BITA E-News Letter 14

th Issue

January – April 2018

Over again we are in the lead of our readers with

E-News letter- 14th

issue. At first we would like to

share our feelings of happiness as United Nations

Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

declared Bangladesh, a developing country, regard as

our economic growth is at 7 percent or higher. In this

period, BITA has engaged Rohingya adolescent boys

and girls with cultural initiatives successfully aiming to

child protection. Continuation of ROSC phase II

project extended educational, training and employment

opportunities for slum children and rural youth. This

issue highlights other notable interventions including

International Women Day Observance with enthusiastic

participation of girls, health camp for older people,

youth engagement for peace, tolerance and harmony,

TIE presentation before young learners.

Let me say once more, we greet all attachment for

flourishing e-news letter in future and collectively raise

our voice to promote rights and foster humanity.

We welcome your ideas and piece of advice . Please do

favour to email us at bitactg@gmail.com

Sisir Dutta

Executive Director

Message from Executive Director

This Issue

Intervention with Rohingya

adolescents Social theatre to enhance

psychosocial development

“Ananda School”: Education centre

for underprivileged slum children

“Time is now: Rural and Urban

activists transforming Women’s lives”

Promote tolerance and diversity among

the youth

Providing Health camp to older

people at Ramgoti upazila

Theatre In Education (TIE)

Joyful education for combating human

trafficking & safe migration

Steps toward building skills and

creating job opportunities of Youth

PVT(Pre Vocational skills Training)

Graduation Course : Certification

ceremony for PVT graduates

Appreciation of youth’s power

working for peace and harmony

Intervention with Rohingya adolescents

Social theatre to enhance psychosocial development

In August 2017, violence erupted in Rakhaine

state of Myanmar. More than 7 lakes people have

fled to Bangladesh to escape the military’s large

scale campaign of brutality. More over half of

them are children. They took shelter at Ukhiya

and Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district. They

made makeshift settlements at Kutupalang,

Balukhali, Moinarghhona, Hakimpara, Jamtoli,

Unchiprang of Ukhiya & Teknaf. Still they are

caring the fear of inhuman brutality of

Mayanmar’s force.

The adolescents particularly girls became traumatized as they witnessed of rape, violence, killing of their

nearest persons. Being refused citizen of the country for a long time, they hardly enjoy any human rights.

The Rohingya people have been suffering from several annoyances like polygamy, child marriage, and

gender-based violence and many other superstitions.

Following conditions, BITA in support UNICEF started a project titled “Promoting psychosocial wellbeing

through cultural initiatives for protecting Rohingya adolescents from abuse, exploitation and GBV

(PPCIPR)” since December 2017 that continued till March 2018. The project accommodated the adolescent

boys and girls aged 12-18 years in cultural initiatives.

Directly10,000 adolescents of Moinarghona, Hakimpara, Unchiprang refugee camps participated in the

activities . Total participants were divided into 400 groups. Among them, 70% were girls while boys 30%.

The decidedly addressing issues making a concept of awareness towards them were like so: Child marriage,

polygamy, child trafficking and child labor, Gender based violence, drug addiction, radicalization, sexual

and other violence. The whole process carried on by group orientation, processing socialization, skill

development activities, develop social theatre production and in house and street drama performance.

Attentiveness all the way through amusement among the adolescents getting free from panic was one of the

important intentions. Simultaneously 2400 stimulating sessions were held involving 400 groups.

Block leaders( BLOCK MAJHI), parents and religious leaders also

included with all the efforts. For each group, two mentors were

selected. Five- day skill development trainings were held with

them for expertise and capacitate of total 800 mentors. Afterwards

they shared all about the views and know-how with the own

group. Rousing sessions and expatriation process initiated them to

set up 400 social theatre show on six in progress issues. Every

single team staged a particular drama at the makeshift camp of

Mainarghona, Hakimpara, and Unchiprang. A friendly Football

Match was organized against drug addiction. More to the point an

exemplary incident happened when through following sessions

encouraged to stop a child marriage in the camp. To build capacity

for effective implementation, BITA organized 3-days TOT on

Facilitating Cultural Initiatives for Promoting Psychosocial well-

being of Rohingya Adolescents in Cox’s Bazar for Technical

Officers and 2-days orientation for Community Mobilizers.

After completion of activities forty groups awarded for their performance out of the 400 groups. Colorful

cultural program and discussion meetings were held in each 3 camps. Prize giving ceremony was graced

by the presence of Camp officials & NGO personnel including Jannatul Ferdous Ruma, Program Officer,

Child Protection, (UNICEF).

In addition, a discussion meeting was arranged to enrich the glory of International Women Day with

participation of Technical Officers and Community Mobilizers. World Theatre Day also observed with

participation of Rohingya children and adolescents through colorful manners.

Since 2017 Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts ( BITA) has been running the Urban Slum Children

Education program through “Reaching Out- Of- School Children (ROSC) phase 2 project under the

ministry of primary and mass education. Its aim is to ensure standard education and to resist drop out of

slum areas’ school going children. Through this project totally fifty thousand unprivileged children, age

group of 8-14 years, are getting education. This programme is providing facilities in 10 city corporation

slum areas’ children. BITA has established 40 Ananda schools at 21 wards of Chittagong City

Corporation area. Government endorsed 5650 children selected through various processes. The children

are getting education in encouraging environment. They are acquiring educational materials like pen,

pencil, text books, free of cost including stipend. Each student got total 2700 taka for nine months as

stipend. Parents, government school teachers, local elected representatives, bank officers, managing

committee of Ananda schools were present during the educational support distributed among the

students. Foremost intention of the programme is to ensure education for unprivileged children and

liberated them from the curse of child labour.

“Ananda School”:

Education centre

for underprivileged

slum children

“Time is now: Rural

and Urban activists

transforming

Women’s lives”

Uttering the above slogan this year BITA

celebrates the “International Women Day”.

Intending the success of the day three -day series

program (6th

March -8th

March) have been taken

where most lucrative part was “The Football Match

of Adolescents Girls”. The Match was held at

Beltoli Railway Housing Field of Pahartoli

ward(9no). Along with the supportive youth team

local journalist Md. Nuruddin Khan Sagar steered

the match. Twenty two participants were divided

into two groups –Red and Green. The match was

drawn by 1-1. Then referee called for tie-breaker.

The Green group won the match by 3-1 goals. At

the end of the match, prizes were distributed

among the players of both teams. This was the first

opening sports of adolescent girls in this area.

Local people from all walks of life enjoyed the

match. They showed gratitude from the core of

their hearts to Action Aid Bangladesh and BITA

for this pretty observance.

Sultana one of the participants of the match

expressed her joy, “I am really excited being a

contestant of the match. I enjoy the freedom of

playing in open field and wish to continue in

future.”

Another participant Tahmina echoed the same

opinion, “Yes! I also want to play up coming days.

Several times I watched female football and cricket

match on television. For the first time I am in the

field as a player”.

Match referee Nuruddin Khan Sagor also stated his

aspiration of further involvement with such

different initiatives for adolescent girls.

At present advent of violent extremism where

youth are largely involved, violent extremism

and radicalization could become a huge threat

of our independence and sovereignty. In the

context of Chittagong, a good numbers of

socio- cultural organizations existing. But most

of them are not proactive. That’s why BITA

who carries a large amount of experiences of

work for a long time with grass root people as

well as community people to deal with PVE

issues using alternative culture based approach.

Most important intention was to promote the

idea of tolerance for diverse judgment.

With the support of USAID’s Obirodh, BITA

organized a one-day program to engage 300

youth through different methods, including

puppet show, local song performance, open

discussion, and quiz on PVE issues. The

initiative was taken by a platform Youth Idea

Chittagong. The platform celebrated the 48th

Independence and National Day 2018 on 26

March at Chittagong Muslim Hall ground.

More than 300 Youth participants from the 21

wards in Chittagong City Corporation

participated in this occasion. Youth volunteers

took the responsibility to provide T-Shirt, badge

& national flag to every participant. Participant

filled the registration form from five booths.

The program started with recitation of national anthem and paid tributes to the martyrs and veteran

freedom fighters of the Liberation War 1971 and remembered the martyrs through various programs.

Organizer wants to enthuse youth on the spirit of liberation war, PVE Messages in festive manner. The

platform campaign conceives a slogan “ Together with diversity”. Former professor of Chittagong

Women College, Anowara Alam gave the inauguration speech. ABM Abu Noman, chairman, law

department of Chittagong University discussed with youth in participatory way on their experience,

questions, ideas & thoughts. The platform also arranged local folk song, quiz, discussion with youth and

attractive puppet show.

Promote tolerance and diversity among

the youth

National Day Celebration

BITA has been working with

communities in support with The

HelpAge International aiming to

reserve the rights and resist the

poverty and increase the skilfulness

of senior citizen of Ramgati

Upazila in Lakshmipur District.

The project is heading as “Building

Preparedness of Vulnerable

Communities through Inclusive

Disaster Risk Reduction

Initiatives”.

Under the project of (IDR-2) BITA operated the three- day long campaign of health camp. The health

camp was organized in collaboration with Ramgati Upazila Health Complex. Through the health Camp,

305 senior persons including male and female facilitated with free health service and taka 500 to each

person at 6no Char Algi, 8no Borokheri, 9no char Gazi union. Eight MBBS doctors provided service.

First Day camp was launched by the presence of Md. Abdul Ali, Upazila Health and Family Planning

Officer, Ramgati, Lakshmipur district.

That day camp was presided by Md.

Zakir Hosssain Chy, chairman, 6no

Char Algi Union Parishad, Ramgati,

Lakshmipur. On second day at

health camp, the chief guest was

Abdul Wahed, Chairman of Upazila

Parishad. Dr. Nahid Raihan from

upazila health complex, Female vice

chairman Marzia Begum also visited

the camp.Third Day Tawhidul Islam,

Chairman of 9 no Char Gazi union

presided the camp function. On the

part of BITA project officer of IDR

Md. Ibrahim and volunteers were

present.

All invited guests and advantaged

senior persons appreciated BITA for

such initiative. They expressed their

prospect to do continue for further

effort with BITA.

Providing Health camp to older

people at Ramgoti upazila

TIE (Theatre In Education)- classroom

based Theatrical performance – organized

to educate school students about combating

human trafficking & safe migration issues.

In this regard, one TIE production made by

BITA at BITA Culture &Communication

Trust (BCCT), Patiya. The activities are

taking place under Bangladesh Counter

Trafficking-In-Persons (BC/TIP) program

which is supported by USAID and

WINROCK INTERNATIONAL . Basically

TIE is a popular & exceptional cultural

tools to help and give support to learning

process of interactive theatre. The

production making process consisting the

steps: issue analysis, message finalization,

story making, script write up, materials

making, rehearsal and audio recording etc.

In this intervention, two youth cultural artists directly performed. Among them one is present peer leader at

Chhohora Union, Patiya upazila, and another one is BITA cultural resource person. BC/TIP project staff and

cultural artists were also closely involved.

In the mean-time, 8 TIE shows were presented in front of 5 schools’ students at different unions of Patiya

upazila. The schools were Myfulalabir School & College, Haidgaon High School, Alfa Karim High School,

Chhonhora High School and Sarodchoran High school. Total 521 viewers including male &female students,

teachers, SMC members, BC-TIP project staff and respective local persons observed these shows. It’s

noteworthy that the presentations made before students of standard Eight & Nine.

Theatre In Education (TIE) Joyful education for combating human

trafficking & safe migration

Youths are the most important sector of

Bangladesh for constructing a developed country.

Under the ministry of Primary and Mass

Education, a project titled “Reaching Out-Of-

school Children (ROSC) phase -2 is doing

collaboration with BITA offering a pre- vocational

schooling of youth people for budding skilfulness

since last 24th

March, 2018 at Ratnapalang union

of Ukhiya upazila in Cox’s Bazar district. This

project is running at 90 upazila for providing

training of 25000 youth trainee, aged 15 – 22

years, of all over the country. Essentially the poor

unprivileged students who dropped out after

standard five are getting the opportunity of three

months instruction on multiple sectors. All these

facilities are free of cost. It’s noteworthy that

BITA already completed training of 200 trainees

on five different segments.

Recently the huge influx of Rohingya people affected the host community of Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s

Bazaar. They are facing huge difficulties as price hike, joblessness, and scarcity of essential belongings of

daily life. Particularly the underprivileged people are suffering mostly. To face all these awkward and to

create the scope of employment of youth, BITA & Govt of Bangladesh jointly running the program over

the six unions of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazaar district; offering training for 1800 trainee.

On 24th

March’18 a training centre at

Valukia palang was inaugurated by Md.

Khairul Haq, chairman of Ratnapalang

union. The centre endowing with training of

four trades as follows: Electronics & Mobile

phone servicing, Petrol & diesel Engine

Mechanics, Electric House wiring and Solar

System, and Beauty Care. 100 apprentices

are receiving training here. Under four

skilled trainers this training will be

continuing till June, 2018. “Save the

Children International” is providing

technical assistance in this project funded by

“The World Bank”. Within couple of days,

high officials of Government part and the

donor organizations have visited the centre.

Alongside on last 24th

April,18 another

training centre started at Sadar union of

Teknaf upazila. The centre was launched by

deputy project director of ROSC Md.

Nuruzzaman Mallick. Here 100 apprentices

are also receiving training.

Steps toward building skills and

creating job opportunities of Youth

Reaching Out-Of- school Children (ROSC) phase -2

Certification ceremony has been

organized by BITA on 28th

March, 2018

at Upazila Parishad hall room of Lama

upazila under Bandarban Hill District. In

the occasion, Md. Nuruzzaman Mollick,

deputy project director of ROSC phase-2

attended as chief guest. The age of the

training participants are 15-22 years old

who have completed the level of class

five and involved with ROSC phase -1

program of Ananda school Education and

Shishu Kalyan Trust (SKT) Program.

The objective of the training is to increase of vocational and technical employability skills of youths and

involving with job market. BITA implemented PVT program operating 4 trade based skill development

where 100 youth trainees completed the 3 months duration courses successfully. Among them, 75 are male

and 25 are female participants. Each trade is designed for 72 days where each participant obtained skill on

particular trade and able for employment. In the 2nd

batch, the trades were: Electronics & Mobile phone

Servicing, Beauty Care, Electric House wiring & Solar System and Petrol & diesel engine mechanics.

In the certification ceremony Shahida

Begum, Program Director of EYE, Save the

Children International, was present as

special guest. In the occasion, Mirza Nishat,

deputy programme director of EYE, Save

the Children International, Md Moshrakul

Alam, Assistant Director of ROSC phase-2

and Jesmin Taslima Banu, Assistant

Director of ROSC phase-2 project were also

present and delivered their speech in front of

graduate students.

Sisir Dutta, Executive Director

of BITA gave the welcome

speech. The delighted graduate

youth received the certificate

from the guests. Ashok Barua,

Focal Person of BITA,

informed that BITA already

started to link the graduates

with the job market. Most

graduates are accommodating

them with self employment and

group based business

initiatives, and some of

graduates engaged with salary

based employment.

PVT(Pre Vocational skills Training) Graduation Course

Certification ceremony for PVT graduates

Peace and security are integral parts of human rights,

fundamental freedom and poverty alleviation. To fully develop

and utilize human qualities, talents and conscience we need a

peaceful and safe social atmosphere that could satisfy human

needs appropriately.

Unfortunately, it has seen in Bangladesh that extremism has taken a new shape for the last couple

of years as we had to behold some of the incidents where we have experiences that a large

numbers of youth are participated in the horrific and dastardly terrorism attack in the country.

Insecurity, tension, restlessness increased in people’s mind. So it’s important to proactive the

youths power evoking of culture of harmony, open-mindedness and human rights for the equitable

and sustainable national development. From realization of context, BITA feels to address violent

extremism issue through the proposed project “Youth Engagement of Preventing and Responding

to Violence Extremism through Cultural Action of Puppet in Chittagong City Corporation” with

active participation of youth to reduce their vulnerabilities and engagement in creative and nation-

building activities.

“To promote social harmony through youth engagement for reducing risks of VE” is determined

as goal of the piloting project for the 10 months duration on May 2018 to February 2018 covering

of 2 numbers of Chittagong City Corporation wards of 12 no. Saraipara and 13 no. Pahartoli. It

was intervention of forming a youth based puppet groups where about 100 are involved aged of

15-25 years old and they would be capacitated on puppet based interventions and ultimately a

community level awareness campaign happed on preventing and countering violence extremism

through puppet intervention. A total of 32 (thirty two) planed puppet shows are performed in

community and institutional level where around 10,000 direct audiences observed the puppet

shows. Through the puppet shows story the context are visualized how the youths motivated and

involving them into extremism, its impact and sense of family and community level awareness

initiatives etc. It’s a well appreciated aesthetic puppet production where developed counter

narratives, familiar story journey, common characters in our everyday life imposed into the

production recognized by the audiences and another 6 (six) shows also performed in different of

prestigious spaces.

Appreciation of youth’s

power working for

peace and harmony

58%

42%

Approximate Direct audiences ratio

Male Female

At the completion of the project there are good amount of lesson learn and recommendation

were found community level less information and awareness on PVE, community youth

have intention to get involve with creative action but less practice initiatives in community,

more creative campaigning and using of ICT media could support to get involve of more

community youths as audiences for observing puppet shows, the form of puppet could

support to participate adolescent girls and female youth at community level satisfactory.

Under the project duration the dropout rate of female in puppet team is less, different

development issue such as drug addiction, domestic violence and child marriage also can

relate with the issue of PVE and that could support to build a balance approach and using of

ICT support within the campaign could support to the youth for developing of creative and

critical thinking ability etc. BITA believes that working for peace and harmony such kind of

intervention and new creative program ideas should be explore and speared out over the

country. By the support of Democracy International BITA implemented the piloting project.

BITA would like to show thanks and gratitude to all relevant parties and stakeholders who

supported to achieve the interventions.

Date of publication 22 May 2018

Writing Haroon Ur Rashid, Manager, Program Assessment and Monitoring Pradip Acharjee, Coordinator, Program Development Ashok Barua, Coordinator Bappa Chowdhury, Project Manager Kanij Farhana,Project Coordinator Md. Ibrahim, Project Coordinator Morshed Alom, Sponsorship Officer Manidipa Bhattacharjee, Program Officer (Monitoring & Documentation) Design Mrityunjoy Sengupta, Senior Admin Officer, BITA Contact Person Sisir Dutta, Executive Director, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: sisir_bita@yahoo.com Cell No: +88- 01711-845996 Mousumi Chowdhury, Board Member, Executive Committee Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: mousumi_priyota@yahoo.com

Cell No: +88 -01711-150322

The publication tries to reflect the initiative of BITA with community. The contents of this publication

are sole responsibility of BITA

BITA (Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts)

753, Mehedibag, Chittagong, Bangladesh Tell: +88-031-610262 ; +88-01711-171070

E-mail: bitactg@gmail.com www.bitactg.org