Staff Reporter:
A national-level learning-sharing workshop of the Gender Responsive School and Community Safety Initiatives (GRSCSI) project was held on Thursday at the Hotel Blueberry in Gulshan, in the capital.
Funded by Plan International Japan and jointly implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO).
The chief guest of the event was Professor Md. Farhadul Islam, Chairman, National Curriculum and Textbook Board. On the occasion, Afroz Mahal, Director of Program Management and Implementation of Plan International Bangladesh, provided a welcome speech.
The event was presided over by the Founder Executive Director of the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), Md. Shahid Uz Zaman.
The main objective of this “Learning Sharing Event” was to recognize and encourage the initiatives of the Student Taskforce (STF), School Management Committee (SMC), Ward Disaster Management Committee (WDMC), and Youth, especially girls, to enhance their leadership to develop a gender inclusive disaster resilience safe school and community environment. Also, the learning and best practices will be promoted through scaling up by GO and I/NGOs.
The chief guest of the event, Professor Md. Farhadul Islam, Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, mentioned that, “What I like the most is that now students are very aware of disaster response, safety, and hygiene after the implementation of this project’s activities in the communities. The project has taken encouraging initiatives by empowering school students, SMC, WDMC, UDMC, and community people. If we can carry on through our initiatives along with the government and I/NGOs support, it will be possible to establish a disaster resilient and gender-inclusive safe environment for the overall development of the community”.
In this event, the STF leader, youth, parent, Headteacher, and WDMC from different unions of the Nageshwari sub-district shared their stories, successes, behavioral changes, challenges and learning. The discussants also provided encouraging and guiding speeches to motivate the girls to continue their studies for advancement.
Ashiq Billah, Head of Central and Northern Region Programmes, Plan International Bangladesh, shared an overall presentation on the project, how the project is maintaining strong collaboration with three High Schools, one Dakhil Madrasah and four wards under three unions of Nageshwari subdistrict in Kurigram district reaching directly 14,428 project participants.
The project works at the community level through the Community Contingency Plan, Family Disaster Preparedness Plan (#2847 FDPP), localization of early warning system and, organizing a community awareness programme with mock drills& campaigns and establishing the youth clubs, girls’ clubs and WASH blocks.
Jointly with local disaster management committees, the project has taken initiatives to respond to climate change impacts like tree plantation and household-level mulching gardening activities.
It also supports the reconstruction and renovation of school buildings, including boundary walls, disabled-friendly ramps, classroom extensions, establishment of school feedback mechanism systems, and School Development plans and school contingency plans.
These promising initiatives fostered student attendance rates, especially for girls, reducing school dropout rates.
