Saturday, April 26, 2008

WHO WE ARE

SUN-Save the Underprivileged and the Needy, is a non-profit, non-Government, voluntary human development organization, has been working in greater Barisal,Khulna,Dhaka Division of Bangladesh since 1998. The emergence of the organization was founded stored by the active initiative and participation of a group of philanthropic, educated, progressive minded and dedicated social workers and volunteers under the leadership of Mr. Rafique Uddin Ahmed, Ph. D and Nizam Uddin Anon. Both of them are development Activist. The vision of forming this organization was to empower the grassroots disadvantaged section of population of Bangladesh, along them access to literacy and numeracy, providing them with the health and hygienic support, creating facilities and access to micro-credit to widen the scope of their income generation and economic activities.

LINK

1. Idea list Organization
http://www.idealist.org/

2.Wiser Earth
http://www.wisherearth.org/

3.Changemakers
http://www.changemakers.net/

4. Bangladesh Migration and Development Forum
http://www.migrationbd.blogspot.com/
5. Asian Peoples Alliance for Combating HIV & AIDS
http://www.apachanet.org/

6.Gender and Water alliance—GWA
http://www.genderandwater.org/

PROJECT OFFICE

1.Community Development Centre-CDC
Laxmipasha, Kabi
Bakergonj, Barisal

2.Community Development Centre-CDC
Upazilla Road,Mehendigonj
Barisal

3..Community Development Centre-CDC
Daraga Bhaban,CI Para
Prijpur Sadar, Prijpur

4.Community Development Centre-CDC
Panichatra,Madaripur

5.Community Development Centre-CDC
Upazilla Road,Kalkini
Madaripur

6.Community Development Centre-CDC
Dudhnay Bajar,Dhobahura
Maymensing
7.Community Development Centre-CDC
Sadar Road,Barisal Sadar
Barisal

8.Community Development Centre-CDC
Hoglapasha,Moralgonj
Bagerhat

9.Community Development centre-CDC

Pakhimara,Nilgong,Kalapara

Patuakhali

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

FOREWORD

SUN has completed another year of its progress. Since inception SUN has been giving its efforts for upholding the socio-economic status of the poor, destitute and underprivileged people of Pirojpur, Barisal, Patuakhali, Madaripur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Noakhali, Bhola. Most of the people of these Districts are poor and disadvantaged in many concerns. It is a southern most district of the country and surrounded by several big rivers and canals. Therefore, natural calamities are common phenomenon in these upazilas. Every year people suffer from floods, river erosion, cyclone, etc. Hence, SUN has undertaken and implemented various development programs in its working areas with the objectives of reducing sufferings of the people of the locality and their sustainable socio-economic development.

This has been a great learning and experience for SUN that the rural grassroots level disadvantaged people have tremendous amount of potentials, which can be effectively utilized for integrated sustainable development. The organization has experienced that there is no alternative of poverty alleviation, and it is not possible to alleviate poverty without people’s empowerment and their active participation. People’s access to the resources should be ensured. SUN is also involved in development of the disadvantaged community, particularly the women, adolescents and children in its working area.

Considering the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Government of Bangladesh (GOB) declared to achieve sanitary latrine for all by the year 2010 and accumulated resources as much as possible to contribute attaining national targets during the year 2007. Considering successful completion of “Action Research Program on Participatory Tools for Hygiene Promotion” in June 2003 and based on the learning of action research, SUN has launched two new projects at second half of the year named, “Village Based Total Sanitation Program” and “Union Based Total Sanitation Program”, which are the milestones in this respect, which have been completed this year (2008).

SUN signed new agreements with ALOSHIKA-Bangladesh and HYSAWA Pilot Project, DPHE-LGED through Union Parishad of 1 No. Shikder Mallik Union for implementing two different pilot projects basically on motivation, training and advocacy. These are important windows opened during the year towards sustainable development.

We express felicitation to all our development partners such as European Union, European ,public Law centre,UNDP-A2J Project, IOM Bangladesh Chapter,CARE Bangladesh,ICDDRB and Proshika through SNN for their effective contribution in different forms in program implementation during the period.

We gratefully acknowledge the great contributions of all my colleagues including the project staff and partners for achieving targets of the project. I also would like to take the privilege to extend my sincere thanks to SUN Executive Committee members and other well-wishers of SUN.


Dr.Rafiq Uddin Ahamed, PHD
Chairman
SUN




01.0 INTRODUCTION

01.1 INCEPTION
SAVE THE UNDER PREVILEGED AND THE NEEDY(SUN) is a non-profit, non-political and non-government development organization. A group of local social workers and philanthropists established the organization on 14 September 1998 to develop itself as a point of excellence for a gender balanced socio-economic development for the poor.

01.2 LOCATION
Barisal Division is one of the coastal districts located in the southern part of Bangladesh. The district is consisting of 8 Upazilas (sub-districts) covering a total area of 1,308 sq. km and surrounded by rivers. According to 1999 census, the total population of the district was 12,40,000 including 617,000 female. Main source of income of the people is agriculture and income from non-farm sectors is quite negligible. The area is accessible both by road and river from Dhaka while the internal mode of communication in some of the areas is boat only. Due to increase in population, rapid increase in prices of agricultural equipment, lack of funding sources for the farmers, lack of technical know how for more production, and loss of crops due to natural calamities, agricultural labours have dropped their profession and migrated to the towns. In addition, loss of land due to river erosion is a common factor in the area to turn the farmers into landless people. The people still living on agriculture cultivate only one crop round the year. Majority of the women is not directly involved in any income earning activities due to lack of education and religious bindings. The marginal people of the area suffer from various diseases due to lack in health and sanitation infrastructures and the inability and lack of awareness of the people. Mortality rate both children and mothers during birth and delivery respectively are too high in comparison to the urban areas in the country and the major reasons for these are (i) lack of infrastructure and awareness, (ii) non-availability of facilities nearby, (iii) religious bindings and superstitions and (iv) poverty.

01.3 VISION
A congenial Society that afford equitable opportunities to all
01.4 MISSION STATEMENT OF SUN
Enhance capacity building of Private Voluntary Development Organizations (PVDOs) and community people, both urban and rural, to effect positive change in society by providing need-based, technical assistance and oversight.
01.5 OBJECTIVES

The major objectives of SUN are to
· To Organise Coastal area’s Village Volunteer Clubs
· To Orzanise Capacity Building of Partner NGOs
· To Organise Networking of Community based NGOs
· To ensure Democracy Education and Social Justice
To organize and rally economically vulnerable rural people round the VillageOrganization (VO)
Towards achieving self-reliance e through implementation of sustainable development programs.
• To strengthen the capacity of the community people in institution building.
• To promote Maternal Child Health and Family Planning services,
• To improve the level of nutrition & personal hygiene through health education.
• To alleviate poverty of community people through income and employment generation.
• To provide credit support to raise purchasing capacity of the community people.
• To develop and raise the professional skill of the community people.
• To ensure access to sanitation & safe drinking water in the community.
To help improve community people’s disaster preparedness and rehabilitation capability.
• To raise the level of literacy among the community people.
• To promote ecologically balanced agriculture technology.
• To promote social forestation in the target area to maintain ecological balance.
• To create awareness on HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention in the community

01.6 PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization are
¨ To aware HIV/AIDS to the community people.
¨ To assist the landless poor for active participation in development effort.
¨ To make community people aware about water and sanitation and ensure safe drinking water in their daily life.
¨ To make community people aware about environmental pollution.
¨ To provide water sealed latrine in the community to change their habit.
¨ To develop savings habit among the beneficiaries.
¨ To provide legal support to the community people.

01.7 DIRECT TARGET GROUP
j Rural poor (adult) with special emphasis on women.
j Children from rural poor households

01.8 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

General committee:
There is a general committee consisting of 27 members including 12 female members. They elect Executive committee members for two years. General committee meets at least once a year and approve budget, evaluate past year activities and make action plan for the next year.

Executive committee:
The Executive committee consists of seven members including five women members. The Executive committee plays a vital role to run the organization. Executive Director is the chief executive of the organization and is responsible to the Executive committee.

01.9 Working area of SUN
SUN has been operating its development activities in an integrated approach in working in 11 Upazilla under 08 District of Bangladesh.
02.0 INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION

02.1 Group Formation

Development is a continuous process and SUN is implementing all its development activities centering the group-based approach. One of the most significant work of the extension workers and programme organizers of the SUN is to organize the landless, poor and marginal beneficiaries into small indigenous groups. Three Field Extension Workers/Programme Organizers and one Field Coordinator are involved in the savings and credit program. Each of them arrange training on savings and credit program, leadership and account maintenance for the group leaders. SUN mobilises the landless, poor and marginal people of the villages through consciousness raising and form a village organisation (VO) with 20 to 25 members in each. The criteria of the VO members of the SUN are that they should be landless and/or semi-landless, marginal farmers, laborers, vulnerable and disadvantaged women, adolescents, children and men. A village organisation (VO) consists of 4-5 small groups, each small group contains 5 members taking one member from each household. VO members elect one President, one Secretary and one Treasurer for one year in their Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the VO. Weekly meetings are held at a particular place in a pre-schedule date and time to discuss socio-economic issues, family problems and find out the probable solutions for the problem.
SUN organized 54 VOs (53 female VOs and 01 male VOs) in its working areas consisting of 1188 members (1170 female members and 18 male members) by 31 December 2005. During last one year the organization has organized 05 new female VOs comprising of 80 members, and 01 male VO was organized. During the period a total of 54 members (female 50 and mal e04) left the VO due to migration, irregular savings and participation in VO activities, etc. Later, a total of 77 members rejoined 12 VOs with fresh commitment. (N.B. out of 54 37 are credit group and rest 37 is none credit group)

However, the area wise numerical information in details of the VOs and VO members as of December 2005 shown in the Table-01 of page 01 in the Annexure-A attached in the last section of the report.

02.2 Group Savings

The objective of group savings is to accumulate collective savings of the group members to form a fund of their own for carrying out their economic activities. To achieve this objective, each group member deposits certain amount of weekly savings as decided by the members themselves in the first group meeting. Weekly savings is recorded in their pass-books, duly signed by the SUN extension workers and by them. The Cashier deposits weekly group savings to the respective field staff. The amount is then deposited to SUN Accounts and after making necessary records, the amount is deposited into the Group Savings Accounts in the Bank. Information of group savings during January-December 2007 in BD Taka have been mentioned
The above table shows that during the reporting period, SUN collected a total amount of Tk. 588533 only as group savings from 988 VO members. A total of Taka 437835 only has been refunded to 242 group members who have been dropped/phased out or migrated to urban areas during the reporting period.

02.3 Income and Employment Generation

Earning an extra income contributes significantly in attaining financial solvency which creates one’s good position in the family and thus in the society. Major problems in implementing IGAs for the poor and marginal beneficiaries are lack of capital, appropriate selection of component/trade, necessary skills and management capacity. Hence, SUN arranges various skill development and management capacity building trainings for the group members. SUN also provides loan support from its revolving loan fund (RLF) to the target beneficiaries for implementing IGAs and encourages them undertake appropriate IGAs. Group members also can take loan from the group savings fund at the time of emergency. The status of credit program during January-December 2007 is given below:

Sl
Description Male Female Total Remarks
1.
Total amount of credit disbursed
12000 3558000 3570000

2.
Total number of borrowers
603 606

3.
Total amount of loan money collected
69364 3457656 3527020

4.
Total amount of service charge collected
27030 502023 529053

5.
Total outstanding loan
60430 2374320 2434750

6.
Cumulative amount disbursed since inception
87000 12594000 12681000
The status of loan fund utilization including activities, number of borrowers and amount undertaken for the IGA components by the target beneficiaries during the year were as follows:

Sl. No.
Activity
No. of borrower Amount in Taka Remarks
1
Small trade/business
168 987000

2
Agriculture
109 736000

3
Rickshaw purchase
167 965000

4
Grocery 261000

5
Poultry
22 111000

6
Milching cow purchase
27 109000

7
Goat rearing
26 73000

8
Bakery
04 48000

9
Leaves for thin mat
11 57000

10
Wood business
0 29000

11
Kuthiali
13 84000

12
Puffed rice trading
10 42000

13
Fish business
11 44000

14
Banana cultivation
0 24000


Total 3558000



03.0 HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (HRD)

03.1 STAFF TRAINING

SUN believes that development of knowledge, skills and efficiency of staff members of an organization is quite important to achieve its goals. Staff training plays a significant role in developing human potentials. It is a pre-requisite for success of the development programs of any organization, and that is why staff training is a continuous process in SUN. The organization is committed to make a trained set of staff for implementing its activities efficiently and effectively. Hence, SUN organized the following training courses for skill development and efficiency enhancement of its staff members during the period under review:

Subject/Course Title Duration Organized by/ Venue Number & Type of Participant
Type/ Category of Participant
Male Female
Total
Orientation on SUN and foundation training
05
SUN training center
03
02
05
Staff
Leadership development and group management
02
Do
03
01
04
Do
Credit and IGA management
02
Do
03
01
04
Do
Training on gender and development
02
Do
04
06
10
Do
Saplings plantation and Fruit Tree Management
02
Do
01
0
01
Do
Disaster Management
04
Concern Khulna
04
03
07
Do

The above table shows that during the reporting year SUN has organized 06 different types of trainings for 31 staff members and among them 13 were female and 18 male.



03.2 BENIFICIARY TRAINING

The primary concept of SUN is to provide leadership, group management and skill development training to the beneficiaries to enhance their skills and capabilities before providing any credit support to ensure maximum profit. Also, trainings are imparted to the beneficiaries on awareness raising, human rights, etc.

SUN organised different types of training courses for the landless, poor and marginal beneficiaries to enhance their knowledge, skills and efficiency which considering it as the pre-condition for capacity building and ensuring their active participation in all development efforts. Union Parishad Members/Chairmen and school teachers and students were also included in different trainings considering them as important development associates. The following table shows the list of different trainings organized for and participated by beneficiaries during January-December 2005:

Course Title
Duration
Number of batch
Number of participant
Type of participants
Organized
By/Venue
Male
Female
Total
Union WATSAN Committee Orientation
1 day
4
33
9
42
UP Chairman, Members
SUN,
SUN Training Centre, Barisal ,Deep Hand Tube Well Caretakers Training
2 days
22
90
90
180
From 90 water points
SUN/ Courtyard
SMC Orientation
1 day
-
8
2
10
10 school children
SUN
TOT for Union Coordinator & Caretaker
2 days
1 batch
2
1
3

SUN
Capacity building on Union Parishad activities
4 days
1 batch
10
4
14
UP Members & Chairman
SUN
Orientation on HYSAWA management
2 days
1 batch
18
7
25
UP Members Chairman, Gram Sarkar community leaders, local elites
SUN
Workshop on UP managed HYSAWA Pilot Project
2 days
1 batch
23
7
30
UP Members Chairman, Gram Sarkar community leaders, local elites
SUN

04.0 WATER AND SANITATION

Having largest program like ‘Self Sufficiency of the target people through Micro Credit’ SUN earned specialty in Water Supply and Sanitation program as well. SUN started its WATSAN program from January 2000 under the umbrella of DPHE-Danida Water Supply and Sanitation Components (WSSC), the largest water supply and sanitation program in the country in partnership with Dhaka Ahsania Mission. There were two separate components of the project named “Rural Water Supply and Sanitation” and “Arsenic Mitigation” being implemented with Dhaka Ahsania Mission through a unique and integrated approach under same management and staff.

l To improve behavioural pattern of the people with regard to the use of safe water and sanitation facilities
l To increase hygiene awareness
l To increase coverage with fully accessible and functional water supply facilities
l To increase operation and maintenance capability of the population receiving caretaker training
l Screening of the tube wells in most arsenic prone areas and find out arsenic patients
l Arrange alternative water supply options where ground water is found contaminated with arsenic
l To strengthen capacity of DPHE/Local Government bodies as per their comparative advantages to provide sustainable water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion to rural population

Table 07 of page 04 in the annexure attached herewith shows major activities performed during the reporting period.

04.1 HYGIENE PROMOTION AND SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

Frontline staff of SUN conducted hygiene education session with primary target group people (direct beneficiaries of safe water supply infrastructures) on 17 different issues for bringing positive change in hygiene behavior and health conditions. A continuous follow-up activity was also done simultaneously. A number of social mobilization activities were performed with secondary target group people of the working area, such as: conducting sessions with school students, community meeting, meeting with Imam and youth, organizing cultural program and issue based campaign, sanitation week/month observation etc.

Table 08 of page 04 in the annexure attached herewith shows major activities performed during the reporting period.

04.2 Arsenic Mitigation and water supply program.

Supply of safe drinking water to the poorest of the poor section of people in the rural areas is one of the major activities under DPHE-Danida WSS Components. SUN facilitated in installing more than 253 deep hand tube wells in five technically feasible unions of Barisal Sadar Upazilla. Efficient front line workers of SUN with regular support from core team find out the pockets where poorest of the poor people are living without having pure drinking water facilities, created demand among them for deep hand tube wells, collected contribution money by installment from them and deposited to DPHE. DPHE installed tube wells through appointing contractors. SUN also helped the user group members in proper use and maintenance of the installed tube wells through providing caretakers training and toolboxes.

04.3 SCREENING OF TUBE WELLS

Courtyard meeting is being conducted by a Hygiene PromoterScreening of tube wells under Arsenic Mitigation Component is completed in two phases. Initially 2470 tube wells from 5 unions under Pirojpur Sadar and Zianagar Upazillas were done in the year 2002. Another 3909 tube wells under 5 remaining unions of Pirojpur Sadar and Zianagar Upazillas were completed by the end of 2004. During the whole process 1656 tube wells were identified as contaminated with arsenic more than acceptable limit and have been marked with red colour. A total of 44 (male 22 and female 22) patients have been identified with arsenicosis disease. Necessary awareness have also been given to the community people about the consequences of arsenic contamination. Arrangement for supplying safe water drinking water in arsenic prone areas through different options like tube well, PSF and RWH is continuing.

04.4 ALTERNATIVE SAFE WATER OPTIONS (Arsenic Component)

SUN also provided other alternative safe water options in the areas where majority of the tube wells are found contaminated with arsenic and are technically non-feasible for installation of Deep Hand Tube Wells. Our staffs installed 76 small size “DPHE-Danida” model Rain Water harvesting units with 500 liter capacity each and another 16 big Rain Water Harvesting units with 2500 liter capacity each. We have also successfully installed 8 Pond Sand Filters in our working area. Our staffs installed all of these 8 units with direct participation of the user group members without appointing contractors. About 3520 people are getting safe drinking water from these 8 units of Pond Sand Filters, 27,830 beneficiaries are getting water from Deep Hand Tube Wells and 1,540 beneficiaries are getting safe water from the Rain Water Harvesting units. However, more of these options are planned to install in near future.

Installation of alternative safe water supply option units is a new horizon for us. People in this area are not familiar with any of the options mentioned above. It was a great challenge for us to establish and popularize them among the communities. Finally, we have succeeded and community has accepted the technologies. They shared a portion of installation cost and so far we have been reported people are using and maintaining the options with full faith and confidence. As a result huge demand came to us for installation of fresh units. Now we are trying to promote the options within the community by rendering technical support only.


04.5 SCHOOL SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROMOTION

Conducting classroom sessions in selected 21 schools in each of the working unions and construction of latrines for school students where no sanitary latrine is available are two main components of the program. Through classroom sessions health and hygiene related awareness has been given to school student following child-to-child approach. This year we set a target to construct 10 school latrines, and we achieved it and a total of 21 school latrines have been constructed sine inception.


04.5 ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION

In the implementation Plan of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, all participating nations, which included Bangladesh, agreed to pursue a specific sanitation target. It was to reduce by half the number of people, currently 2.4 billion, who do not have access to basic sanitation facilities by 2015, Bangladesh with its limited resources took a bold decision to achieve sanitation for all by 2010 a giant leap ahead of the million development goals (MDG).

Prevalence of poor environmental sanitation situation in major portion of the rural communities is the major cause to spread out infectious diseases. From 2001 and onward emphasize has been given to establish 100% sanitary latrine among the user communities where only about 20% people used sanitary latrine at that time. Initially we also could not believe about the successfulness of the program, as there is no subsidy and credit for this initiative. During year 2002 we achieved significant success in this sector. Having encouraged from last years success and taking into consideration of the millennium development goal and the target taken by Bangladesh Govt. to achieve sanitary latrine for all by 2010 we took it as another challenge and finally succeeded. At the end of the reporting year we achieved almost 100% sanitary latrine coverage among the targeted users community households.

The expert frontline staffs created awareness among people about use and well maintenance of installed latrines. They also motivated them to keep the courtyards clean and dispose the household solid waste in a specific whole. As a result rate of attack of infectious diseases among the targeted community people has decreased substantially.


04.7 PILOTING PARTICIPATORY HYGIENE PROMOTION TOOLS

SUN started pilot project on “Participatory tools for hygiene promotion” in Kadamtola and Durgapur, two of its under DPHE-Danida working unions in September 2001. Main objective of the project was to find out a better and sustainable technique for achieving cent percent sanitation coverage. It was the only action research program undertaken by DAM in collaboration with WaterAid Bangladesh. SUN feels proud of for getting the opportunity to implement the pilot project in its own working area.

From the very beginning of the pilot project, SUN continued special priority in implementing it, so that better and effective learning can be achieved. The project ended in June 2003. Throughout the implementation process of the pilot project we followed that, capacities of the community people has increased remarkably to think about and participate in the process of their own development. Capacities of concerned staffs also increased through taking part in different training on participatory

approach. They are now capable to scale up the program in larger span on the basis of the experience and the lessons learnt from the action research.

Under the pilot project, total community as whole was considered as target people, on the other hand only direct beneficiaries of hardware installation is considered as target people under normal activities of DPHE-Danida WSS project. In the pilot project community people were involved in both planning and implementation process but in traditional process they were not involved in planning process. We found the process followed under pilot project is more participatory and more effective and sustainable to attain total sanitation in a particular community.


]04.8 VILLAGE BASED TOTAL SANITATION

With the experience gathered from pilot project on community based “Participatory Tools for Hygiene Promotion” DAM launched a new program named “Village Based Total Sanitation Program” in 256 villages under 256 Unions. Again SUN feels proud of, because of the pilot project implemented by it, from where the idea of village based total sanitation was generated. The program started in August and by the end of December 2003. SUN successfully achieved 100% sanitation coverage in three of its targeted villages in three Unions. The local government institution, especially the Union Parishod played key role with the community people in implementing the program. The respective Union Parishod Member was given training, integrated with planning and implementation process along with the community people in a successful way under the program. Village wise status is in the table and chart below:


Table: 09, Update of village based total sanitation program
Union
Total HH
Latrine status before
Latrine status after
Remarks
Durgapasa 251
104
251
100%
Kabai
230
101
230
100%
Tona
257
67
257
100%
Total
738
272
738
100%

04.9 UNION BASED TOTAL SANITATION

Experience of village based total sanitation program shows that concerted efforts of all stakeholders and key role of Union Parishod can make total sanitation a reality. The participation of local bodies is a pre-condition to motivate the people for changing their practices on hygiene behaviour. Local Govt. participation can help affecting the changed behavior of the community, which in turn helps to ensure the sustainability of the program and making visible impact in the working area. Based on the idea DAM launched Union Based Total Sanitation Program in six unions. Two unions out of six are in the jurisdiction of SUN working area. Under the program total sanitation means
© All household will have their own or shared sanitary latrine
© All households will keep their latrine neat and clean
© All villagers will wash their hands by soap or ash before taking food and after defecation
© All villagers will use sandals for latrine use
© All households will dispose of solid waste in specific holes

SUN started its afford towards achieving total sanitation in two unions along with respective Union Parishod from July 2003. At the end of August 2004 it is found that 100% households (only 28% before our intervention started) of the unions are using hygienic latrines.

Table: 10, Update of union based total sanitation
Union
Total HH
Latrine status before
Latrine status after
Durgapur
2822
847
2822
Kadamtala
2928
772
2928
Total
5750
1619
5750


05.0 HYSAWA Pilot Project

The HYSAWA pilot project has been started in August 2004. It has two components, i.e., Union Parishod Capacity Building and Hygiene Promotion. The Hygiene Promotion program was started from 01 August and the UP Capacity Building program was started from 11 August 2004.

The UP managed HYSAWA pilot project is being funded by DPHE/Danida under the umbrella of DPHE/R&D Division. It is a new concept, where donor is directly funding the Union Parishod for implementation of the project. Under the pilot project, Hardware supports are being provided by Union Parishad and the Software support by the People’s Development Foundation-SUN.

The Software supports are the Union Parishod Capacity Building and Hygiene Promotion; and the Hardware supports are installation of Deep Hand Tube wells (DHTs), Pond Sand Filters (PSFs), Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) for the supply of safe water among the poorest of the poor people in 1 No. Shikder Malliki UP. Installation of School Latrines also come under the Hardware support done by the UP for the benefit of the school student and teachers.

06.0 GENDER KNOWLEDGE NETWORKING AND HUMAN RIGHTS INTERVENTION IN BANGLADESH (GKNHRIB)

The GKNHRIB is a human rights based advocacy program initiated by SUN in February 2003 in 10 villages under 5 unions of 3 upazilas of Pirojpur district with the objectives of
© Prevention of violation of human rights against women
© Modernization of Shalish management at community level and assurance of justice to women
© Increase organizational capability of partner organization through networking so that they can play a vital role in preventing violation of human rights

Activities accomplished/performed under GKNHRIB during the project period have been mentioned in the following table:

Sl.
Activity Number Remarks
2005 2006 2007
Total

01
Baseline survey (No. of village)
10
--
--
10

02
Formation of CRC* and WAG*
20
--
--
20
10+10=20
03
Community outreach program
05
--
--
05

04
Conflict resolution
06
53
60
119

05
Orientation on HREP Module to school teachers and students
--
01
--
01
30 teachers and students in 01 batch
06
Conduction of session on HREP in 5 educational institutions
02
20
33
55
4 schools & 1 college
07
Orientation to the school and college authority (on HREP Module)
01
--
--
01

08
Orientation and meeting on HREP with school and college authority
02
10
10
22
Teachers of 5 schools & colleges
09
Pre-test on HREP in 5 educational institutions
--
100
--
100
Students
10
Monthly meeting with CRC (Citizens’ Rights Committee) and WAG (Women Assistance Group)
05
120
60
185
The meetings were held in the village committee offices
11
Quarterly meeting with elected Members of 5 Union Parishads
05
20
-
25
The meetings were held in the UP offices
13
Quarterly meeting with Coordinators at BLAST Unit Office
01
04
04
09
Held in SUN conference room
14
People’s rally, meeting and Kobi Gan (popular song)
--
10
--
10
10 programs in 10 villages
15
Popular theatre/drama show in the village
--
10
10
20
10 shows in 10 different villages/year
16
Video magazine (Madhumilon) show in the villages
30
10
-
40
10 shows in 10 different villages
17
Video magazine (Madhumilon) show in the educational institutions (schools and colleges)
01
04
-
05
14 shows in 50 schools and colleges of 3 Zilla's (Barisal, Pirijpur and Patuakhali)
18
FGD with CRC and WAG
--
10
--
10

19
Interview of the women conflict mitigators
--
02
--
02
With 2 women

Day Observation/Celebration
01
02
02
05
10th December 2007&

Case study
06
--
--
06
Case studies had been submitted to BLAST Office

Uthan (courtyard) meeting
--
--
130
130


Workshop of the committee members on legal aid awareness building
--
--
Video show on ‘Kranti’ in the organization
--
--
Video show on ‘Kranti’ in the working villages
--
--
10
10


Running of a courts case in favour to extorted women
--
--
01
01


Post-test
--
--
100
100
Students
* CRC = Citizens’ Rights Committee WAG = Women Assistance Group
GKNHRIB Project

GKNHRIB Project has been started from February 2003. Different activities have been planned and implemented, and among them, mediation and mitigation, meeting with the civil rights and women support groups, meeting with the Chairman and Members of the Union Council, celebration/observation of different Days of Significance, video-magazine show, arranging video-magazine show in the educational institutions, human rights related stage/street drama, courtyard meetings, pre-teats and post-tests of the students, filing and running court-cases in favour of oppressed women, etc.

During last three years SUN under this project resolved and mitigated 119 cases through Shalish, out of which there were 60 in 2005, 53 in 2004 and 06 cases in 2003. In total 185 meetings were held with the Civil rights and women support groups, and out which 60 were in 2007. In 2007, 10 dramas were staged, and 130 courtyard meetings were held. In 2004, there were pre-tests for 100 and in 2005 the same 100 students attended the pots-tests. In 2005 one court-case was run by SUN in fovour of the oppressed women. In 2005 332 activities were accomplished and among them there were 130 courtyard meetings, 60 mediation and mitigations (Shalish).


07.0 NARIR ODHIKAR PROKOLPO (Women Rights Project)

SUN has started implementing the Narir Odhikar Project (Women Rights Project) from October 2004 in 07 unions of Pirojpur Sadar, 03 unions of Zianagar and 08 unions of Nazirpur upazilas of Pirojpur district with the funding support of SAP-Bangladesh/Manusher Jonno. The report of the accomplished activities of the projectsince inception up to December 2004 are mentioned in the following:

a. Introduction and communication:
At the outset, the project staffs were acquainted with the project area, target population and community people to get the preliminary idea about the area. The staff members also made necessary contacts and communication with the UP Chairmen, Members including the Women Members, Secretaries, Gram Sarker Members, Doctors, Journalists, Imams, Marriage Registrars (Kazis) and local elites with a view to be introduced with them and develop good relationships and rapport with them.

b. Survey:
The area survey has been accomplished during December 2004. In total 60 households were surveyed in 06 unions out of total 18 unions of all three upazilas (Barisal Sadar, Bakargonj and Pirijpur Sadar). Methodologies used during the survey were: Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informants Interview (KII) and household survey. 10 FGDs were conducted with the grassroots level women group, male group, UP women members and Secretaries, civil society groups in these upazilas. KIIs were held in 6 unions (3 unions of Pirojpur Sadar and 3 unions of Zianagar upazilas), and during the KIIs, the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), UP Chairmen, Officials of the Upazila Social Welfare and Women Affairs Department, lawyers and advocates were interviewed personally. Household survey was conducted in these 6 unions. The areas of survey were: identifying the situation/status about dowry, divorce, Denmohor, early marriage, polygamy, marriage registration, women rights status, women extortion, oppression, exploitation and discrimination.
c. Formation of Justice Facilitation Committee (JFC) and Monitoring Team:
Initial contacts were made with the UP Chairmen, Members including the Women Members, Secretaries, Gram Sarker Members, Doctors, Journalists, Imams, Marriage Registrars (Kazis) and local elites with a view to form/establish JFC at the upazila level and Watch Dog Committee (Monitoring and Vigilance Team) at union level.

08.0 WOMEN AND CHILD TRAFFICKING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN

This program is being supported by Red Barnet (Center for Development Services-CDS) through ATSEC, Bangladesh Chapter. Agreement for implementing 6 month term pilot project was signed during the reporting year. Other preparations like planning and staff recruitment were also completed by December 03 and implementation started in January 04. Activities accomplished during the reporting period are shown in the Table of page in the annexure attached herewith

09.0 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

12 staff members of SUN have been trained on disaster preparedness and management with the funding support of Concern Bangladesh during the year 2004. SUN also distributed 250 blankets with the support from Concern Bangladesh among the destitute and extreme poor people of Pirojpur Sadar and Ziuanagar upazilas in January 2004 as a part of national disaster mitigation program.


10. 0 AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON CHILD RIGHT:

SUN is an active member of Bangladesh Sishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF). BSAF supported SUN in implementing different campaign activities on child rights during the year. Implemented campaign activities are as follows:
© Organized Rally
© Organized day observation and gathering
© Organized different competitive events for destitute children.
© Organized Mini Child Parliament activities


11.0 ANTI-DRUG & SMOKING CAMPAIGN:

SUN is still continuing implementation of the program against drug addiction and smoking with assistance from BATA Shoe Company. The organization is working to build awareness among community people about the bad effects of drug use and smoking in human body.

12.0 HIV AIDs Prevention Campaign:
33 skill staff with 918 volunteer has been trained on HIV AIDS prevention from Barisal, Patuakhali, Maymensingh, and Pirojpur. Civil surgeon office another male staff trained from help organization on the same issue. As part of Post training assignment 105 special group meeting organized to inform about 3,70,000 members to inform the issue and make them aware about the fade and prevention of AIDS. 1000 copies of the booklets on named NIGEKAY JANO supplied from CARE-Bangladesh were distributed among 1000 adolescent boys and girls


13.0 Partnership with Local/National/International NGOs

Name of organization &
address
Program Nature
Type of Partnership (Financial assistance, training etc.)
1.Enterprise Development Network (EDN), Dhaka,
Bangladesh

Capacity Building
Training/advocacy/material support
2.Centre for Development
Services(CDS), Bangladesh
Financial, Networking and support services
Training and technical assistance on sustainable agriculture /capacity
Building of service providers and
group members and Finance
2. Habitat Council Bangladesh Training, Capacity
building
Capacity Building
Technical assistance on training/material support for sustainable development

4..Southern NGOs Coalitions
Support Service
Training/advocacy/material support
5.Gender and Water alliance-Netherlands
Capacity Building
Training/advocacy/material support
6.Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh(ADAB)
Capacity Building
Capacity Building, Advocacy, Lobbying


7.IVS-Bangladesh
Capacity Building
Training/advocacy/material support
8.European Public Law Centre
Capacity Building
Training/advocacy/material support and Finance
9. Aloshika RSDC
Financial Support
Financial and technical support
10.World Social Forum-Belgium
Support Service
advocacy/material support
11.AHARAN-Thailand
Support Service
material support
12.Know How-Mexico
Support Service
Training/advocacy/material support
13.World Water Forum-Germany
Support Service
Training/advocacy/material support
14.Kaiser Family Foundation-USA
Support Service
Information, material support,
15.Inter Action-USA
Support Service
Advocacy, technical support
16.Idea list Org-USA
Support Service
Advocacy, technical support
17.RWJF-USA
Support Service

Information support HIV/AIDS
17. Delegation to the European Union Bangladesh
Civic Awareness
Financial Service


14.00 OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL DAYS/ MONTH

During the reporting period, SUN observed the following National and International Days of significance by organizing rally and discussion meetings to commemorate the events and ensure people’s participation for the purpose of awareness rising on the issues mentioned in the table below:

Sl. #
Day Date Participated by
01.
International Women’s Day
08 March
Group members and staff
02.
World Environment Day
05 June
Local elites, staff and group members
03.
World Population Day
11 July
Staff and group members
04.
International Literacy Day
08 September
Students, guardians, and staff
05.
International Children’s Day
1st Monday of October, 2005
NFE students, street children and staff.
06.
National Sanitation Month
October 2005
Primary target group members, Community leaders and local elected representatives
07.
International Human Rights day
10 December 2005
Human right organizations, Women and Children


CONCLUSSION
Development means bringing positive changes in the lifestyle of human being. From the very beginning of its journey towards development, SUN is continuing its efforts to bring some positive changes among the landless, poor and marginal target beneficiaries. It tries to make a transition from an inhuman lifestyle to a prosperous one for all of its beneficiaries. Of course we believe that some remarkable progress has already been achieved in this regard, but still a long way to go through.

SUN is sanguine that under the proper and able guidance of its Executive Committee and the Development Partners, the program activities would be able to show brighter future directions to the disadvantaged rural poor by bringing positive and sustainable changes in the life of the people under different project areas, and as such, the efforts of SUN and the partners would be highly appreciate.

PARTNERSHIP

a.water integrity network-WIN- Germany.
b.Global Development Network-GDN-UK.
c.Delegation to the European Union of Bangladesh.
d.European Public Law Centre-EPLC.
e.Gender and Water alliance—GWA,Netherlands.
f.International Labor right forum-ILRF
g.IVS-Bangladesh.
h.Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh(ADAB).
i.Kaiser Family Foundation-USA
j.Inter Action-USA
k.Idea list Org-USA
l.SGS- Paris .
m.Southern NGOs Coalitions.
n.Bangladesh Migration and development forum- BMDF.
o.Asian Peoples Alliance for combating HIV & AIDS-APACH
p. UNDP-A2J Project
q.International Rice research institute -IRRI(fund from IFFAD )
r.Bangladesh agriture and Rice research institute-BARRI

OUR PROJECT

SUN has been implementing the following projects and programs for the sustainable development of the grassroots target population in its working locations/areas:

a.Organization Development and Institution Building:
· Networking of Community based NGOs
· Organisation Development (OD)
· Organisational management,review and incorporation of constitution
· Future searchCapacity Building of Partner NGOs

b.Sustainable Agriculture Program:
• Skill Training
• Collaboration With Gov. Programs
• Agriculture Technology Transfer Project
• Credit for Small farmer
• Agricultural water supply project-AWSP

c.Awareness & Advocacy Program on legal and human rights Program:
• Awareness orientation on legal aspects
• Information, education & Motivational services
• Training
• Workshop/Seminar/ Conference

d.Awareness and support Program on:
• Health and Nutrition
• STDs/HIV/AIDS
• Reproductive health

e.Human Resource Development and Advocacy & Networking program:
• Staff development training
• Leadership & group mgt. Training for group members
• Micro Enterprise development training
• Women leadership training

f.Arsenic Mitigation Program:
Tube-well Screening, Patient identification, Community Meeting and Social mobilization.

g.Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Program:
q COBs
q Rain water harvesting- RWH
q Awareness, training for sanitation
q Health and highine promotion
q DHTW installation
q Social mappingPSF

h.Democracy Education and Social Justice:
· Democracy Education
· Voter Education
· Child Domestic Workers
· Good Governance of NGOs and Govt.Legal aid Support

i.Village Volunteer Program
· Village Leader Training
· Volunteer Meeting/Camps
· School reconstruction
· Organisation and Local staff Capacity Building Organise Costal area’s Village Volunteer Clubs.

j.Women in Development/Gender Issue:
· Women Rights and Economic Empowerment
· Campaign on Gender Related Issues

  • Women Property and Inheritance Rights Project.

k.Disaster Management:

· Disaster Preparedness &Management

  • Facilitation for the implementation of flood Refuge (FR) Scheme under Third Rural Infrastructure Development Project.

l.Research and Evaluation:

· Action Research
· Impact study
· Survey
· EvaluationParticipatory needs assessment

CONTACT US

Head Office:

SUN-Save the Underprivileged and the Needy
College Road 1st Lane
Barisal-8200,Bangladesh
Phone: +88-01711-076456
Fax: +88-02-8110301
E-mail: sunbd4@msn.com
sun_ngobd@hotmail.com
sunbslbd@gmail.com

OUR MISSION

Enhance capacity building of Private Voluntary Development Organizations (PVDOs) and community people, both urban and rural, to effect positive change in society by providing need-based, technical assistance and oversight

OUR VISION :

A congenial Society that afford equitable opportunities to all

OUR OBJECTIVES

  • · To Organise Coastal area’s Village Volunteer Clubs
    · To Orzanise Capacity Building of Partner NGOs
    · To Organise Networking of Community based NGOs
    · To ensure Democracy Education and Social Justice

    • To strengthen the capacity of the community people in institution building.
    • To promote Maternal Child Health and Family Planning services,
    • To improve the level of nutrition & personal hygiene through health education.
    • To alleviate poverty of community people through income and employment generation.
    • To provide credit support to raise purchasing capacity of the community people.
    • To develop and raise the professional skill of the community people.
    • To ensure access to sanitation & safe drinking water in the community.
    To help improve community people’s disaster preparedness and rehabilitation capability.
    • To raise the level of literacy among the community people.
    • To promote ecologically balanced agriculture technology.
    • To promote social forestation in the target area to maintain ecological balance.
    • To create awareness on HIV/AIDS/STDs prevention in the community

RECENT ACHIVEMENT

BRAC CHAIRMAN FAZLE HASAN ABED VISIT CITIZEN RIGHTS FAIR,SUN STALL.
Dated on : February 20.2010
The concept of Nagorik Mela (Citizenship Fair) is to hold a fair on the idea of citizenship in a broad sense and from different angles. It is to be a concerted effort of various NGOs and other civil society organizations working for the rights of people directly or indirectly, who can showcase their ideas, programmes, products through demonstrations, talks, films/ documentary, theatre, cultural programmes, photography exhibition, etc. It can be both a platform for advocacy of their organizational programmes/ perspectives and a catalyst for different organizations to work together on an issue that all organizations in some way or other are addressing through their work. Thus it could include organizations like Grameen Bank, NGOs like BRAC, Proshika, Nijera Kori,SUN, human rights agencies like Ain-O-Shalish Kendra, BLAST, cultural organizations like Rupantar, associations who promote rights of ethnic groups through sale of their handicrafts, etc. We envision colourful festivity with stalls selling products from these different orgs, food, theatre and music performance, video showings, etc.
WORLD AIDS DAY 2009.-CANDLE LIGHT
CHIEF GUEST-A.S.M.SATTAR-DEPUTY CIVIL SURGION

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009-PRESS CONFRENCE

CHIEF GUEST TALUKDER MD.EUNUS-MP,MEMBER OF PARLAMENT


Seminar at Barisal BAR
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/April%2009/7-4-2009.htm

Separation of judiciary and ‘Pro Bono’ concept ensure justice and human rights Participants of a day long brainstorming meeting held at Barisal on Saturday7.4.2009 said that separation of judiciary and developing 'Pro Bono' concept are essentials to establish justice in the society and to guard human rights against infringement. The program was organised by 'Save the Underprivileged and the Needy (SUN), a NGO, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA) with assistance from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Bangladesh have been organizing the same type of programs in Barisal, Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Cox's Bazaar since July 2007 under the project named 'promoting accesses to justice and human rights in Bangladesh'. The meeting was conducted by Nizam Uddin Anon Executive Director of SUN, presided over by Shekh Abdul Kader, Barisal district Bar Association President, and was attended by seventy legal practitioners, law officials, journalists, stake holders, Dr. Rana P. Sattar, Project Manager UNDP with Salma Binte Qadir, Joint Secretary of Ministries of LAW(MoLJPA), as the chief guest.A discussion on the concept paper of 'Pro Bono (Latin phrase 'pro bono publico' meaning for the people's welfare) and legal resources network in Bangladesh including state owned National Legal Aid Organization (NLAO), took lace in the program.In the paper, it was explained that 'Pro Bono' legal services concept is new in Bangladesh. Under this theme, 'Pro Bono' lawyers will work voluntarily as an integral part of morality of legal profession and social obligation without expecting any remuneration either from clients or any other sources. They called for developing 'Pro Bono' legal services forum with recognition for services rendered relating sustainability and community ownership of such services to the litigant in need as aspect that may not be assured by the public funded or donor supported legal aid projects. A network in bar associations, bar council and related institutions and introducing practical course about 'Pro Bono' in Bar/LLB/LLM, also suggested in the concept paper.However, it was expected in the discussion that these consultations would contribute towards developing strategic plans for establishment of a legal service network in Bangladesh with affiliation to other countries of the region for mutual sharing of experiences.The organizers of the program said that the project aims at providing institutional and technical supports to process initiated by the government to judicial sector reforms for establishing a human rights commission with a further strengthened, separated, independent judiciary.Focuses on capacity development of the law officers, legal profession, legal aid authority and civil society groups working on human rights and access to justice by forming Pro Bono Legal Services committees also elaborated in the program. The participants stressed on strengthen mechanism for promotion andprojection of human rights and the delivery of justice for all, particularly for the poor and other disadvantaged persons by empowering them through creating awareness of international human right norms.They called for enhancing access to justice and human rights for all disadvantaged and marginal groups through a right-based approach ensuring accountability and transparency in legal and judicial sector by separating



Relief Program Sidar effected People.




APACHA Orientation Meeting. 40 Chief executive officer of NGO'S attend this Meeting Dated on 30 July 2008





UNDP HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION VISIT SUN FIELD ACTIVITIES.
DATED ON: 21 MAY 2008






DONATE OUR NEXT PROJECT

Name of Project:
Awareness Education Program on Environmental Management.

Proposed Project Background:
Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries in south East Asia where poverty & vulnerability is the regular feature of the rural people’s life. The main reasons for poverty & vulnerability is due to lack of awareness & environmental degradation in respect of rapit urbanization, Reducing of wetland, industrial wastes, deforestati, non-judicial use of chemical fertilizer & pesticides (Dirty Zones), inadequate WASTSAN facilities and some other natural calamities. Consequences peoples suffering are increasing day by day life is endangering as well.
Justification: Bangladesh is an agricultural country and farming is the main livelihood of rural people. Approximately 80% of the families of Bangladesh are farm families. According to survey, research and study reports done by different organizations there is a general lack of awareness on modern agriculture system, equipments & technology especially on Health & Environment. It was reported that current vegetable production in Bangladesh meets only about 25% of the total requirement; obviously this is far short of the need. The present daily consumption in only about 30 grams per person against the average daily need of the about 200 grams. Similarly, fruits production & consumption rate is also below than vegetable consumption rate. Henceforth, poor villagers especially frames become sick and facing lots of health hazard ness. Similarly for keeping good environment 25% of forest is must, but as of different survey & study we have only 8% forest area. So, those factors are directly influencing the health & environment and it is also endanger for animal kingdom as well.
About 10% of the 14 million homes in Bangladesh have an average of 81 square meters of homestead land and a piece of rice plot along with small ditch pond where they can easily grown different vegetables & horticultural crops and start-up Rice Fish culture round the year through practicing of integrated farming & regenerative agriculture. So, considering is this situation SUN impels that Village Farm Family Development Program (VFFDP) through establishing of Regenerate agriculture program could be possible to address to poverty alleviation and overcoming the mal nutritional problems of the poor farm families life. Considering, the above mentioned condition on health & environment condition through awareness rising of the vulnerable people of the project area and ensure good health and environment conditions.

DONATE OUR NEXT PROJECT


Save our Children from Tobbacco ( Cigarrete) Factories.

Socio-economic background-a brief overview
Despite sustainable economic growth rate in the last successive years, Bangladesh is still categorized as poor country being half of all children are chronologically malnourished. Poverty endangers susceptibility and vulnerability, particularly for the children, at family and economic levels. The structural poverty, as it appears today, have plunged millions of children into extreme poverty.

Job is very much scared for the people particularly poor low skilled labor class in general and women and children in particular and are very much vulnerable to many respects.

Apart from major bidi producing districts elsewhere in the country, there are two well known factories named Karikor and Sultani Bidi employs nearly 3000 regular labors in their 5 branches in Barisal sadar. The consequential effect of river erosion, widespread poverty adds miseries to the huge number of people landless, migrants and is often vulnerable to social insecurity, and risk of being trafficked. Many of the workers engaged in bidi industry are the erosion-victims.
The workers in these factories are coming from neighboring villages. The hazardous conditions in bidi factory and the exploitation of children by adult workers as well as the absence of trade unions makes it clear that there is none to represent them and children are unable to take their grievances to the authorities. As those factories are located in City Corporation but actually in village vicinity, many children are found to be working with their parents and with adult.

Because of joblessness, subsistence economic situation, acute poverty at family level, many children in the neighboring villages are not found going to school. Thus illiteracy seems to be one of the major contributors for increasing child labor in the program area. An overwhelming majority of the adult workers, in many cases the parents of child bidi workers, have reportedly stopped schooling at early ages for economic reasons. In addition parents also believe the education does not bring immediate benefits, rather incurs substantial long term investment that can be easily utilized for immediate family subsistence.

The incidence of malnutrition and health related problems are also high among the working children for bidi industries.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Name Position Education Profession
Dr. Rafique Uddin Ahmed. Chairman. PhD,MSS, Development activist
Mr. Alauddin Shikder, Vice- Chairman, BSC, BED. Educationist
Mr. Sakhawat Hossain Zumman. Treasurer. MA, L L B. Lawyer
Mr. Nizam Uddin Anon. Executive Director. MSS.IDVM. Development Activist
Ms. Naharin Parvin. Member. BA , Development. Activist
Ms. Habiba Islam happy. Member. MA. Development Activist
Ms. Fatema-Tuj-Zahra. Member. MA. Development Activist
Mr. Rabin Karmaker, Member. BA , Development. Activist
Ms.Papri Ray. Member. MSS . Development Activist