Bangladesh Education Program

Fleshless Bodies, Iron Gates

Chittagong, 1974. The skies were heavy with sorrow, but it was nothing compared to the hunger in the air. At twelve, I couldn’t understand all that was happening, but I could see it in the eyes of the people who gathered at our iron gate each evening. They didn’t come for money, for shelter, or for hope. They came for food.

The famine crept into every crevice of life. The news of it barely reached beyond our borders, but for those of us living it, it was a dark veil draped over each day. For a child, it was an early glimpse into the fragility of life.

My mother, resolute and compassionate, prepared what little we could spare, her hands moving with a quiet urgency each evening. “They’re not begging for anything but survival,” she said, her voice calm but her eyes clouded. She sent me and my younger brother to the gate to hand out the food.

We would go, bowls in hand, and meet the hollow eyes of children and mothers, their arms outstretched. The sight that would haunt me forever was of children with flesh clinging to bones, faces void of the laughter or mischief a child should carry. And yet, they waited quietly, gratefully, for just a handful of rice, as if the world were made of nothing but hunger and kindness.

By seventeen, the world around me felt bleak, a future haunted by the darkness of what I had witnessed. That same year, I left for Canada, stepping onto new soil with a heart both full of gratitude and a pain that would never fully heal.

Years later, here in Canada, I am reminded often of those days—my mother’s silent resilience, the iron gate that became a doorway to humanity’s darkest need, and the lessons that still push me to make a difference wherever I can.

To be continued…

Hello Ottawa friends (and beyond)!

We need your help to make this upcoming fundraiser a success! This Sunday, September 29th, at 5:00 PM, we’re hosting a special event at the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre (300 Ave. des Pères-Blancs). Unfortunately, ticket sales are not going as well as we hoped, and we would greatly appreciate your support in spreading the word.

Join us for delicious food, Bollywood dancing, a silent auction featuring India-specific items, and a slideshow highlighting Child Haven International’s work.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased on the [Child Haven website: https://www.childhaven.ca/fundraiser.ottawa2024.html

You can also let me know, and I’ll ensure the team at the door is aware.

If you can’t attend but still want to support, you can donate through the website. I’ve had an amazing experience at one of the Child Haven homes and would be happy to share more if you’re interested.

Hope to see you there!

Warmly,
Salim
www.childhaven.ca

Child Haven International Child Haven International, a registered charity founded in 1985, assist children and women in 4 countries, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support. Inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

Dinner time at the Chittagong Home in Bangladesh doesn’t only involve eating yummy food— it also involves staff staying one step ahead and making food for the next day! The kitchen hands are always working hard to keep the children of Child Haven full. Thank you to all the cooks that make this often invisibilized work possible for children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to eat a healthy 3 meals a day. 💜

Children are happy having New School Bags

Yakub Ali School - 2023 ( Home Girls)

Robin brother is having meeting with Bangladesh Education Program students.

Date- 14 December, 2022

New year 2023 starts with festive mood.

আজ ১৫ আগস্ট, জাতীয় শোক দিবস।
জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান ও তাঁর পরিবারের সকল শহীদদের প্রতি বিনম্র শ্রদ্ধা।

Shishu Shorgho/ Child Haven Bangladesh participated in a Tree Plantation program organized by the District Administration of Chattogram at Akbar Shah area. This program aims to create awareness for hill conservation among mass people.