バングラデシュ雨季中の子どもたちの様子
【2019年7月の活動報告】
Approximately 1.78 million meals (progress rate: 77%) were distributed by July against Euglena cookie distribution target of 2.3 million meals for this term (October 2018-September 2019). This is about 150,000 servings short of the original goal. The reason is that due to the influence of Ramadan (fasting), the number of school opening days has decreased. In Bangladesh, the summer vacation period will increase or decrease due to the influence of Ramadan. Last year, the school opened for about 35 days in two months, but this year it stayed for about 25 days, and the school was closed for 10 more days. As a result, the Euglena cookies distributed by September 2019 is expected to reach 2.1 million meals.
We deeply apologize for not being able to achieve our goals in the GENKI program operated with your support. Regarding distribution from October 2019, we will implement this program in cooperation with the school more than ever.
1. Children during the rainy season
In Bangladesh, the rainy season is from mid-May to mid-October, and July is the wettest month. Floods often occur to the extent that your feet and knees are submerged. Children in the GENKI program are also having a hard time getting to and from school. Many children spend more than 15 minutes commuting from home. Roads are not as well maintained as in Japan, so you need to walk carefully so that you do not fall on the school road. Children leave their homes in the rainy season with about 10 minutes more time than in the dry season. Children in slums generally wear simple shoes such as flip-flops. I choose these shoes because they are heat-resistant and can be obtained at a low price (about 70 yen per pair). As soon as they arrive at school, they wash their ankles with mud and dirty feet in a bucket of water. Then wipe your feet with a towel before entering the classroom. Such landscapes are common in elementary schools in slums.
At this time, there are some points to be aware of when running the GENKI program. It is also a bad road was flooded Euglena to be able to deliver safely school cookies, Euglena the early order to Nabisco to manufacture and deliver the cookies, is to proceed on a schedule with a margin. This response allows children to eat Euglena
Photo-1: Flooded road
Photo-2: Situation in front of home when going to school
Photo-3: A child arriving at school and having his feet soaked
Photo-4: Children washing their feet dirty with rain
2. Introduction of elementary school classes in Bangladesh
So far, I have explained about Bangladesh's education system and exams, but this month I would like to introduce two points that differ from Japan in elementary school lessons.
The first point is the number of subjects. As shown below, you will study 12 subjects in 6 years in Japan, but 6 subjects in Bangladesh.
| Country | Number of subjects | subject name |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 12 | Japanese language, math, science, society, life (1st and 2nd grade) / general (3rd-6th grade), music, arts and crafts, home economics (5th and 6th grade), physical education, morals, foreign language activities (5th and 6th grade), Special class |
| Bangladesh | 6 | Bengali, math, English, science, society, religion |
Classes such as music, art, physical education, and home economics are studied in junior high school, but not in elementary school. Also, unlike Japan, there are no classrooms such as music rooms and drawing rooms, and facilities such as musical instruments. However, some elementary schools offer their own lessons. For example, at Aparajo Elementary School, we call a music teacher once a week to teach traditional Bangladeshi songs using a keyboard instrument native to India called "harmonium". Children are very much looking forward to music lessons, such as practicing the songs they have learned during breaks.
The second point is a religion class. This is a moral class in Japan. In Bangladesh, about 90% are Muslims. Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians are a minority with a total of about 10%, but holidays for each religion have been established. In addition, some schools offer classes by religion such as Hinduism and Christianity. In that case, all general subjects such as Bengali and math are taken, but religion classes are divided by religion and studied under each teacher. In this way, minority religions are also respected in Bangladesh.
Photo-5: Music class using "harmonium"
Photo-6: Children studying Christianity
3. About dengue fever measures
Today, in Bangladesh, the mosquito-borne infectious disease "dengue fever" is skyrocketing at a record high. Dengue fever is transmitted by being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infection can cause fever and severe headaches, and severe symptoms can lead to death. There is no direct transmission from person to person.
In 2018, the number of people infected with dengue fever was 10,150, while in 2019, the number of people infected has exceeded 13,600 as of the end of July. A little less than half of them, 8,348, were confirmed to be infected in July. You can see that the number has increased dramatically compared to 184 in May and 1,820 in June. Infections increase in the country from June to November, when mosquitoes increase in the rainy season every year. The number of inpatients increases from around September every year, but this year the situation is already full of inpatients from July. Infected people have been confirmed throughout the country, but the number of infected people is increasing especially in the populous capital of Dhaka.
Some of the schools covered by the GENKI program also have dengue fever, and we warn them not to be bitten by mosquitoes. Specifically, we are instructing students to take measures such as explaining the characteristics of mosquitoes carrying the virus, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and using mosquito nets at bedtime. Children pay attention to being in mosquito nets not only at bedtime but also while studying at home.
Photo-7: Children learning about dengue measures in class
Photo-8: Children studying in mosquito nets
Photo-9: A sign calling attention to dengue fever by the government
Thank you for your continued support.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Overseas Business Development Department / Bangladesh Office