Children’s Rights Week
Deprived children share life stories
Many disadvantaged children gathered in the auditorium of the National Museum in the capital yesterday and shared their stories of struggles and successes in life.
Marking children’s rights week 2012, Aparajeyo Bangladesh, an organisation working for disadvantaged children, arranged the gathering styled “Aparajeyo Shishu Utshab”
with children who they have been giving support and shelter to since 1995.
Speaking at the programme, Faridul Islam, a beneficiary of the organisation, said he came to Dhaka after his mother’s death and father’s second marriage. He took
shelter at his uncle’s house but was driven out after some days.
With no alternatives, he began staying at a shrine in Mirpur and became involved in drugs and minor crimes, Faridul said.
“One day a child who received support from Aparajeyo Bangladesh took me to their shelter. They admitted me to a school and later I received vocational training,” he
said. Faridul now owns a mobile phone repairing and accessories shop.
Like him, other underprivileged children also shared their stories.
Wahida Banu, executive director of the organisation, among others, was present at the programme.
Later, a cultural programme was organised.
-With The Daily Star input
