Rangpur Area Program

Rangpur is an urban community home to almost 70,000 people. Seasonal sicknesses such as fever, colds, and diarrhea are common and weaken children's health. Children can't attend school regularly because of extreme weather, including freezing cold, pouring rains, and severe heat. When it's hot, children can't concentrate or stay indoors for long, which negatively impacts their learning. Winters aren't any easier since many lack warm clothes.

In cooler months, parents cannot work outdoors, affecting their ability to earn and provide for their families. When parents are unemployed, children experience pressure to work and some get jobs in the tobacco industry to support their families.

Most of the community's decisions are made by men. Although women are learning about their rights and trying to establish themselves, it is difficult for them to take on leadership roles. Those who can earn income by tailoring, making small crafts, and starting their own small businesses.

Health
Malnutrition in Rangpur is a vital issue. Reports show that 34.5% of children are underweight. There is little information shared with new and expecting mothers on proper nutrition. More than 70% of new mothers delivered their babies without the assistance of a skilled professional, resulting in the loss of some of the infants. The nearest health centre has neither a proper delivery room, nor enough health staff to meet the needs of patients.

Education
Over 80% of children between the ages of three and five aren't in school of any sort. By the age of seven, 70% of children are still not enrolled. This decreases students preparedness to enter formal education, which in turn results in lower grades. The education children do receive is often poor in quality, and schools lack of resources also contributes to the dropout rate. Literacy in Rangpur is below the municipal average.

More than one third of student who drop out leave school within their first year, with girls being at a particular disadvantage due to practices like early marriage. By the time students are preteens, many stop attending school altogether. Most dropouts are from the most disadvantaged families. Children leave school to take on jobs in poor working conditions, becoming vulnerable to crime and violence.

Child Protection & Participation
The Rangpur community struggles to protect its vulnerable families and children. Most parents and community members don't know or understand children's rights, and social groups that should be working to enforce them are often inactive. The lack of birth registrations and the practice of physical punishment at home and in school put children at even greater risk.

Early marriage, especially for young girls, is common among families. Parents will often allow their daughters to get married to keep them safe from sexual harassment. Cultural gender issues are deeply rooted.

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Children and families do not have good training or experience in hygiene and sanitation. Over half of the population use unsanitary latrines, while 4% do not have access to latrines at all. As a result, children under the age of five often suffer from waterborne illnesses, such as diarrhea.

​Health
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:

• Improve families access to essential health services to make sure children are healthy and well nourished.
• Improve the nutrition status of mothers and children under the age of five.
• Provide proper care and nutritious foods to severely malnourished infants and toddlers.

Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:

• Establish early childhood care and development programs.
• Create child-friendly learning environments in local schools.
• Improve general access to quality education for boys and girls.
• Equip teachers with improved training in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Child Protection & Participation
To ensure children and youth enjoy a safe and protected environment, World Vision will work to:

• Grow youth leadership and increase children's rights awareness through community children's groups.
• Promote the enforcement of children's rights among parents, caregivers, and community leaders.
• Establish a community-based monitoring system to ensure children are protected and have their rights respected.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with local institutions, including churches, government, and community groups, to help enforce child protection and strengthen advocacy.

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:

• Improve families access to latrines and promote good hygiene and sanitation practices at home and in the community.