Low-lying Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with the poor pushed to live in the lowest-lying areas.

Because of the unrelenting hard work needed just to keep a family housed and fed for most people in Bangladesh, people who are seen as unproductive are often left to their own devices to try and survive. These include the handicapped, daughters whose parents cannot afford a dowry, refugees, and others.

Crossroads is shipping to a well-established organisation which began by providing accommodation, therapy, and training to physically handicapped people. With the expansion of their programme, they launched initiatives that provide nutrition, health, and behavioural education for teenagers. Additionally, they also offer vocational training courses, as well as community sanitation and housing provision. These programmes are provided for both local people and for the Rohingya refugee population in Cox’s Bazaar.

This shipment includes medical equipment, electrical appliances, and furniture to assist our partners in expanding their medical work.

Mr G’s story

Although Mr G is a social worker and receives a modest salary, he spends much of that money in assisting his clients, so much so that he was unable to afford decent accommodation for himself and his family.

Our partner organisation has gifted him with a small house with its own toilet (a luxury in that neighbourhood), as the first home of a local sustainable housing project.

His reaction on moving in was, “At last I receive my own house – long live the providers!”

This shipment will help our partners assist many more people to help even more people who live on the fringes of society.

Miss N’s story

Miss N is a member of a social class despised in her community and during Covid she lost even the menial employment she was able to obtain.

Our partners not only provided her with food parcels but also gave her a place on a tailoring course. When she graduated, she received a sewing machine as a prize.

She said, “I want to open my own fashion house where people like me will be welcomed and served with dignity.”

Provision of physiotherapy to stroke victims and people with congenital handicaps is an important part of our partner’s work.

Nursing supplies, heaters, lamps and other items in the shipment all contribute to an improvement in care for the disadvantaged people of the area.

(S5516)