Category: Programm

Crime against women in Bangladesh is increasing day by day, with increasing number of cases of rape, dowry harassment, eve-teasing, and molestation. The best chance for survival is self-defence and self-protection, and for that women need to be empowered with self-defence techniques.

This programme is designed to teach self-defence to girls living in different parts of Bangladesh to protect themselves from sexual and physical abuse. According to a UNICEF report, one in every ten girls worldwide is raped or sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 19. In South Asia, Bangladesh has the highest rate of abuse of girls. The rate of child rape has increased by 18% within one year, according to an annual review submitted by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) in 2018. On average, nearly 13 women and girls were raped in the country every day. Rights activists said that the actual number of rape incidents was much higher than the number of cases filed as a large number of cases of sexual violence and rape remain unreported.

Looking at the plight of women in Bangladesh, Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) has launched a programme “Self-defense”, at EBAC Public School, where 87 girls have the opportunity to receive free self-defence training. The two-day intensive course teaches various tricks and acts to protect themselves. This is designed to “help women identify their risks and evaluate their strengths, and to explore their options for dealing with the threat of sexual violence” using verbal and physical strategies.

By the time they had completed the programme, girls learned how to verbally respond to potential sexual threats, strike vulnerable areas, escape from chokeholds and body grabs and execute defence techniques from the ground. Teaching self-defense will equip women with the tools to identify and prevent violence from occurring to themselves and others, actively promoting peace one woman at a time.

Hundreds of thousands of people across Bangladesh have been displaced as many rivers and all four of the country’s major basins continued to rise due to incessant downpours and the rush of water from upstream. A total of 114 people have died due to excessive flooding in 28 districts across Bangladesh in the past 17 days. Of them, 10 people died in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Emergency Operation Center and the Control Room of Directorate General of Health

“Each of us as a human being has a responsibility to reach out to help flood-affected victims. One day it may be us or our loved ones needing someone to reach out and help.” “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” People of Gaibandha and Kurigram are witnessing the worst of floods in recent times and they continue to suffer shortages of food and drinking water. According to the disaster management and relief ministry, The number of people affected by the floods has crossed 1.1 million (bdnews24 16th July 2019). Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) is always actively working to support people in need and supported 750 families cash in three Chor (island), Kurigram and relief materials (rice, lentil, cooking oil, salt, firebox, the candle) at Saghata, Gaibandha.

From daily labour to businesses from the armed forces to politics, the women of Bangladesh are shattering glass ceilings left and right. They are at the forefront of a new, emerging and confident Bangladesh. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Bangladesh is now the second most gender equal country in Asia, tops South Asia in gender equality and ranks 47th among 144 countries of the world in the Global Gender Gap Index.

But when it comes sport participation still there is social taboos, to conservative attitudes, they have to face in the community. Girls and women face a disproportionate number of life challenges to participate in sport or physical activities, which reduce their ability to achieve their full potential. Recent studies show that despite formal guarantees of equality, the overall rate of progress for women, particularly those from the poorest and most marginalized regions has been slow. Women and girls continue to encounter inequalities and deprivations in their daily lives, which prevent them from contributing toward both the creation of more equitable societies and sustainable development within their communities and beyond.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) aimed to overcome the stereotypes of girls participation as well as empower girls through sport.  “Shahosh sports for all training program towards an inclusive society” at PolashBari, Gaibandha, Bangladesh designed to provide the opportunity to girls to participate in football at the same time participate in disability sports to understand the difficulties person with disabilities faces every day in our communities. SHI believes that experiencing impairment will help participants to show empathy towards a person with the impairment.

Specific objectives :

a) Create a safe space for girls where they can come and express themselves
b) To be able to establish rapport with the person with disabilities and provide them with a platform for social interaction with other countries people.
c) To promote the spirit of sportsmanship among the participants with the view of strengthening and boosting mass participation of the girls
d) To overcome the stereotypes of girls participation in sports
c)  spread the understanding and acceptance of Disability

We strongly believe the number of girls participants in sports will increase significantly in the coming years as we have a strong and determined ally by their side: Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) and Empowerment Through Law of the Common People (ELCOP) jointly organised “Oporajeyo Sports for All” program in Pirarbari, Kotalipara, Gopalganj from 8-11 January 2019 was made possible by funding from Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed. This program provide intensive physical activities and football training to the follwing groups.

Disability sports: There are an estimated 16 million people with disabilities in Bangladesh or 10% of the country’s population. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination in many societies particularly in Bangladesh.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) believe that Sports could be one the main medium to bring out PWD’s from homebound life to outside and at the same time sport will be able to change the perception of society about PWD’s. 22 PWD’s participated in different physical activities and games.

Girls sports: Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage, with more than half of Bangladeshi girls marrying before adulthood.. According to a 2014 report by the Bangladesh Bureau of statistics, 87% of married women experienced mental or physical abuse by their partner. In 2014, the government committed to ending child marriage. At the Girl Summit, Sheikh Hasina, the honourable prime minister of Bangladesh, pledged to end marriage under the age of 15 by 2021 and of 18 by 2041. Girls and women face a disproportionate number of life challenges, which reduce their ability to achieve their full potential.

According to the platform’s website, sports involvement can play a significant role in promoting the physical and mental well-being of girls and women, fostering opportunities for their leadership and achievement, initiating social inclusion and social integration of girls and women.SHI is aiming to create safe meeting space for the girls where they can come and express themselves by participating in sports activities.SHI is also working hard to overcome stereotypes of girls participation in the sport at the communities. 18girls participated in physical activities and intensive football training program.

Children sports: Play is rapidly disappearing from schools in Bangladesh. Children do not get enough time to play because of excessive homework pressure. Parents are more focused on educational performance. 65 % of primary schools have no playground in the cities and only 2% private school have the playground in Dhaka. SHI understand that “Sport helps to develop the brain and builds leadership and responsibility of the children. 35children actively participated in 3days sports program.

Housewives Sports: The life of housewives in rural communities is monotonus.daily household activities and taking care of family members is their life. The recreational opportunity is very limited for them. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) wanted to give housewives chance through “Oporajeyo Sports for All festival” to participate in recreational sports activities where they can have fun and smile. 14 housewives participated in different games.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) organised a Disability Sports Workshop to develop disability sports in Bangladesh on Saturday, 15 December 2018 at BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh with 32 participants from different NGO’s, Social service organisations, Sports Federations, para-athletes and journalists. Dr. Michael Cottingham, Director, Adaptive Athletics, University of Houston, was the resource person of the workshop. Among others, Valarie Ann Taylor, Founder Coordinator of CRP, Mohiuddin Babar, advisor, Lafarge Holcim Limited, Barrister Tapas K Baul, Prosecutor, International Crimes Tribunals,
Following topics have been discussed at the workshop
1. Para Sports and Its challenges in Bangladesh
2. Experience in participating in disability sports
3. Human Rights and Disability sports
4. CSR on disability
5. Disability sports in Bangladesh
6. Disability sports to change the society

A traditional Bangladeshi sports Festival held at Betaga, Bagerhat, Khulna on 23-25th October 2018 with the slogan of “Our Culture is our Pride, Our Sports is our Identity”. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) believe that person without the knowledge of their own history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) is privileged to have the opportunity to conduct a session to share our work and thoughts about Human Rights in Disability Sports, girls empowerment through sports, sports for underprivileged people,  Mainstreaming transgender people through sports in Bangladesh at 19th Human Rights Summer School organised by “South Asian Excellence In Legal Education Award 2018” winner Empowerment Through Law of the Common People (ELCOP) . 42 students representing  Bangladesh, India and Nepal from 18 well-reputed Universities participating 2weeks intensive summer school program.

The session covers the following session

1. Understanding Disability and Disability Sports
2. Current Situation of disability sports in Bangladesh
3. Disability acts in Bangladesh and abroad
4. Girls rights to play
5. Current situation of girls play in Bangladesh
6. ways of empowering girls through sports
7. how sports can change underprivileged people life
8. Mainstreaming transgender people through sports and  its social barriers                                                                                                                                  

Football is more than just a fun, popular, international sport. football plays a role in international development by funding global education, effecting positive social change and producing renewable energy.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, there are around 40 million children in the country between the age of 5 and 17 years. Among them, around 1.3 million children are engaged in hazardous jobs, 70% of whom are also involved in criminal activities due to poverty. According to the Department of Narcotics Control, nearly 550,000 children are addicted to drugs and around 30% of them are engaged in criminal activities to fuel their addiction. (Source: 1st October 2016. Dhaka Tribune )

Sports engage people, foster teamwork, release endorphins and teach young people important life lessons about hard work, dedication and relying on others. Perhaps more importantly, sports like football help to keep kids off the streets and away from drugs and violence.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) trying to do good through football. SHI is conducting once a week football training camp for an underprivileged community at Jatrabari, Dhaka to teach positive life skills of life through the football program. Thank you once again, Mr. Chowdhury Shahabuddin Ahmed, for his generous financial support to make this happen.

Bangladesh is a  riverine country. About 700 rivers including tributaries flow through the country constituting a waterway of total length around 24,140 kilometres (15,000 miles). We have very limited resources for the person with disabilities to participate in sports activities at the rural Communities. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) is aiming to use local rivers and pond as the resource of continuous swimming practice. SHI is very proud to start up swimming training for the person with the physical disability at Ekoratia, Bajitpur, Kishoreganj.

Shi believes swimming is particularly valuable for people with disabilities since the water allows them to move without assistance, an important discovery and experience for anyone with a disability.  Individuals with disabilities can get more health benefits by being physically active. Although everyone is unique, people with disabilities are limited in opportunities to be as physically active as people without a disability.

By just dedicating about three hours every week for swimming, a person with the disability could drastically reduce your chances of secondary health conditions. People who swim have a better chance of improving their health when compared to people who are inactive.

Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) believe sports is the easiest way to empower girls. Sports and physical activity have multiple, far-reaching effects that last into adulthood. Sports play a critical role in girls’ development and provide valuable skills to help girls become successful in all facets of life. Girls who play sports are more likely to make better grades, score higher on standardized tests and graduate from high school. In addition, they report much lower rates of drug use, high-risk sexual behaviour and pregnancy and they have higher body confidence and self-esteem.

Physical activity and football is great fun, an important part of play and learning, and essential for healthy growth and development. but Lack of Physical activities is one of major concern for urban children and youth in Bangladesh. According to the Society of Health and Physical Educations, Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day. Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) has started running once a week football program in Anwara Mannaf Girls’ School And College with 273 participants started on 11th August 2018.