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Activity Report: Bangladesh
HFW Bangladesh is running projects in 40 villages in 3 districts. Women, youth, government officers, and other NGOs are all giving strong support. “\1 from Japan will give 15 taka” is the catchphrase among the people of the community. Their projects are also widely covered by newspaper + TV in Bangladesh.
■ Report
Bangladesh: The Percentage of Households with Lavatories in the Village of Mostabapur reaches 100 %
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In January 2004, Mostabapur of Kaliganji County reached the goal of putting lavatories in all 165 village households.
Considering that only 30 % of the households were equipped with lavatories back in August 2003, this village accomplished an astounding feat, thanks to the active participation of the villagers. The Village Development Committee of Mostabapur (VDC, an HFW-sponsored self-governing body) set the goal of achieving 100 % diffusion of lavatories in the village and pursued it vigorously, spreading such slogans as “No more outdoor defecation or urination!” throughout the village.
HFW trained some of the villagers in making toilets and water tanks, and then purchased the products to sell them to village households, who then paid in interest-free installments. Hoping they will take good care of their new lavatories, HFW left the villagers themselves make walls to enclose the lavatories. Some of the villagers who learned to make toilets and waste tanks became professional toilet builders. （2004.5）
| Message from Bangladesh |
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Without the help of HFW, we may not have succeeded. Mr. Shaheen [HFW’s staff member in Bangladesh] cut back on meals and sleep to help us, and we stuck to our goal. However, this is not the end. We will keep working to improve our village.
We want to share our knowledge and experience with the surrounding villages. Our village will be the starting point of a larger effort to bring lavatories to households that need them. (A VDC member)
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Just 39 % of households in all of Bangladesh and 41 % of households in Kaliganji County have lavatories. The government of Bangladesh plans to reach 100 % diffusion at the national level by 2010. In our county, Mostabapur was the first to reach that goal. HFW’s support was certainly essential, but the villagers for their part maintained an exceptional sense of responsibility. The villagers’ strong determination made it all happen. This village is a good model for others.
It is really the government that should be sponsoring these kinds of projects, but HFW was able to accomplish a great deal by motivating the villagers. It is truly something amazing, and we will be happy to support HFW’s future efforts in Bangladesh. (Head of Kaliganji County)
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List of development projects: Bangladesh 2004-2007
（Project name／Target group, number）
■ Past Field Reports; Bangladesh （Project name／Target group, number）
- Power of Art in community development／December 2005
- Diary of an intern／9 August, 2005〜23 September 2005
- Field Report by HFW Head Office Staff／January 2004
- Diary of HFW Head Office Staff／August 2003
- Field Report from Intern／6 February 2003〜7 March 2003
- National Youth Cnference of YEH／August 2003
- Baseline Survey／2002
- Children's Education／August 2002〜
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