Every initiative often arises from self-deprivation, and the Jarung Girls Hostel for Education is a prime example of this. When Shanti was young, completing primary school was a significant achievement in her village of Antaha Para, where junior high school was merely a distant dream. Her elder brother, Borthol, recognized the transformative power of education, particularly for girls. Understanding its value, he took Shanti and a few other girls to the nearby town, 17 kilometers away from Antaha Para, to provide them with basic education. In 2003, Borthol and Shanti began the arduous journey of educating these girls, teaching and training them despite many obstacles. Shanti and her peers completed junior and high school in Bandarban town before moving to Dhaka to pursue higher education. Despite enduring difficult conditions and countless limitations, Shanti remained determined to make a difference. She envisioned a future where girls from her village and other tribal communities could access education and opportunities. Since 2003, Shanti and Borthol have worked tirelessly to illuminate the path of education for these girls from the lush, green mountains, aiming to be a beacon of light in the darkness of societal norms and myths. The small hostel accommodates girls from various villages and districts around Bandarban. Their challenges include raising funds to cover rent and provide three meals a day. Shanti has often used her own savings to buy essential items like chairs, tables, and beds. The hostel has moved from a rudimentary structure of wild leaves to a six-room cement house and, due to fluctuating support, back to a tin-roofed house a bit further from Bandarban town.
Bandarban is a remote hill district in Bangladesh, part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, covering an area of 4,479 km² with a population of approximately 292,900. The district is home to the newly reported highest peak in Bangladesh, Saka Haphong (3488 ft). Located in the southeastern corner of the country, Bandarban is renowned for its beautiful hills and foliage, yet it remains underdeveloped. The area suffers from inadequate communication systems, a shortage of hospitals, clinics, schools, and colleges. Higher education opportunities are scarce despite the significant need. With six sub-districts and over 95% of the population engaged in agriculture, the general income level is below USD $25. The tribal areas are particularly underdeveloped, with transportation mainly by foot across mountainous terrain. Many children face long walks to school, and the lack of medical facilities outside Bandarban town forces patients to travel great distances for treatment.
Bangladesh is unique for its historic struggle for language, celebrated globally on February 21 as International Mother Language Day. The country fought a nine-month war for independence in 1971, and despite ongoing political rivalry, corruption, and social challenges, progress has been made. While people in the plains have advanced with educational and economic opportunities, those in the hills have often been left behind. Recognizing the need to integrate with mainstream society for progress, many in the hilly regions have embraced development efforts. Today, various programs focus on health, education, and economic development, aiming to reduce poverty and improve living conditions in these areas.
Shanti: Understanding that change required engaging directly with the mainstream, Shanti faced numerous challenges. She courageously married Rana, a Bengali from the mainland whom she met during her college days. Rana, passionate about youth and education, has dedicated years to teaching and inspiring young people across Bangladesh. Together with her brother Borthol, Shanti runs the hostel, with Rana providing valuable guidance on improving their efforts. Their daily prayers and dedication reflect their commitment to transforming the lives of the girls in their care.
Educate A Child : A good education is a powerful tool for women, enabling them to stand up, compete skillfully, and demonstrate that they can work alongside men for greater causes. Mainstreaming tribal girls with this vision is a mission fraught with multiple challenges. By 2030, we aim to see 1,000 tribal girls complete their basic education and be prepared either for Youth Development Programs focused on small-scale rural businesses run by the government or for the next level of vocational education based on their merit and competency.
Project Information: The government recently declared the hill-state a tourism center, which has increased the vulnerability of tribal girls from the community. To protect them from societal dangers, we started a hostel program in 2003 with 11 girls, providing them with basic education and shielding them from becoming easy prey. As of 2018, our program has grown to accommodate 27 girls from various faiths, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. We offer facilities where the girls can receive basic education, acquire knowledge and skills, learn to adapt to and respect other cultures, and grow with moral values. Our hope and prayers are that these girls will become culturally adaptive, integrate into mainstream society, develop professionally, uphold strong values, and lead in transforming their families and the community at large.
We began our journey with the following aims:
- Providing safe and secure lodging facilities for tribal girls from poor families, with low-cost food arrangements.
- Ensuring dedicated study time to complete the school syllabus and prepare for government exams.
- Offering moral development education to foster spiritual growth and citizenship.
- Providing vocational training in areas such as sewing and computer skills, and, if land becomes available, offering farming and basic agriculture training.
- Creating opportunities for cultural exchange and music learning.
- Offering basic health training, including hygiene education and awareness of prevalent diseases like malaria.
Target Beneficiaries: Girls from eight locations in Bandarban.
Success of the Program: From 2003 to 2017, Jarong has transformed the lives of 330 girls.