Project Name: Home for hope: Girl Emergency Night-shelter
Programme Context : Night shelter provision is an integrated project of the DiC.
The night shelter pilot project was operated from Mohammadpur Drop-in Centre. Each evening the Night Shelter provided services for girls in crisis who had no homes to which they could return. The Night Shelter was overseen by a House Mother who was in-charge of the shelter, taking care of the physical and mental health of the girls. The House Mother reported to the DiC Manager, ensuring that the Night Shelter coordinated with the ongoing day-time services. The girls were each provided with a mattress and pillow, enabling them to sleep soundly each night away from the dangers of the street. Mosquito nets/spray were provided to reduce the risk of malaria and dengue fever. Toiletries and towels were available to provide the beneficiaries the dignity of cleanliness. The targeted beneficiaries were at particular risk and so the Night Shelter provided food, morning and evening for the girls.
Key Achievements:
The night shelter successfully identified and enrolled vulnerable girls at the Night Shelter. In total, 12 street- and working girls have benefitted from the project, receiving food, counselling, medical support and education. There are currently six girls staying at the Night Shelter (the latest COVID lock-down has hampered the ability of the team to identify four new beneficiaries, a task that will be completed as soon as the situation allows).
The Night Shelter provides a platform from which the girls can build. Of the six girls currently at the Night Shelter, five are enrolled in vocational training (tailoring (x2), beautician (x2) and driving) and the other in education with the support of DiC project. Without the opportunity to stay at the Night Shelter, the girls would have been exposed to considerable risk and hardship spending each night on the streets, making enrolment in vocational training unlikely.
A total of six girls have graduated from the Night Shelter. Four of the girls who stayed in the Night Shelter have been reintegrated with family (one of whom is enrolled in formal education) and one, following vocational training, has a job in the garments sector.
With the support of the DiC 10 girls at the Night Shelter received training on Life Skills and six girls received training on Leadership. It is most encouraging that, in a year disrupted by COVID, 67% of the beneficiaries of the Night Shelter are in ongoing education, vocational training or formal employment. It can be confidently asserted that, without the Night Shelter, these positive outcomes would not have been achieved. A further 25% are in more settled family arrangements.
At a glance Project Summary
Project Name: Home for hope: Girl Emergency Night-shelter
Donor: DAM,UK (Read foundation)
Project location: Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Project duration: March 2020 to December 2022
Beneficiaries: Total number of direct beneficiaries: 40 (Female), Target: 50.
Project Budget and Contributions (If any): BDT 15,78,623
Number of project staffs and volunteers: 3 Female persons of Regular Staff
The overall objective of the Night Shelter is to:
- Build the self-esteem of street and working children, enabling them to develop as responsible citizens.
The specific objectives of the initiative are as follows:
- Working and street girls protected from the risks associated with living and sleeping on the streets;
- Working and street girls provided with basic amenities (food, health care, clothes, toiletries) and recreational opportunities to afford them a dignified life;
- Lessons learnt from this pilot project of wrap-around care for street and working children are documented and disseminated.
Target Beneficiaries: The targeted beneficiaries are all girls, vulnerable due to the following characteristics –
- Aged 8 – 18 years;
- Living and/or working on the street;
- Attending DiC activities during the day-time;
- Without a continuous relationship with their family;
- Subject to physical, psychological or sexual abuse.
Activities:
- Identify the Children’s;
- Secure night shelter provision;
- Provide necessary services like nutritious food, health care, Personal hygiene and medical facilities.
- Provide recreational facilities and others services like non formal educations and vocational training.
Contact Person:
Project Coordinator, Home for Hope Girls Emergency Night Shelter Project
Email: damdic.pc@gmail.com, Cell: +8801715011175
