SOS Social Centre - a catalyst for change

In a developing country like Bangladesh life is tough if you are single, poor and unskilled. This is the case for Sakhina, who is a widow with five children. She has never been to school and does not have the skills required for a decent job. In spite of all this, she is able to send her children to school...

Rabby

After walking through the narrow lanes of a slum in Chittagong, the counsellor from the SOS Social Centre entered a small, dingy room which was barely lit. A woman with a soft voice asked the counsellor to be seated and offered him a partially broken chair. After the usual round of talks, she called for her son.

Sakhina was left alone to bring up five children after the death of her husband. Being illiterate and unskilled, she had no choice but to work as a domestic servant. With her meagre earnings it was difficult for Sakhina to make ends meet. A local social worker introduced her to SOS Social Centre Chittagong, where she became part of the family strengthening programme. At present, Sakhina receives financial help to meet the educational requirement of her children.

"My parents did not send me to school as they were poor. But I want my kids to study so that they can get decent jobs and not do menial work like me," said Sakhina. "The SOS Social Centre is like Allah's messenger helping out the poor and needy."

Rabby, her third son, works part-time in a pharmacy to help his mother meet the financial needs of the family. In the morning he attends school and he goes to work in the evening. The counsellor also teaches Rabby about time management so that his studies do not suffer. The fifteen-year-old boy is quite good at his studies and even won a scholarship in the talent pool competition that was held at his school.

Only education can break the web of illiteracy and poverty. Sakhina could never have thought of educating her children, but with the help of SOS Social Centre Chittagong her children are going to school and are even dreaming of becoming doctors and teachers.

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Registered charity number 083115702