina’s two girls are in good health and attending school. One dreams of becoming a nurse and the other a teacher. Morjina (below) says, “Th anks World Vision for providing me with training that gives me food security and creates schooling opportunities to my girls.”

4 Campaign Report

Best Practices

Community facilitators

Th is fi scal year, 89 community facilitators—who direct key components of the program—received training on traffi cking and other child protection issues. Sixty-one of these facilitators were recruited to work at the program’s Child-Friendly Spaces. Th ere they serve as caregivers and teach on a range of topics from early education to music to hygiene issues.

Others facilitate child forums, through which children learn leadership and public speaking skills and have opportunities to meet youth from other areas.

Community facilitators receive a stipend for their eff orts. Many hold positions of responsibility in their community (as teachers, elders, or faith leaders) and use their depth of experience and skills to mentor and guide the children.

Increased income ensures food and schooling

Twenty-fi ve vulnerable families participated in vocational training to improve their ability to earn money to care for their families. Th is is an important strategy for reducing the risk of traffi cking, because we know that poverty places families at risk of exploitation.

Morjina, 38, and her husband Nasir, 50, supported their three daughters by working as day laborers on neighboring farms. Th ey earned barely enough money for immediate needs—a situation that worsened when rainy weather meant no work was available.

Th e oldest daughter, now 20, dropped out of school and was married to a local farmer. Morjina did what she could to keep her other two girls, ages 16 and 12, in school, including borrowing money.

© 2

015

Wor

ld V

isio

n, In

c.

5 Campaign Report5

Her job tasks include leveling the slope of roads, refilling holes caused by rain, and weeding with spades and traditional tools. Mafuza receives $38 in cash every month. The program places another $19 per month into a savings account for her.

Along with the benefits of the new job came concerns. Mafuza was scheduled to work six days a week, and during this time, her children were left alone at home with no one to care for them. Thankfully, neighbors connected Mafuza to a Child-Friendly Space, operated by the Bangladesh Child Protection Program.

“World Vision enrolled Mafuza’s children into [a] Child- Friendly Space, the support Mafuza prayed for her children,” said Hafizur Rahaman, a member of the program staff. Meanwhile, Mafuza received parental skills training from World Vision, which helped her to become a more caring mother. “My husband abandoned us and never provided food or other necessities of life,” Mafuza shared. “But being a mother, I cannot leave my children at any cost.”

Kobita Biswas, a leader of the road maintenance group, said, “Mafuza wakes up early in the morning, prepares her children, feeds [them], and brings them to the Child-Friendly Space before leaving for [her] workplace.”

Bokul has transitioned out of the Child-Friendly Space and is enrolled in first grade at a government primary school. His younger sister, Mala, still participates in activities at the Child-Friendly Space. These include learning the alphabet, counting, rhymes, and songs, as well as hygiene practices and positive behaviors such as obeying parents and making friends.

Abandoned by her husband, Mafuza works hard to provide for her two young children. Access to a Child-Friendly Space has meant she can go to her job knowing her son and daughter are in a safe place with caring staff.

CHILD-FRIENDLY SPACE KEEPS CHILDREN SAFE WHILE THEIR MOTHER WORKS TO SUPPORT THEM

Maola already had a wife and four children when he forced Mafuza, now 31, to marry him in 2007. When they had a son, Bokul, in 2008, it was a source of happiness for Maola. But three years later, after they had a second baby—a girl named Mala—Maola forced out his wife and two young children. This left Mafuza with sole responsibility to care for the family.

For a time, Mafuza lived hand to mouth as a day laborer, earning about $1.25 a day, while working three to four days a week. With materials supplied by a nonprofit, Mafuza built a house to live in on her sister’s land. Mafuza attempted to increase her income by selling fabric as a street vendor—a business she started with a loan from her sister—but Mafuza lost the business. A new work opportunity became available thanks to a local government food security program for vulnerable women. Mafuza joined a road maintenance crew comprised of 10 women.

© 2

015

Wor

ld V

isio

n, In

c.

Mafuza and her daughter, Mala, prepare vegetables for cooking.

© 2

015

Wor

ld V

isio

n, In

c.

Mafuza at work with her road maintenance group.

Fiscal year 2015 = October 2014–September 2015

PROGRAM SPENDING

SUMMARY

Financials

P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716www.worldvision.org

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

SWSW

BG

D15

FEC

REP

-CP_

FY15

sem

i_06

.30.

15©

201

5 W

orld

Vis

ion,

Inc.

Program-to-date spending expressed as a percentage of program funding

RESTORE

PROGRAM-TO-DATE FUNDING $5,722,331

SPENT $169,016 (88%)

PROGRAM-TO-DATE FUNDING$192,382

SPENT $5,027,315 (88%)

Amounts above include Quality Assurance and Management and Fundraising.

PREVENT AND PROTECT

6 Campaign Report

Activity DescriptionFiscal Year to Date

SpendingProgram to Date

Spending

Program to DateFunding Released

to Project1.0 PREVENT and PROTECTIncreased public understanding and awareness of trafficking issues

Implement an awareness-raising campaign 96,724 875,525 1,023,334Empower children and youth to disseminate anti-trafficking (AT) messages 93,081 523,820 612,253Empower community groups and local government in disseminating AT messages 145,809 170,425Implement hotline and online resource center for public awareness, trafficking prevention, and victim referral

2,767 3,234

Increased strategic collaboration between anti trafficking and child protectionstakeholders

Strengthen division and national-level AT network for service coordination and advocacy

32,869 225,395 263,447

Promote cross-border collaboration for victim identification, rescue, repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration

989 34,875 40,763

Facilitate union, upazila, district, division, and national-level advocacy 5,390 117,664 137,528Implement project-relevant survey, research/study, and documentation to enhance project performance and inform data management and advocacy strategy

969 197,472 230,810

Improved protective environment for childrenSupport Child-Friendly Spaces in vulnerable communities 167,071 839,179 980,852Provide life-skills education to vulnerable adolescents (ages 12 to 15) and youth (ages 16 to 18) and parental skills training for their families

9,938 381,031 445,358

Provide/facilitate livelihood support for children and families vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, and exploitation

1,735 219,788 256,893

2.0 RESTOREImproved psychosocial well being and livelihood opportunities for victims and thosevulnerable to trafficking, abuse, and exploitation

Support Bangladeshi government organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) specializing in all aspects of identification, rescue, and repatriation of victims of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation

1,001 18,076 21,128

Support Bangladeshi government organizations and NGOs specializing in all aspects of shelter-based rehabilitation of victims and those vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, and exploitation

7,991 46,013 53,781

Support Bangladeshi government organizations and NGOs specializing in all aspects of legal, nonshelter-based rehabilitation and reintegration services for victims of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, as well as family members

5,218 55,708 65,113

Subtotal 422,976 3,683,122 4,304,919Quality Assurance 29,521 214,126 264,107Management and Fundraising 150,832 1,299,083 1,345,689Subtotal 180,353 1,513,209 1,609,796TOTAL 603,329 5,196,331 5,914,715