ASPIRE
A quarterly OBAT Helpers publication
July 2015
In This Issue
Ramadan Campaign Gaining Ground!
Sight restored for 46 Camp Residents
200 Families Receive Clean Water
OBAT's BLS School Under Renovation
OBAT Installs 15 Tubewells in Deteriorating Ishurdi Camp
OBAT Khulna Holds Ceremony for Sewing and Computer Graduates
A Simple Dream
About OBAT
OBAT and charitable giving- on Dunya TV
Friends of OBAT, Seattle Shines!
New Friends of OBAT Chapter: Chicago!
You're Changing Zahid's Life
Victory Day Celebrations
Rangpur School Making Strides!
Tutoring Students Take on HSC Exam
Decathlon Brings Sports to Halishaher Students
Visitors Facilitate Prenatal and Postnatal Care
Mid-Year Exam Time for Preschoolers
Can you be our matchmaker?
Shop at Amazon and help OBAT
How can YOU Help?
Ramadan Campaign Gaining Ground!
With the onset of the sacred month of Ramadan, our 
Ramadan, Spirit and Charity fundraising campaign is off to a great start, thanks to your overwhelming kindness and support. This month unites all of us with its simple message of self-control and benevolence toward others less fortunate than us. As this month progresses, do take a moment to remember your fellow brothers and sisters in the camps for whom simple food and clean water constitutes an indulgence. Share your Zakat and the blessings of Ramadan with them by supporting OBAT's programs that are a lifeline for their survival and well-being. This Ramadan, our goal is to raise $280,000 to educate, heal and empower the unfortunate camp residents. Help us reach 100% of our goal by joining the movement.

Sight Restored for 46 Camp Residents

 

Forty-six camp residents received the gift of sight during May when cataract surgeries were conducted by the Diabetic Hospital in Chittagong in partnership with OBAT. Thank you to the RS Foundation in Canada for their support of OBAT's cataract surgery project. You can also help give the gift of sight to a person for only $40.
 

200 Families Receive Clean Water from New Tubewell in Ferozeshah
Women get water from the new tubewell

A new tubewell has been installed at Ferozeshah camp in Chittagong. A special thank you to our supporters for contributing towards this project. There is a severe scarcity of clean water in the camps and water-borne diseases proliferate due to lack of potable water. This tubewell is another step toward solving the severe water crises faced by the residents.

 

OBAT's BLS School Under Renovation
The BLS High School is the latest addition to OBAT's educational projects, bringing the total number of OBAT's schools to eight, two of which now are high schools. In order to ensure a safe environment for the students, a new roof was installed on the school in anticipation of monsoon season.
OBAT Installs 15 Tubewells in Deteriorating Ishurdi Camp
A woman draws water from a newly installed hand pump at Ishurdi

OBAT, RSF and HCI Canada have initiated tube well installation work at Ishurdi camp. This is the first step toward rebuilding basic infrastructure at Ishurdi which is the most overlooked camp and has rapidly deteriorating living conditions.The total population here, according  to a 1992 survey is 7,576 people and no NGO's are working here presently. According to the report of OBAT Project officer Humayun Kabir, water and sanitation projects need immediate and thorough attention.

The following number of tube wells have been installed:
Khulna, Khalispur: 5
Khulna, Gilatala: 3
Ishurdy: 3
Mymensingh: 4

OBAT Khulna Holds Ceremony for Sewing and Computer Graduates
A farewell and prayer program was held on March 30th at OBAT's training center in Khulna. The ceremony was a joint one held for the graduates from the sewing and embroidery program and the computer training center. This is the 6th batch of the sewing program, the 2nd batch of the embroidery center and the 9th batch of the computer training center in Khulna. A huge thank you to Mr. Humayun Kabir, OBAT's project officer in Khulna for his tireless efforts in making these programs successful. Best of luck to this graduating batch and we can't wait to accept new students!

 

         

 

A Simple Dream
The brothers

"In February 2015 in Mirpur camp, I saw two kids who are brothers and who live at Wabda building camp with their family. They both are under the age of ten but they work everyday to survive. What shocked me the most was that their whole family depends on these two children to feed them from their income. One of the brothers pulls the cart from area to area and the other sells potatoes. When I asked them about their studies, they sadly replied that they didn't go to school yet but they really wanted to read and write. They have a dream to study in a school like other kids."

By: Murtaza Khan, OBAT former project officer

 

About OBAT


OBAT Helpers is a U.S. based non-profit, 501(c)3 organization committed to providing aid, support, education and economical empowerment to suffering and displaced people. Our immediate focus is the forgotten and ignored Urdu speaking community, commonly known as stranded Pakistanis/Biharis, who have been suffering silently in the many shanty camps across Bangladesh for the past 43 years. OBAT was formed ten years ago to empower the camp residents through its various projects related to health, education and micro finance.
 
We hope that you will continue your generous support and create hope for these unfortunate and forgotten people. Together, we are making a difference in their lives as we help them fulfill their hopes and dreams.
 

Please share this message with your friends and families and invite them to join us on this journey! 


 

_________________________________ 

 

We value and appreciate your support tremendously. For questions and concerns, please email us at contact@obathelpers.org

  

Spread the word
&
Connect with Us

 

Find us on Facebook

 

Follow us on Twitter

 

Visit our website

 
OBAT participates in charitable giving discussion on Dunya TV
OBAT Helpers takes part in a great episode on Dunya TV just in time for a relevant conversation regarding giving during the month of Ramadan!

http://video.dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/pv/on-the-table/12451/ep-13411/All/2015-06-27#.VZBrxPlVikr
 
Friends of OBAT, Seattle shines!

On May 29th, 2015, the Friends of OBAT chapter in Seattle outdid itself once again! Hundreds attended a fundraising event that was meticulously planned and executed by Mr. Rizwan Samad. Special guest, Mr. Junaid Jamshed came from Pakistan to support OBAT's work. Our overwhelming gratitude to Mr. Rizwan Samad and his family who are at the helm of the Seattle chapter. Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the fundraiser was a huge success.
 
New Friends of OBAT Chapter: Chicago!
L to R: Mr. Sarwat Siddiqui, Mr. Kamran Anis & Mr. Rizwan Samad.

OBAT continues to share its mission in more cities with the help of compassionate supporters who are dedicated to helping OBAT empower the unfortunate camp residents. On June 28th, the main players behind this chapter, Mr. Kamran Anis and Mr. Sarwat Siddiqui (who also extends extensive pro bono tech support to OBAT) organized a fundraiser and Iftar for OBAT at the Lazzat banquet hall. The event was very well attended by people from the Chicago area. We are very grateful to both the organizers as well as to Mr. Rizwan Samad for especially flying in from Seattle to extend help for the event.

 

You can also help create OBAT's presence in your city. Contact us and find out how you can use support from your networks of friends and family and establish a Friends of OBAT chapter in your city.

 

You're Changing Zahid's Life
Young dreamer, Zahid
Zahid is a young student in OBAT Khulna's preschool. Our preschool project, supporting education at early stages of the children's learning is listed on Global Giving and is progressing toward its funding goal, thanks to supporters worldwide. You are helping shape lives!

Victory Day Celebrations

The students in OBAT's educational projects celebrate Victory Day by engaging in different competitions and activities. This year, all the tutorial centers and OBAT's NLJ and BLS school published a wall magazine. From each wall magazine submission, three best participants were selected and awarded a prize worth around 50 Takas.

Rangpur School Making Strides!
Rangpur School team 

On the 45th independence and national day of Bangladesh, the Rangpur district administration organized a parade in which 102 groups took part. OBAT's Rangpur students also participated in the parade which was held at the Rangpur Stadium. The Rangpur school group achieved the "Souvenir Award" from the Rangpur Divisional and Deputy Commissioner for their excellent performance in the parade. Way to go, Rangpur school students!

 

 

Tutoring Students Take on HSC exam

This year, a total of sixteen students from the Dhaka tutoring center will take part in the HSC  (High School Certificate) exam. These students have been attending the tutoring center to help them prepare. A farewell party was arranged and gifts were distributed among them for their encouragement.

 

Decathlon Brings Sports to Halishaher Students
Halishaher kids with Decathlon employees

 

Decathlon, a French sporting goods company, celebrated its founding day with OBAT's Halishaher School students. The employees of Decathlon, Bangladesh, devoted their entire day to playing a variety of games with our students. They organized the program at local beach, Parkir Char, 40 km away from Halishaher. Entertainment and meals were arranged for the students. Winning teams were awarded medals for their performance in the games while t-shirts and caps were gifted to all by Decathlon. We are very grateful to Decathlon for frequently arranging events for children, for choosing OBAT's Halishaher School children for this program.

 

Visitors Facilitate Prenatal and Postnatal Care
Mr Amin Hashmi and Ms. Nabiha at water point

 

Mr. Amin Hashmi, a former resident of Chittagong, and his daughter, Nabiha, visited the camps from Michigan, USA. Ms. Nabiha, who is focusing her studies on prenatal and postnatal care, met with women in the camps to discuss various aspects of pregnancy in the camps. She also visited the Smiling Sun satellite clinic and BRAC safe delivery clinic in Chittagong. OBAT is looking to partner with the Smiling Sun clinic to ensure safe delivery and pregnancy care to the camp residents and Ms. Nabiha's visit will help to initiate the partnership. 


 

If you would like to visit the camps for personal or professional reasons, contact us today to begin planning your visit!

 

Mid Year Exam Time for Preschoolers      

The mid-yearly exams of 2015 began in OBAT's Pre Schools in early June. The exams were held at the preschools in Chittagong, Dhaka, Rangpur  Khulna & Syedpur. Wishing our littlest students luck!

  
Can you be our matchmaker?

Do you work for any of these great companies?

Boeing|British Petroleum|CarMax|ExxonMobil|Gap|General Electric|Johnson & Johnson|Microsoft|Soros Management Fund|State Street Corporation


 The above companies are all top matching gifts companies (not a complete list). You can double your donation to us when your employers match your donation. Check with your employer if they have a matching gift program and double your impact!

  
Shop at Amazon 

 

OBAT is a part of Amazon Smile. You can combine shopping and giving when you shop at Amazon. Amazon will make a donation to OBAT Helpers if you designate it as the charity of your choice.  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-0946122
How can YOU Help?




Volunteer

Intern

Spread the word