Bangladesh: Part I

Fast forward a year later and I started gearing up for another Spring Break trip. This time I decided to go to Dhaka, Bangladesh as a part of a class called Seminar on Economic & Social Development in a Developing Country. The purpose of the visit was to work along side the Yunus Centre and to learn about social business and micro finance. The trip was a week but I decided to stay a little longer to complete a short occupational therapy internship with the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP).

Being in Bangaldesh made me nostalgic for India and I felt like I was jumping right back into something very familiar. Dhaka is very different than Chennai but the over all feel was very similar. Some of the major differences that I noticed were that there was a lot more traffic, presumably because there was no train system within the city. Also there was a lot less cows on the streets and the food was slightly different... and course hearing a different language (Bengali).

With the Women

Children at the Village

One of our first visits was to a rural village to meet with the women who take part in the micro finance program. Basically, the women receive small loans for the bank to help get them started to build a small business. Some women buy a cow and sell the milk, while others have purchased a rickshaw or small shop for mobile phones. Once the women are able to make money off of their venture,than they are able to repay the loan or take out an additional one. Although there are some critiques, this businessmen model has been wildly successful towards combating poverty within Bangladesh. At the meeting we learning about the different projects the women have each started and what the impact has been on them personally. Afterwards, we took a tour of the village and were able to play with the children. The children were so much fun! They sang, danced, and laughed with us. It was great to see how such a simple idea could impact these women lives, as well as their families and communities.

Red Chilies 

One of my favorite visits was to Bogra, to see Grameen Danone, one of the Yunus' Centres social enterprises. The point of this business is to work towards solving a social problem, which in this case is malnutrition. Grameen Danone produces a yogurt product that contains key nutrients that are missing in the diets of those who live in rural Bangladesh. This yogurt is sold at a very reasonable price within these rural areas and can stay without refrigeration. The company employs rural women to sell the yogurt so they are able to make a profit as well. Are mission in Bogra was to see the entire process of making this yogurt.

First we started by traveling to see where the milk is collected. The milk that goes towards making the yogurt is actually purchased from rural women who have taken microcredit loans. It was interesting to see this process, but I have to admit that my favorite part of this trip was outside of the educational experience. After seeing the milk collection station we decided to take a break and walk around the village we were at. We followed a path down to a beautiful river where women were drying chili peppers nearby. The contrast between the bright red chilies and the water was breathtaking. We made our way down to the shore to get a closer look at the vibrant scenery. Soon we were surrounded by many locals who eager to interact with us. One little boy offered to give us a ride on one of the boats so we agreed. It had just become morning so the area was so peaceful and calm. Riding on that boat made me feel grounded yet alive. It was such a small and simple thing, but I think it was the spontaneity of the boat ride that made it so wonderful.

Peaceful Boat Ride 

Overall during the trip I found myself completely mesmerized by the beauty of Bangladesh. Not just in the scenery but by the love and joy that you can feel in the people. One thing I found in Bangladesh is that people are deeply connected to their families as well as their communities, that is definitely something I admire.

Another memorable part of the trip was visiting notebook binding social business for the blind within Dhaka. This venture provides a new opportunity for those who are usually discriminated against in Bangladeshi society due to the physical disability of blindness. We went to see this social business in action and hear the stories of the workers.

Danny Learning How to Bind Notebooks

I have to say it was one of the most moving things of the entire trip. I had the opportunity to talk to one man in particular who shared his emotional journey. He said before this project he was practically shunned by his family and felt like he had no role in society. After being involved his family started to respect him and turned to him to help make decisions for the family. He shared about how this project has inspired him to get involved and reach out to other people who are living with physical disabilities. He wants to help empower them to see their true potentials. He also mentioned how music was something very meaningful in his life and wanted to somehow incorporate his music into empowering others. This man embodied hope, passion, and truly held an OT perspective without even knowing it!

Dr. Yunus & I

Other highlights of the trip were getting to actually meet Dr. Muhummas Yunus, founder of micro-finance and head of the Yunus Centre. He was quite a humble and lovely man.

Although the trip was mainly academic we did sneak in a visit to Lalbag Fort which was built by the Moghuls. Beautiful place! On top of that we had lovely dinners with friends and their families and even attended a surprise birthday party. Our group was treated me an enormous amount of hospitality, love, and support. It was truly a great visit.

Lalbag Fort

PS: I'm not done yet! More info on adventures in Bangladesh to come.... stay tuned :) 

xoxo, Becca