Step for Uplifting the Underprivileged (STEP-UP)

The “Step for Uplifting the Underprivileged (STEP-UP)” project, funded by Selavip, Chile and implemented by the Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS), aims to provide safe housing to 40 extremely poor families in the Chitla and Khadimpur Unions of the Alamgirganj Upazila, Chuadanga District. Safe housing is one of the basic needs of these individuals. A secure home provides safety and dignity to people, as well as being a symbol of overall well-being. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted this year have emphasized this issue significantly. The goals associated with this project are 1, 3, 6, and 11. The following is an overview of the project:

Project Name: Step for Uplifting the Underprivileged (STEP-UP)

Donor Organization: Selavip, Chile.

Aligns with SDGs: SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 6 and SDG 11.

Total Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries: Persons with disabilities – 15, Harijan – 5, Dalit – 7, Blacksmith – 3, Potter – 4, Slave – 6, Fisherman – 10, total: 40. Additionally, Male – 600, Female – 400, Adolescent Boys – 150, Adolescent Girls – 200, Young Men – 250, total: 1600. Total beneficiaries: 1640.

Project Duration: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

Specific Objectives:

1. To meet the basic needs by constructing safe and permanent housing for extremely poor families in rural/underprivileged areas.
2. To improve access to clean water, sanitary toilets, cleanliness, and health systems for these extremely poor families.
3. To reduce the risk of poverty through income-generating activities.

Activities:

•   Constructing safe and permanent housing for 40 extremely poor families.
•  Providing a 1-day orientation for project staff.
• Holding coordination meetings with relevant government offices and officials.
• Organizing meetings with the beneficiaries of the project.
• Constructing houses.
•  Transferring the completed houses to the beneficiaries.
• Meeting with the Union Parishad and Public Health Engineering Department to ensure cooperation.
•  Reducing poverty risks through income-generating activities.
• Providing training on goat and poultry farming, fish farming, and vegetable cultivation.

Project Output/Outcome: Through this project, safe and permanent housing was provided to 40 extremely poor families, benefiting a total of 1,640 people. Additionally, by creating opportunities for loan support through various training and linkages, income-generating activities such as setting up grocery shops, Nakshi Kantha embroidery, bamboo/wicker basket-making, fishing net making, and tailoring were initiated. As a result, the poverty risks for these 40 families were significantly reduced.