E C H O

By Naoshin Haque

There are an astounding 250,000 to 400,000 children living on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, according to a study done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Looking at a typical day in the lives of these homeless children is a big reminder of how much we tend to take for granted in our own day to day lives. Children such as Yusuf, 14, and Smaile, 10, start their mornings at 4AM, after sleeping on hard wooden planks, and soon after begin their search for empty bottles, which they will try to sell after filling them with fresh water. Later in the day, they go to the harbor in search of more work, consisting of carrying bags and boxes. Even after working 6 hours or more, they earn less than $1USD and normally must resort to begging for meals at local cafes.

There does seem to be a silver lining to this cloud though, as Yusuf and Smaile will soon permanently move to a center supported by UNICEF, where they can eat, sleep, and receive informal education, as well as vocational training. However, not all children living in the slums of Dhaka are so lucky – many continue to remain homeless and without an education. To help mitigate this problem, ECHO has recently partnered with GiveLight Foundation to build an orphanage for 50 orphan girls.

Already, half an acre of land in Savar, an area near Dhaka, has been generously donated by a family in Bangladesh for the construction of the orphanage, slated to begin this spring. ECHO’s mission has always been to not only help children in the short term, but to also help them in the long term by providing them with the tools to become self-sufficient members of society. Therefore, this orphanage will not just provide food and shelter, but will also provide education for these girls through an on site school. Together with your help, we can make this orphanage a reality sooner, so please, give the gift of housing and education by making a donation today.

*Photo Credit: Casey McCarthy of UNICEF*