Background & Context

Cox’s Bazar of Chittagong division is a coastal district located to south-eastern corner of Bangladesh. The Bay of Bengal is located to the south and west of the district thus it is the most significant domestic tourist destination, famous for its beaches. According to the UNDA Framework, Cox’s Bazar district is considered as one of 20 (out of 64) ‘lagging districts’ of Bangladesh (based on indicators of poverty, literacy, nutrition, infrastructures, services, risks associated with environmental degradation, etc.). It is also one of nine districts performing poorly on all indicators. Most of the poor household depends on daily wages like selling physical labour, Rickshaw pulling etc. Due to global pandemic covid-19 and ongoing country wide lock down livelihoods of poor household affected extremely. Households depending on irregular income lost their income source and these households are struggling to manage daily essential needs. Resulting drop out rates from Schools/Madrasha is increasing significantly over the last two years.

The education system of this area classifies into two types in boarder sense. 1.   Mainstream education,2. Nonmainstream (religious) Education. Orphanage Home is one of religious study point.  In generalised sense comparatively unaccompanied children from poor household and orphan children are residentially accommodate into orphanage house. This type of institution fully run by local funding. Hence covid-19 negatively effecting income source of classes people fund raising of orphanage home decreases significantly.

ASTA foundation intend to support these affected household providing educational support aiming to reduce drop out rate.

Needs Analysis

The most recent random assessment found almost all household depended on irregular income were either highly vulnerable or vulnerable and entirely relying on life-saving assistance. Middle class also now struggling to manage their needs. Hance, they could not afford to manage additional cost for education.

Proposed Action & Implementation

ASTA  seeking funding from the member, well-wisher, and humanitarian hearted  to implement the following interventions:

Education materials:

Provide School bag to 500 students from poor households from different primary schools of Maheshkhali, Kutubdia and Cox’s Bazar Sadar.

Uniform Package: Essential Cloth (Paijama-Panjabi) to 40 Orphan from orphanage home.

Beneficiary Selection, Visibility & Reporting

Beneficiary Selection

• Identify target groups: Primary and secondary school students, orphans, children from female-headed households, and those with special needs.
• Collect and verify data: Use enrolment records and community input to identify eligible beneficiaries.
• Prioritize beneficiaries: Give preference to orphans, children from female-headed households, and those with special needs.
• Involve the community: Seek input from local leaders and stakeholders for a comprehensive selection process.
• Finalize beneficiary list: Create a verified list with beneficiary names, ages, and needs.

Visibility and Reporting:

• Document project activities: Maintain records of procurement, distribution, and beneficiary information.
• Enhance project visibility: Use banners, awareness campaigns, and online platforms to promote the project.
• Provide progress reports: Regularly share updates with funders, authorities, and the community, including challenges faced.
• Engage beneficiaries: Encourage feedback and participation from beneficiaries to improve project impact.
• Document project impact: Collect data on dropout rates and educational progress for inclusion in reports.
• Internal and external reporting: Produce detailed reports for internal management and external stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Adapt and learn: Continuously seek feedback, document lessons learned, and apply insights to future projects.

Expected Outcome and Indicators

Through the implementation of this project, we anticipate the following outcomes and impact:

• A significant reduction in dropout rates among primary and secondary school students.
• Enhanced access to educational materials for underprivileged students, fostering their educational progress.
• Improved visibility and documentation of project activities, showcasing the impact of the initiative within the community.
• Increased awareness within the community about the importance of education and its potential to break the cycle of poverty.
• The potential long-term impact of reduced poverty and improved livelihoods within the region.

Monitoring and Evaluation

To ensure the effectiveness of the project, the following monitoring and evaluation activities will be conducted:

• Continuous monitoring of project activities and progress to address any issues promptly.
• Regular feedback collection from beneficiaries and stakeholders to make necessary adjustments and improvements.
• Comprehensive documentation of the distribution of educational materials and uniforms, including photographs and beneficiary testimonials.
• Assessment of the project’s impact on reducing dropout rates through data collection and analysis.

Budget and Resources

The budget for this project will be meticulously developed based on detailed cost estimates for education materials, uniforms, transportation, and associated expenses. Funding will be sourced from individual contributors and the organization’s own funds.

Distribution Plan

Conclusion

The “Support to Primary School Going Students from Underprivileged Households in Cox’s Bazar” project is a vital initiative aimed at addressing the alarming increase in dropout rates among underprivileged students in the Cox’s Bazar district. By providing essential educational materials and uniforms to the target beneficiaries, the ASTA Foundation seeks to make a substantial and lasting impact on education and livelihoods in the region.