Contrary to the negative impression many tend to have about the Jaago Foundation, the organisation heavily operated by the Bangladeshi youth today educates 1,400 underprivileged children. Jaago has often come under scrutiny for accusations that a “bunch of rich Dhaka kids” run the organisation and collect funds to run it. However, what often is left unseen in the picture is that the volunteers collect these funds on a day globally recognised as “Universal Children’s Day,” when they gift flowers to passer-bys on the streets of Dhaka to have them pause, and listen to Jaago’s story. Through this approach, the organisation aims to spread awareness about its activities and raise funds at the same time.
Today, each of the 1,400 Jaago students has a sponsor who pay a stipend of Tk1,500/- to support their sponsored child. Jaago’s founder Korvi Rakhsand started the project in Korail slum, one of the biggest in the city, to bring hope to children who would otherwise wake up to a grim reality of illiteracy and stark poverty.
Raju and Mukti are two Jaago-sponsored children whose families had migrated to city centres in hopes of better opportunities and better lives – a rather common move by many poverty-stricken families in Bangladesh. However, such migration does not always let them break free out of the cycle of poverty. With the sponsorships that Jaago provide, many of these people’s lives change. The once-rowdy Raju has suddenly become the best-mannered amongst all his cousins and Mukti, who has a severe heart condition, now believes she can do everything that a regular 5-year-old can!
The stories of Jaago’s children are as inspiring as the story of their sponsors. Sonia Bashir Kabir, Country Director of Dell Bangladesh, sponsors education for around 20 of Jaago’s children. She considers this to be the beginning of a new chapter of motherhood as her own children have already left the nest! Imtiaz Mahmud sponsors 8-year-old Sumaiya and 5-year-old Ratul jointly with his friend Simon from California. Simon says, after spending time with these children: ‘Both these kids are special to us, they are smart, motivated students with loads of personality!’
The Jaago Foundation is known to provide its students with education of international standard, proper mentoring and global exposure while further providing them with necessary stationeries and nutritious meals that guarantee a healthy childhood and a rich and fulfilling schooling experience.
To know more about Jaago, visit their website www.jaago.com.bdor the JAAGO head office in Rayerbazar.