新たなモデルでユーグレナクッキー配布を開始したバングラデシュの学校の紹介
【2017年11月の活動報告】
By November, we distributed approximately 1.44 million meals (progress rate: 72%) against Euglena
1. Introduction of schools that started distributing cookies with a new model
In September of this year, we started a new model of distributing Euglena cookies with a part of the GENKI program activity fee provided by local supporters. With the supporters and teachers agreeing with the program's activities and goals, the distribution of cookies has begun at three new schools (260 people in total) with this model. The first school, Fame school, bears part of the program activity costs through the CSR activities of the construction company. The second Merit Care school is supported by the president of a water purifier sales company. At the third Porshi Foundation School, the foundation established by the principal bears part of the program activity costs.
This month, I would like to introduce you to this Porsi Foundation School. This school is particularly poor and has no desks or chairs, so I put textbooks on the floor to study. The founder, Principal Shahina, started the foundation while working for a local television station. She opened the school by soliciting donations from friends at home and abroad, but the monthly school management is in a difficult situation.
The school operating fee for 80 students is 50,000 yen a month. The breakdown is that the classroom rent is 20,000 yen, the salary of five teachers is 20,000 yen, and other expenses are 10,000 yen, and most teachers teach by volunteers. Many parents of children make a living by selling vegetables on the road or as a rickshaw driver. The average household income is about 10,000 yen a month, and many families have 5-6 siblings, so they cannot afford to live. The average monthly tuition fee for other schools covered by the program is 200-300 yen, but the tuition fee for Porsi Foundation School is only 50 yen per month as part of the stationery fee. Principal Shahina also considered freeing the children's home environment, but wants parents to take responsibility for their education and receives a small amount of money as a tuition fee.
When the local staff visited the Porsi Foundation School for the first time, they felt that their children were slow to grow due to malnutrition. All are about 6-8 years old, but most children are over 10 years old. Principal Shahina said, "Many children go to school without eating breakfast and are undernourished. The GENKI program distributes cookies to solve nutritional problems, so we look forward to the future growth of children. Also, I would like to use the money collected by the Foundation to prepare desks and chairs in the near future and improve the learning environment. "
Photo-1: Children studying on the floor and eating cookies
Photo-2: Children eating cookies and smiling
2. Introduction of Mr. Shubo who immigrated from the region
Do you know the background of the people who live in slums?
Bangladesh has a population of about 160 million. About 18 million people live in the capital, Dhaka, of which about 40% live in slums. Shubo (12 years old) introduced this time is one of them. His parents were farming in rural areas, but due to their poor living conditions, they moved to the capital, Dhaka, to earn a stable cash income. Currently, Shubo's father works as a housekeeper in a wealthy family. His parents have not graduated from elementary school due to family reasons, so even if they move to Dhaka, they have limited jobs and their daily lives remain difficult. Shubo's parents are keenly aware of the importance of education and want him to graduate from high school and have a stable profession.
Shubo said, "My family is a father, a mother, two sisters aged 5 and 3, and my family of five. Even though I can't afford to eat three meals every day, my father pays the tuition fee. He will let me go to school. I want to study properly and return to the region where I lived in the future. I want to run a fish farm where I can raise my favorite fish. ”He said with nostalgia for his hometown. We will continue to contribute through cookies to a future where children like him can be educated and escape from undernourishment and poverty.
Photo-3: Mr. Shubo who draws pictures of animals as a hobby
3. Introduction of Muhammad Yunus's book "A World of Three Zeros"
Grameen Bank, which won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize * The book "A World of Three Zeros" by the founder Muhammad Yunus was published at the end of September. Here, Yunus explains the need to create a new economy that eliminates "poverty," "non-employees," and "carbon dioxide emissions," which are the causes of global warming. In the idea of "three zero" economy, our mung bean business and GENKI program aimed at solving poverty problem were introduced.
The connection between our company and Mr. Yunus dates back to 1998. When President Izumo, who was a student at the time, interned at Grameen Bank, he witnessed the harsh reality of nutritional problems faced by children in Bangladesh. From there, Izumo had a desire to solve the nutritional problems in Bangladesh, and our company began by focusing on Euglena, which has 59 types of nutrients. Izumo reread "Muhammad Yunus Autobiography: Bankers Aiming for a World Without Poverty" when mass cultivation of Euglena did not go well, or when he had troubles that shook management, and he was encouraged to face the difficulties. It is a great honor for this project to be featured in the book of Mr. Yunus, the teacher of the heart of Izumo and who gave us the beginning of our company.
Yunus has the common sense that even if everyone disagrees with "impossible" or "impossible", he will provide unsecured loans to poor women who cannot read and write, and "the repayment rate is low even if they lend to the poor." We overturned and achieved a repayment rate close to 100%. To date, more than 8 million people have been financed by Grameen Bank and many have escaped from poverty. No matter how much people oppose it, if you touch on Yunus's achievements without giving up in "A World of Three Zeros", it is possible to eliminate the three that seem impossible no matter what the difficulty. I hope everyone will feel that. A Japanese translation of this book, which gives you an idea of Yunus's thoughts and the origin of the GENKI program, will be published by Hayakawa Publishing at the end of February next year. Please read it.
* Grameen Bank provides relatively low interest rate unsecured loans to the poor, called microcredit, mainly in rural areas.
Photo-4: "A World of Three Zeros"
Photo-5: Izumo handing cookies to children
Thank you for your continued support.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Overseas Business Development Department / Bangladesh Office