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India and Bangladesh
May, 2010
We have
done so much this first part of this year. Just over a year and a half
ago, The Sunflower Trust , bought a small parcel of land in
Bangladesh. Thinking it would take at least 3 years to get some form
of small building on the property, we have done it in one year. Our
vision is to set up a small medicine dispensary for the local people who
are so poor, they can’t afford a Doctor, never mind medicines. It is
only a small project, in a jungle like area, but it will help so many
women and children. Mortality rate is high, and there are many mentally
and physically disadvantages children.
Simple
off the shelf medicines, is all thats needed to change these statistics.
Vitamins will be life saving
In
India, our 33 Tsunami children are doing very well, especially in the
School. They all went down with a virus at one time, but with a quick
acting Father in Giribabu Neela, medicines were had, and the illness
over come.
In
January, Giribabu told me the land opposite the Children’s home had come
up for sale, and could we help in purchasing it. We, The Sunflower
Trust, had no money in the account, because it had all been sent out to
the other various projects we are involved in, for Christmas. Suddenly a
burst of money came in at various intervals, from 5 different sources,
and we were able to send the £2000S out to Giribabu. By April it was
bought, and now the children have a place for recreation, and the cooks,
have a place to cook their rice, outside on the fire. We are all so
very grateful for all the contributions people in this country gave, to
make all these things possible, so other people can share in our
posterity.
 
The visit to
Bangladesh was to
measure the needs of the poor children, so that we, could start a
project in helping them in some way. I was privileged to have a free
airline ticket, and did my utmost best to see as much as I could ,as the
short time of 2 weeks would allow me.
I went to see, hear, access needs, meet
people, , live with the locals, and stay in their homes. I wanted to
feel, and experience a bit of their everyday lives. All this was
achieved, and much more besides.
The Sacrifice Trust, who hosted me, are
helping the youth, and the street children in Dhaka. I left some money
to help buy a computer, which will help them reach a wider area in
communication. Its also a wonderful tool to help them, help themselves,
as they help othersI was able to give out some English Christian
Literature to the Students of the Bible College.
 In Dhaka , there is a School for the
Blind, run by Sylvia Mazumber. I am connecting her with a Blind School
for Girls in Bolton
The Day I spent with the 300 street
children was just unbelievable. I was able to speak to them about the
UK, and also sing with them, and pray with them. They played games, and
sung right back to me, singing Old Mc Donald had a farm, with a moo moo
here, and a moo moo there, well cows moo the same all over the world
don’t they
I did a music work shop with the Students
from Dhaka, that was fun. I surprised myself, when I quickly learnt to
sing in Bangla, a lovely language
In Narsingdi, I took 3 classes in English, in a Government Primary
School, the children had never seen a white woman, or a Westerner, or
even a Foreigner
I met up with the Mayor of the village in
Riapoura, who told me about the desperate needs of the villagers. Health
issues was high on the agenda, especially for the women and children
I went deep into the jungle like area, to
see some fish ponds, in a view to buying one, so Momen can increase his
fish farm, and feed his wife and baby
It was quite disturbing to see the amount
of little children with disabilities, both physical, and mental. I’m
looking into seeing what we can do, once we have set up a women’s health
surgery, in Riapoura
I talked to poor group of villagers about
buying goats and cows, and how that would make a difference to their
lives.
We have already sent 1000 pounds to start
this project off. It is to buy a building in Narsingdi, District, so we
can start up the women and children’s health Centre. It will also house
the 5 little orphans. Poppy and Jemina will run it, and we will send
people from Dhaka to oversee it, and advise, and bring in doctors and
nurses, we will be working along with the Mayor and the Community
Officer, hoping they will take it on, once we’ve set it up.
A young woman, who lives in the village ,
called Poppy, is going to run the centre. She is a teacher.
I saw a Football Match in Benibazaar,
which is way up on the Indian Border, near Assam, and Burma. I was
astounded at the turn out, and the colourful strips they were wearing.
In this area, I stayed in the home of a local Farmer. It was quite an
experience, as they were so unbelievably poor, and there were so many
women and children behind every tree and bush. Life was at its basic.
They were hospitable, and gave me what little they had. They want some
cows, and goats, and we aim to help, as best we can
I have made many friends, and I am free
to go back when ever I like, with homes to accommodate me. I am meeting
with a man in London, who has a love for people in Bangladesh. I am
going to meet with him in July, hoping we can work together to help.
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