HaPpY BiRtHdAY ShUkLa...

HaPpY BiRtHdAY ShUkLa...

JAAGO’s new Australian friends

As JAAGO supporters know the JAAGO foundation school is only able to do the amazing work it does by the individual sponsors who support our children. JAAGO Foundation School is proud to announce that it is also inspiring the international community. Our Australian volunteer Amanda recently spoke to her family and friends in Australia about our school; they were so inspired by the children and our struggle that they have become sponsors of JAAGO.

The JAAGO children and volunteers would love to send out a big thank you to The Star family- Kerrie, Wayne, Rebecca, Jordan and Mathew for their generous donation. We would also like to thank 19 year old Hayley and Matt who also donated such a generous amount of money for someone their age.

This shows that anyone can help us in our cause from any corner of the globe. These Australians have inspired us to continue doing our work. With support from individuals like this in the world it will make it so much easier for us to help our students break their own cycle of poverty.

A Special Donation

JAAGO welcomes all kinds of donations, from clothes to shoes but what Asfin Haider had in mind was truly out of the box. Asfin haider is a big supporter of JAAGO foundation and a volunteer at the school. Working at JAAGO she realized that a lot of children wear torn cloths and some miss buttons. Getting new cloths is too big a fit, so Asfin decided to help the children mend the ones they have. She showed up with threads and needles and had a blast mending dresses!

Sweater Distribution @ JAAGO

Although not a country renown for its cold winter, Bangladesh has seen some of its most cold winters in the recent years. What makes it worse is that a large proportion of the population live under the poverty line and cannot afford to keep themselves warm against the winter cold. While we are warm in our quilts, children shiver on the streets and this realization led Rakshanda, a visitor to JAAGO, to donate sweaters to the children of Jaago. Rakshanda with her father, donated sweaters to all the children of JAAGO (which is NOT an easy fit!), so that it is easier for them to fight the cold of the winter.

Little steps like this can go a long way and now children of JAAGO can sleep better.

JAAGO reaches Canada and UK

Liaison Office launched in Canada and United Kingdom.

After the overnight success in Dhaka, JAAGO Foundation first spread its wings into the international realm in 2007 by establishing a liaison office in Australia. In the last year this bridge has made transfer of information and aid possible across cultures.

Hence, with the agenda of bridging cultures together, two liaison offices, one in Canada and one in United Kingdom, have been recently added to the banner of the foundation. Asfin Haider Disha is the head of the Canadian liaison office and Subhi Shama Reehu and Chowdhury Abir Ashraf are of United Kingdom. They will act as the representatives of JAAGO Foundation in Canada and United Kingdom respectively.
These liaison offices are crucial points of a global network. JAAGO Foundation intends to broaden this network and reach other parts of the world to touch as many lives as possible.

Asfin Haider's Feedback

A Volunteer from Canada

My visit to JAAGO really did wake me up. The visit to JAAGO was on their fun day where kids were watching cartoons, dancing and playing games. That gave me a chance to see how the kids interact with the teachers and the visitors. I was amazed to find out how much each and every volunteer and teacher love the kids, and I can’t blame them because the kids are actually adorable. They'll greet you with a big smile and will ask you a lot of questions. They are very polite, friendly and confident. I think all the credit goes to the people guiding them. I salute you all for your dedication.

But JAAGO is not only about fun and play, I was happy to find out they way how the classes are being conducted and also about their exam policies. They also train the kids on how to lead a healthy and hygienic life and keep their environment clean.

I always wanted to make a difference, would be more than happy to help the kids of JAAGO Foundation anyway I can. Specially after I found, even the smallest gifts can make them so happy. I wish Korvi and his army all the success in life.

Asfin Haider

Nowrin Ahmed's Feedback

A Volunteer from Leo Club of Dhaka Heaven Plus

When I first entered the school its setting was not what I had hoped for,but when I met the kids I was filled with wonder. They greeted me so warmly with their dazzling smiles and impressive English that I was completely astonished. Their level of involvement with others and friendly nature has left a mark upon me.

I genuinely wish I could volunteer as a teacher but the distance from my home (Uttara) does not permit me to do so.

Even though I do have a few suggestions. I believe books are the best source of inspiration for people and it develops the ability to think critically. Children love reading books and can love learn a lot from the characters. Stories motivate and engage kids more than anything else. Hence, I think you should form a book chain. You basically divide kids into groups and ask them to read a certain book which they will have to present to the class either verbally or through a drama. Also you encourage the kids to present their stories to other kids outside the school. This way you will be able to reach others beyond the walls of your school.

I hope you will find this little advice of mine useful. Moreover, I was wondering whether you have a room for a library. I would love to help you guys fill it up with books. By the way, this is not a formal offer from the club. Its just an idea of mine. I will need a reply from you after which I shall talk to my heads and try my level best to make a library for these amazing kids.


Regards,
Nowrin Ahmed

Ratib Mortuza Ali Biswas Feedback

A Volunteer from Leo Club of Dhaka Heaven Plus

Firstly, I'll say JAAGO Foundation is located at a remote location. Hard to get there but once you are there, YOU WILL BE AMAZED! The kids are lovely. They greeted us in proper English, and unlike ALL the other Charity School I have visited. They weren't shy at all, even the slightest bit!

The kids were dressed in proper uniform and they were enjoying themselves. There was music and games, conducted by the volunteers who seemed very involved with the kids. I liked that. There was warmth in the campus. It didn't feel like an Charity School; it felt more like a home.

Julie Wallis Feedback

A Volunteer from Australia

My visit to the Jaago Foundation fun day was my second visit to the foundation to meet the students and all the volunteers. On my first visit I saw a beautiful performance of music, dance and drama by all the children with some help from staff. Everything had amazingly been prepared and rehearsed in a very short period of time including the transformation of the outdoor area into a very beautiful and colourful function space. A presentation of the children’s first uniforms followed.

I was really struck by the enthusiasm and joy the children exuded and also by the love and dedication shown by all the volunteer staff. It is a place that makes me want to return again and again to give of myself in whatever way possible, even if that can only be from time to time. I think that anyone who visits feels the same way. To be present and share in the energy of the staff and the children feels like a gift that must be returned.

The Fun Day was indeed a day filled with fun. I started by watching cartoons with some of the children and being taught the words for mouse, sister, party, key, bad…. in whispers and giggles as we watched the Cinderella story together. Then I went to another room to dance (very badly) with some of the other children. Much of the dancing involved being spun around in circles by children holding my hands, while trying to remember the dance moves the children were taught before the music started. I certainly got my exercise for the day.

But mostly the day was spent laughing together and having fun. I loved it and still think of all the children’s smiling faces. A delicious lunch followed then it was time to say good-bye to everyone, for now.

Blanket Distribution @ JAAGO

Winter, for a lot of us, means getting to wear cool winter wears and having to sleep at night wrapped in our comfy comforters. But it's not the same for the poor and helpless. For them winter is a time of cold and sleepless nights. The closest thing to comfort is probably a piece of cloth or an old worn out sack to prevent the cold. So what can we do to protect these helpless children?

We need to step up!

This winter, someone came forward and donated blankets to the children of JAAGO Foundation. This thoughtful and compassionate act was carried out by Mrs. Salma Parveen . A simple step taken out by them has helped protect the children in these cold and long nights. It is a joyous occasion for the children and their parents. The children express their gratitude and love for having cared for them when most needed.
Thank a lot for supporting us.