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ASPIRE- Your Monthly News & Updates

June 2016

Lots of good stuff is happening at OBAT and you are behind it! Aspire is now being released monthly to keep you informed of the never-ending good news and the changes you are creating.
Camp residents receive food as part of the annual Ramadan program
 Ramadan and its significance, for the camp residents

The camp residents are Muslims and practice Ramadan just like any other person of the Islamic faith. The programs that are empowering them and bringing them health, education and empowerment are heavily dependent on Ramadan donations as most of OBAT's program budget is met during this month with the generous zakat donations of people like you. We hope that this year too, you will open your hearts to helping your forgotten brothers and sisters. Your zakat can make a huge difference- with it, you can save a life, educate a child, provide clean water and sanitation facilities, and empower a person with a sustainable income earning opportunity. You can donate your zakat by sending a check or donate at the website by 
  Easy ways to help during Ramadan                       
A typical iftar meal in Bangladesh
    
                      
There are many other ways to help during Ramadan. Give a thought to converting an Iftar you are already hosting, into an OBAT awareness Iftar. A strictly non fundraising event, the objective of it would be to inform people about the plight of this community as this issue stays unknown to many. OBAT will provide total guidance on conducting this event including what to say and how to conduct the event- material such as photos and videos to share with the audience will be sent to you. Reach us at [email protected] if you are interested.

Shabnam Akhter, a student from Khulna School, with a 5.0 GPA

Fantastic SSC results

Recently, the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) results for grade ten were released. Eight of our schools' students took the exam and got a 5.0 GPA or an A+ grade.  This is the highest grade they can attain. The eight bright students belonged to Rangpur, Khulna and Mymensingh.
Other than schools, 91 students from OBAT's tutoring centers and scholarship program also passed the SSC exam with flying colors.
A student receiving an exam


Dental Treatment Program


With the partnership of Rangpur Community Medical College and the support of Human Concern International, a dental exam camp was conducted for the students of OBAT's Rangpur School. The services extended for the students were scaling, fillings and general exams and X-Rays. We are grateful to both these organizations for helping us provide these services for students for whom it would be impossible to receive them otherwise. 
A woman draws water from a new  hand pump at Bogra

Eight new hand pumps installed in Bogra

Almost 350 people will now be able to receive clean water for daily needs in the poverty stricken camps in Bogra. Thanks to Human Concern International who were once again behind this project and extended support for all eight of these hand pumps.
A student undergoing testing
Eye exams for students
 Local partnerships bear fruit

On May 28th, Al-Noor Hospital conducted an eye test campaign among the students of Dhaka English School. Two hundred and seventy four students underwent eye exams. It was found that forty-four students between the ages of six and nine needed spectacles which were provided free of cost by the Al-Noor Hospital. Some students needed further eye exams and were referred to other hospitals. Two hundred and twenty four of the students did not face any serious issue. 
We would like to thank  Md. Sowkat Ali, the head teacher of NLJ OBAT School in Dhaka, who  played a crucial role in establishing the partnership between  Al-Noor Hospital and the teachers of OBAT English School.
A participating student in the speling bee competition
A spelling bee to improve language skills

OBAT's tutoring center in Chittagong organized a spelling bee for grade nine and ten students.  The competition was introduced to help the students with increasing their vocabulary and improve their spelling and comprehension of the words in the English language. The students are all from OBAT's Primary Schools. (After completion of grade eight,  they were admitted into high school with scholarships from OBAT. The tutoring center was opened to provide them with extra support. Currently, one hundred and sixty-one students from grade six to ten are enrolled in the center). Most students in Bangladesh are very weak in English and fluency in the language improves their chances of professional progress, greatly. Prizes were awarded to the top three winners.
Iftar at ISNA headquarters in 2015 hosted by Indianapolis friends of OBAT
Join us at ISNA headquarters for our annual Iftar

OBAT's Annual Iftar is a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to come together as a community, share a special Ramadan meal and the blessings of the month. Join us to celebrate the spirit of this month and remember The Forgotten.This event is free to attend. Donations welcomed! Please share this event and invite your family and friends to attend. RSVP here.

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OBAT Helpers Inc. | 317.203.0603| [email protected] |www.obathelpers.org
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