Advancement of Children with Disabilities and Working through Educational Development (ACED)

With funding from the Global Fund for Children (GFC), USA, and implemented by Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS), the “Advancement of Children with Disabilities and Working through Educational Development (ACED)” project is being carried out in the Sadar Municipality and Alukdia Union of Chuadanga district. The project focuses on integrated education, health, treatment, therapy, linkages, advocacy, and awareness-raising activities for disadvantaged child laborers and children with disabilities, as well as adolescents. Below is an overview of the project:

Project Name: Advancement of Children with Disabilities and Working through Educational Development (ACED)

Donor Organization: Global Fund for Children (GFC), USA.

Aligns with SDGs: SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 10, SDG 16 and SDG 17.

Total Beneficiaries: Men – 100, Women – 100, Adolescents (Boys) – 150, Adolescents (Girls) – 150, Youth – 100, Disadvantaged Children – 300, Child Laborers – 250, Persons with Disabilities – 300, Harijan – 20, Dalits – 20, Blacksmiths – 7, Potters – 6, Slaves – 30, Fishermen – 15, Total: 1548.

Time Period: June 21, 2022, to June 20, 2024.

Overall Goal of the Project: The overall goal of this project is to develop disadvantaged child laborers and children with disabilities into skilled human resources through education, integrating them into the mainstream of development activities. By establishing 2 schools for children with disabilities and disadvantaged child laborers and 6 separate education centers, the project aims to create a learning environment, provide educational materials, conduct SMC meetings, and organize training, seminars, and meetings to raise awareness among various government and non-government stakeholders, including parents and caregivers.

Specific Objectives of the Project:

1. Through assessment, create a comprehensive plan for center-based education, integrated labor, integrated health, rehabilitation, and social empowerment for 50 disadvantaged child laborers and 90 children with disabilities in Chuadanga District’s Sadar Municipality and Alukdia Union.
2. 50 disadvantaged child laborers and 90 children with disabilities will participate in educational activities.
3. 140 disabled students will receive educational materials.
4. 50 disadvantaged child laborers and 90 children with disabilities will participate in sports, drawing, and recreational activities.
5. 140 guardians will receive skill development.
6. 50 factories, welding shops, workshops, business owners, teachers, and parents will be made aware of child labor laws.
7. 2 learning centers and 6 separate education centers will be established for 50 disadvantaged child laborers and 90 children with disabilities.

Activities:

• Inception meeting with stakeholders (local government, teachers, religious leaders, journalists, local administration, elected representatives, and various mills, factories, and business establishments).
• Meetings with school teachers, SMC, PTA, and parents to reduce dropout rates in 20 schools.
• Provision of educational support materials (pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, notebooks, colored pencils, watercolors, colored paper, art paper, drawing books, etc.) to 140 children.
• Purchase of educational materials and items (chairs, tables, fans, lights, mats, markers, whiteboards, sports equipment, etc.) for 2 education centers for 50 working children and 6 community-based education centers for 90 inclusive children to ensure education, skill development, entertainment, learning activities, daily living, and skill enhancement.
• Provision of daily snacks to 50 working children in 2 education centers and 90 children in 6 inclusive education centers.
• Awareness/meetings/workshops with parents on the importance of education/child rights and environment.
• Organization of annual sports and cultural competitions for children. Development of protection policies.

Project Outputs/Outcomes: Through inception meetings with all stakeholders (local government, teachers, religious leaders, journalists, local administration, elected representatives, and various mills, factories, and business establishments), 480 stakeholders were made aware. Meetings with school teachers, SMC, PTA, and parents to reduce dropout rates in 20 schools made 200 teachers aware. Educational support materials (pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, notebooks, colored pencils, watercolors, colored paper, art paper, drawing books, etc.) were provided to 140 children. Education, skill development, entertainment, learning activities, daily living, and skill enhancement were ensured for 50 working children in 2 education centers and 90 inclusive children in 6 community-based education centers. Daily snack support for 90 students in 6 inclusive education centers and 50 working children in 2 education centers addressed their food and nutritional gaps. Awareness meetings/workshops with parents on the importance of education/child rights and environment made 150 parents aware. Protection policy development enhanced the capabilities of the organization and its staff.