Ghashful is proud to proclaim the 48 years long journey in the development field with the commitment to build up a self-sustaining and affluent country. On the basis of the highly enthusiastic charitable motive and commitment late Shamsun Nahar Rahman Paran initiated the significant journey in 1972. The philanthropic initiatives undertaken by the founder aimed primly at empowering the poor and the marginalized people through various community development activities targeting especially women and children to ensure socioeconomic growth and equality in the community. The overall objective of the programs is the endorsement of fundamental rights of the disadvantaged, marginalized people including children, women and men through poverty alleviation, empowerment and mainstreaming in the development process of the nation.
In 1978, Ghashful got its registration as one of the pioneering development organizations of Chattogram and started health and education programs to achieve its basic objectives in the slum areas of Chattogram city. Gradually, the organization expanded through extending the development programs in different sectors including health, education, financial inclusion and economic development, environment, rights and governance etc.
Since its inception, Ghashful has been practicing working in partnerships with renowned national and international organizations having similarity in nature and ability to provide financial assistance as well as technical supports. To ensure the sustainability of the impact in mass level, the organization emphasizes on the participatory approaches for the involvement of children, youths, women and men irrespective of class, culture, colors, religion and creed in the development initiatives closely related with national-level prioritized sectors like micro-credit, micro-enterprise, women empowerment, non-formal and formal education, technical and vocational education, green energy, youth and children development, health, well being of elderly people, disaster management etc. Here we would like to mention some of the pioneer initiatives and activities of Ghashful
GHASHFUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (Shishu Bikash Kendra)
1985, it was the time around when Ghashful ventured out to help the poor and vulnerable inhabitants of the Shebok Colony (formerly known as Sweeper Colony) in East Madarbari in Chittagong. This was not an easy task to be done because of the social status of the colony dwellers. They were not at all in easy pace with the people in surroundings. This act was not deliberate but by obedience as they were considered lower caste, who were destined to sweep the dirt and filth for the community. It was the biggest reason for them to keep a distance for the common society and would never imagine leading a normal society life or sending their children to school. Basically, sending their children to school was not even a matter of consideration for them. Ghashful came forward to work with these underprivileged slum dwellers in order to develop a sustainable community. With the help of Ghashful the health workers and the volunteers started offering many services including various family planning materials, immunization and much needed medicines. Many development agencies were working nationwide regarding different development issues around the time. No one had time to think about these unfortunate poor people living in the slum of the Sweeper Colony but late Mrs. Shamsun Nahar Rahman Paran.
Ghashful started its journey in 1972 through relief work and since then they have been involved in different development programs such as family planning for low income and poor families, immunization, general and reproductive health services, awareness programs for HIV, protection of women against domestic violence. In 1991 after the disastrous cyclone the office of Ghashful was moved to East Madarbari Pora Masjid area from Lalkhan Bazar high level road. As a result of this relocation the office came near from the Shebok Colony and with the distribution of relief among the cyclone victims in Majhirghat, East Madarbari area by the organization intensified the communication further more with the local residents. But it was not easy to bring these poor marginalized people under any development activities back then. The general and local residents were skeptical and suspicious of the shebok colony residents. People In the area did not go near them or had a very friendly behavior towards them. As Paran Rahman was very dearest figure to these people she was to motivate the residents of the Sweeper Colony including Rajkumari, Chunnu Sardar and so many others for the sustainable development activities. She would go visit their houses, speak to them about their daily lives, she would even sit on their bed and teach their children alphabets in order to make them comfortable. Gradually she got closer to them and they started to share their stories and livelihood with her. After a while they started to bring their children to Ghashful office for immunization. Around that time Paran Rahman begin to think about educating these unfortunate children. She knew as a part of their custom these children will never go to schools. By the time the girls are little older their parents will get them married and boys will be involved in drugs and other crimes. And in the long run, following the tradition they will be working as sweepers and living an unhealthy life. She was also very certain that their life will be disrupted by their parent’s alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Her goal was to educate these children so they can break the chain of this misery. This was bit difficult as the local resident were outraged and not supportive at all. But after a lot of arguments and compromises she was able to establish a school in the colony in 1993. With the help of BPHC we were able to rent a clubhouse for two three hours for non-formal education. The plan was to prepare these children for formal primary education through various creational activities which included reading, writing and drawing. But now sending these kids to school for formal education was not that easy because the local residents and other guardians did not want to their children to share the same classroom with these lower caste unfortunate ones. Paran Rahman contacted the education officer and after a lot of motivation and compromises with the local residents, school admins, guardians she was able to admit these to nearby school for formal education.
An unprecedented history was created in Chittagong by founding a small school in East Madarbari Shebok Colony as the children from this community never went to school and it was beyond their imagination to do so. The residents of the colony soon realized the importance of education and started to come out of their shells and started to send their children to school. At one point when the school was having overlapping issues with a local primary school named S. Colony Govt. Primary School the Shebok Colony school was transformed in to a Child Development Center (Shishu Bikash Kendro) with self-financing in 2005. Ghashful took this initiative so that the children from this colony keep going to school and the hard-earned stream never stops. the guidance of Ghashful the school successfully operates at the same pace with the other non-formal primary education (NFPE) school under the integrated improvement program implemented in Chittagong City with the help of Action Aid.
In the long way of its journey there were disappointments as well as many success stories to share. Obiram Das, a former CDC student has completed his bachelor’s degree in engineering and currently working in a private sector. Another student named Rabi Das earned fame as drummer as a very young age and now he is a business entrepreneur. Parveen Mahmud, the eldest daughter of Paran Rahman is bearing the education expenses for Rohan Das. He is a son of a janitor named Rohini Das. Many former students of CDC are currently out of their ancestral profession which was beyond their imagination at some point. Currently hundreds of students from this colony are studying in various schools and colleges in the city. As result of initiative taken by Ghashful other Shebok Colonies were inspired to send their children to school and planning a better future for them. This way a change of air was brought to the Shebok Colony in Chittagong with the endless effort of Ghashful and
its individual. The Child Development Center/ Shishu Bikash Kendro (CDC) now runs in two different shifts. The preprimary education in the 1st shift from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M for two to five years old children and the 2nd shift from 11 A.M to 1 P.M for tutorial help for children from six to fourteen years old
This huge change in the community was possible with the small initiative of a very humble person Late Shamsun Nahar Rahman Paran. In her lifetime she was able to bring out a radical change to the lives of these poor, vulnerable and illiterate people which is still going on and will go on further afield. This is much needed thing to be mentioned during that period of time the former Mayor of Chittagong City Late A. B. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury changed the title for these sweeper community with a much respectful title as “Shebok”. Currently in Chittagong there are about 5 to 6 sweeper colonies, where the residents are known as “Shebok” and colonies as “Shebok Colony”
TBA (Traditional Birth Attendant)
Death of mothers and child due to prenatal and postnatal care are the most common problem in our country. Most people in our community are not aware of the birth related complications. To make sure the safe delivery Ghashful has provided health services through TBA (Traditional Birth Attendant), midwifery training. This was one of the pioneer initiatives of Ghashful to raise awareness among the poor and vulnerable people about child and maternal healthcare and to make the underprivileged and deprived women more sustainable and self-reliant in our community. The founder of Ghashful late Paran Rahman lost her mother at a very early age and this is why later in life she dedicated her life to prevent maternal mortality. Under this project, Ghashful has provided training to midwives from diverse areas. With the rapid population growth in the country, these midwives were given the responsibility to raise awareness to maintain a small and happy family in the slum areas of the city. Not only that, but they also worked on raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, reducing child and maternal mortality rates, preventing malnutrition among the lactating mothers and the newborns and immunizing the pregnant women and the newborns. These TBA workers of Ghashful were the dedicated workers to serve the poor and marginalized women of our society. To make this effort more successful Ghashful would put signboard in front of these trained midwives’ houses in the neighborhood of low-income people. Ghashful also encouraged women from a lower caste community to come forward and join this profession. With the help of this initiative of Ghashful, these people were moving forward valiantly in the hope of equality and development of women empowerment through hard work. Experienced TBAs are available in the fixed clinic from 9 am to 5 pm to serve the vulnerable community people
Bay of Bengal Project
The founder of Ghashful late Paran Rahman did not only work with the poor and vulnerable people living in the slum areas but she also worked for the poor fishermen living on the south bank of Karnaphuli river in Chittagong. Ghashful was the first organization to come forward to help these fishermen in 1982. These fishermen generally prefer to keep a distance from the local residents or high society but Paran Rahman would visit these poor and vulnerable families, spend time with them and listen to their problems and complaints. She attracted the attention of national and international researchers and donors as Ghashful started to work with these poor and needy fishermen in Chittagong. Later so many other development organizations came forward to work with these people and achieved national and international fame but this must be acknowledged that it was Paran Rahman who created the path for them.
Ghashful started working on the Bay of Bengal Project (BOP) as a pilot project for six months with the assistance of FAO and SIDA under the United Nations on 1st April 1982 in various parts of the south bank of Karnaphuli including Charlakshya, Dangarchor, Dhayd, Jaldha areas. For their socio-economic development, she divided them into small groups and arranged training sessions in batches. She trained them through local and international experts on how to do deep-sea fishing, weaving, to work together during cyclones or any other natural disaster, mounting nets and many more. After the training, she would provide them with nets and engine-powered boats with financial help from local and international donors. She also plays a vital role in preserving Hilsha fish in Chittagong. Local expert Mr. Abul Kashem on behalf of BFDC and Miss Pachani from Thailand helped her a lot in this project. Paran Rahman was the first person to step forward to work for these fishermen to provide them with a better livelihood.
Receiving free books from the government for NGO
Ghashful has worked in all possible sector of education specially when it comes to non-formal education. Now the Government has different plans and policies on this issue but Ghashful has been working with non-formal education since its inception. In most cases in our country parents do not send their children to school because they cannot afford the cost of the text books. Formerly, non-government schools were not entitled to receive free government books. But around that time Paran Rahman thought education is one of the basic rights of human beings and these poor, marginalized children should receive free books so they can pursue their education for a better quality of life. In 2013 Ghashful was the first non-government organization to receive 690 sets of free books from the government. This made it easier for the students of other non-formal educational institutes to get free government books. This was a great milestone in the non-formal education sector.
Improved Livelihood and dignity for elderly people
“The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of chance without the capacity.” This is a natural cycle of human life to get older. The word “Elderly” refers to ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of the human being when people become very vulnerable in terms of physical and socioeconomic conditions. Now and then elderly people are neglected in our community. With the assistance of PKSF, Ghashful has been helping this community to have an improved and dignified livelihood. The project started in December 2015 in Mekhal Union and was extended in Guman Mardan Union on 1st August 2016 of Hathazari Upazilla. Now this project is successfully going on in both areas. The main object of this project is to uplift the life status and dignity of the elderly people in our community. Major activities of the program are to meet the ward and union committees; training on leadership and monitoring; awareness building, establishing social centers for elderly people, health service with physiotherapy and counseling, shelter for elderly people, funeral support, wheelchair, blanket, umbrella, stick service for the person with disabilities and poor, coordination with other stakeholders, and best elderly people and best child award. On February 10, 2019, Ghashful with the support from PKSF has opened the Elder’s Social Center at Hathazari Upazilla. Ghashful with the help of PKSF had also distributed winter clothes and old allowance to elderly people in both working areas.
Shelai Shohoyeeka
Ghashful started working for the well being of the garment workers back in eighties during the development of garment industries in Bangladesh. The founder of Ghashful Late Paran Rahman even wrote a sewing manual to train the unskilled and poor girls living in the slums of the city so that they can have a better and independent life. The name of the book was “Shelai Shohoyeeka.” At present lots of national and international development organization has been working for the socioeconomic development of the garment workers but Ghashful was the first organization to take the initiative. Ghashful is working on healthcare, nutrition, and training for the garment workers through its Community Health Programs in its working areas. Under this project, Ghashful CHP is providing the emergency healthcare services and some essential medicines to the garment workers at their work places. To grow awareness about the hazards and the ways to fight off the challenges of the incurable diseases like SRHR and HIV is one of the included initiatives of the program. Ghashful visits at least four garments industries per day and provide healthcare and nutrition services as needed.
Mothers’ club
The founder of Ghashful Late Paran Rahman formed a club named “Mothers’ Club” in 1986 to raise awareness among the women of low-income families and keep them united. She conducted awareness programs on education, health, and the environment and the impact of good health and education in ones’ life.