ECDO’s project area visited by Hei Verden representatives
On February 25th, 2024, a delegation consisting of four individuals from Hei Verden, Stine Årstrad Jacobsen, Elisabeth Svela, Øivind Ekeland, and Andreas Fossåen Dybfest visited the office of Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO). The purpose of their visit was to gain insight into the projects and operations undertaken by ECDO, which are supported by Hei Verden, Norway.
The visit commenced with a warm welcome extended by the ECDO staff, who greeted the guests with flowers. Mr.Shankar Singh,Treasurer of ECDO, also presented there. Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO, delivered a welcome speech, expressing gratitude for their visit.
Following the introduction session, a presentation was organized elaborately on the initiatives aimed at the Primary Level Education Support for Marginalized Children (PLESMC) and Secondary Level Education Support for Marginalized Students Project (SESMS).
On February 26, 2024, a courtesy meeting was held among ECDO and Hei Verden representatives with Mr.Joynal Abedin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Kamalganj, at his office. Mr.Joynal Abedin expressed his gratitude to the representatives of Hei Verden, especially acknowledging Stine Årstrad Jacobsen for their visit to Bangladesh and for choosing to meet with him at his office. He emphasized the importance of such interactions, highlighting the government’s obligation for NGOs to consult with local government authorities regarding project details. This meeting was perceived as significant to deepen his understanding of ECDO’s activities and foster future cooperation. Mr.Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO, provided insights into the collaboration between ECDO and Hei Verden, focusing on their joint efforts to uplift marginalized communities. He elaborated on ECDO’s new project tailored for secondary-level students, aiming to address the educational needs of marginalized children. UNO shared insights into the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Kamalganj, particularly highlighting tea labor communities in the area. He emphasized the crucial role of educational support in empowering these communities, acknowledging the limitations of resources but expressing optimism about the positive impact of continued support in the education sector.
Both parties expressed gratitude towards each other for the opportunity to meet and collaborate. Mr. Abedin praised ECDO and Hei Verden for their efforts towards marginalized children, while the Hei Verden team thanked Mr. Abedin for the opportunity for fruitful dialogue. The meeting concluded on a positive note of assurance that valuable impact will be found if support in the education sector is continued.
Right after that, they paid a visit to the Manipuri Language Centers (MLC), located in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar. These centers are operated by ECDO with the support of Hei Verden under the Primary Level Education Support for Marginalized Children (PLESMC) project. The Hei Verden team commenced their visit by first attending the Bhanubil Majergon MLC, followed by the Mongolpur MLC. They received a warm welcome from the children and guardians at both locations, who greeted them with flowers and gifts representing the rich culture of Manipuri. The expressions of gratitude from the guardians towards Hei Verden and ECDO for their support were deeply moving.
It was apparent that the community had been greatly touched by the ECDO’s MLC programs, which had in turn inspired volunteer efforts to conserve the Manipuri language. During the visit, it became apparent that a number of government primary school teachers from the Manipuri community had started teaching the language on their own initiative, inspired by the programs at ECDO’s MLC. Additionally, the children actively participated in this session. Thus, we became very much close to sustainability. Expressing their joy at connecting with the children, the Hei Verden team reciprocated with a warm embrace and sentiments of gratitude. With smiles and expressions of thanks, children s received the educational materials from them. Witnessing the joy and enthusiasm of the children upon receiving these materials served as a great reminder of the importance of supporting education and cultural preservation efforts.
On February 27, 2024, a courtesy meeting was held between ECDO and Hei Verden representatives, with Ms. Nasrin, Akter, Upazila Nirbah Officer (UNO), Sylhet Sadar Upazila in her office. Ms. Nasrin Akter expressed her gratitude to Hei Verden representatives for choosing to meet her in their office. This meeting was considered essential for her to gain insight into ECDO’s operations and foster greater collaboration. Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, ECDO Executive Director, said that ECDO and Hei Verden have been working closely together since 2015 to promote opportunity for marginalized communities. UNO recommended some actions from her perspective during the meeting, which concluded on a favorable note. Thanking one another for the chance to collaborate and meet.
On the same date, Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) organized an education materials distribution program under the projects ‘Primary Level Education Support for Marginalized Children (PLESMC)’ and ‘Secondary Education Support for Marginalized Students (SESMS)’ at the conference hall of the UNO (office), Sylhet Sadar Upazila Sylhet. Ms.Nasrin Akter, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Sylhet Sadar Upazila, attended as the chief guest at that event. Mr. Abhijeet Kumar Paul, Sylhet Sadar Upazila Secondary Education Officer, Stine Årstrad Jacobsen, Elisabeth Svela, Øivind Ekeland, and Andreas Fossåen Dybfest from Hei Verden, Norway, attended as special guests. The program was presided over by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO. Ms.Nasrin Akter, the chief guest and UNO initially conveyed her appreciation to ECDO and Hei Verden for such an important program for marginalized children. Further, the chief guest thanked ECDO and Hei Varden for taking up such a nice and important education program with marginalized communities like tea labor, Patro, and Manipuri. She suggested all the students and parents to ensure regular attendance at school as well as proper utilization of the distributed educational materials. Furthermore, Mr. Avijit Kumar Paul, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, expressed his gratitude and assured his full support, promising to provide maximum assistance in this endeavor. Besides the guests, the Guardians of the Children expressed gratitude to ECDO for this effort. Later, the students received education materials from the honorable guests. Under the PLESMC and SESMS projects, 75 marginalized students will get the opportunity to complete their primary education, and 25 students will get the opportunity to complete their secondary education. Finally, the program ends, followed by the speech of Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO.
