Group outing, games and toys for abused and ex-slave children in the Proshanti Shelter, Bangladesh

The abuse and kidnapping of young women and children is a big problem in Bangladesh. Sometimes the children just disappear; sometimes the parents or young women are misled by intermediaries and go voluntarily to another country where they are promised nice jobs and better lives, only to end up as prisoner/slave in the direst of circumstances. Especially in the case of young children it is often very difficult to trace them and get them back. A lot of people in the country do not have anything to gain by exposing such wrongs, and abuse and murder are often ignored or glossed over.

The children who are found and freed can not always (immediately) return to their families. The children who were sold at a very young age sometimes can't remember their own names or their family name. Sometime, the girls who were forced to work as prostitutes are no longer wanted by their families, for fear of social stigmatisation. Those who are very traumatised will need a lot of time and care to learn to cope with a life of their own. Some of the children are badly injured, some have attempted suicide several times.

The Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) is one of the leading human rights organisations in Bangladesh. It works to combat all forms of violence against women and children. One of the main activities is fighting the trafficking in women and children by working on prevention, protection, repatriation, rehabilitation and legal support. BNWLA is a growing organisation under the leadership of Salma Ali, who seems tireless in her battle against violence towards women and children, corruption in the fight against it, and social acceptance of the lack of rights for women and children. Many female lawyers work voluntarily for BNWLA and many female judges are sympathetic (in the sense that they take the legal procedures serious and refuse to be bribed.)

BNWLA receives information about victims who are in captivity in Bangladesh or neighbouring countries (in (cage) brothels or in jail in the name of "safe custody", as camel-jockey or household-slave) from various sources including network organisations, sympathetic clients, police departments, journalists and partner organisations in other countries. BNWLA's people work in collaboration with law enforcement to rescue/release and repatriate the victims. Not an easy task; corruption flourishes in the countries in which they have to operate and there are many cases in which the law enforcers themselves play a part in the abuse and trafficking.

Still, BNWLA succeeds in tracing and repatriating a high number of victims of serious abuse. Around 300 women and children a year are (temporarily) housed in the Proshanti shelters (one for girls, one for boys). In order to rehabilitate the survivors of various forms of violence the shelter works on physical and psychological recovery, education and vocational training. If possible, the victims return to their families or foster-families, or get help in finding a job and building up an independent life. For reintegration to be successful it is very important that the victims (re)gain their self-esteem; this is a crucial factor in preventing them from becoming a victim of violence again on their return to society.
The BNWLA gets some international attention and financial support from organisations like Novib and Norad for their legal work, but the shelters they run are always short on money. In 2002 Moments of Joy paid for two computers, four embroidery machines and an industrial oven for job-training for the older children and for some clothes and recreational materials.



During our visit to Proshanti in 2003 we saw that our gifts are used well. The oven and embroidery machines even help in raising a little income for the shelter: they sell take-out meals to offices in the neighbourhood and to staff members, and embroidered bedspreads and pillowcases to visitors. It was clear that the shelters are run efficiently and with a lot of attention for the basic care of the inhabitants. However, there are not a lot of opportunities for recreation and relaxation. Singing and dancing are popular, but there are few musical instruments and there are not many games and toys or even simple outdoor-games. Moreover, the shelter is quite severely guarded (beak WAT IS BEAK?). The often lengthy legal procedures to roll up a whole chain of human traffickers make the children and staff a target for revenge and "preventive"action by the culprits. Unfortunately, this means that the children can hardly go outside the shelters. Public transport cannot be used for outings, and 'guards' have to come along.

It is sad to realise that although they are safe the children are still not free. An inside and outside playground, an outing and musical instruments would greatly enhance the children's happiness and help them to reconnect with the joy of such activities!

Outing:
Total costs 1230 Euro

Musical Instruments: 6 harmoniums, 12 sets Nupur, 2 Dhols, 6 sets Tabla
Total costs 745 Euro

Indoor sports and games:
Divided in:

Recreation for toddlers (2 to 5 year old) 1005 Euro:
Sand and water corner:  135 Euro
Blocks and puzzles: 310 Euro
Drawing, cutting and sticking 265 Euro
Toys (marbles, balls, toy cars) 130 Euro
Reading corner 175 Euro

Recreation for 6 to 10 year old 785 Euro:
Blocks, puzzles and drawing material  385
Games, books, toys 400

Recreation for 10 - 12 year old 895 Euro:
Blocks, puzzles and drawingmaterial  435
Games, books, toys 460
Total costs 2830 Euro

Outdoor playground: Fences around the playground, Nets, rackets, cricket set, etc.
Bicycles, slides, climbing frames, seesaw.
Total costs 1857 Euro

TOTAL:  VARIOUS PROJECTS FROM € 130,-- UP TO  € 2830,--

THIS PROJECT IS PARTIALLY REALIZED:
OUTING: ADOPTED BY AN ANONYMOUS FOUNDATION
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: ADOPTED BY GENERAL FUND OF MOMENTS OF JOY