Chalbala is a rural area in the Lalmonirhut District (Rangpur Division) in northern Bangladesh. There are many madrasas throughout the area, which over some basic schooling, however, not many students are given the opportunity to pursue further education outside of the area.
To provide a pathway for students in Chalbala to pursue an education at the college / university level. Our hope is that educated students will have access to more diverse and well-paying fields of expertise, and spread the prosperity they achieve throughout their community.
Currently, we have hired a tutor living in Chalbala to teach students on Fridays and Saturdays, outside of their normal schooling hours. We are building the second floor of the masjid, to create a new space dedicated to schooling. We have provided writing materials, including a whiteboard, and will continue to pay the tutoring fees and related expenses (food, water, etc.) until further planning is done regarding the setup of the technical school. Detailed expenses will be listed here shortly.
The rural town is in the Rangpur district, one of the poorer districts of Bangladesh
are below the national poverty line
are living in extreme poverty
of children under 5 years are underweight
Source: Bangladesh Economic Review 2023
There are approximately 30-40 students who frequently attend lessons at the madrasa on the weekends. A local high-school teacher has offered to provide supplementary lessons, as most of the students are attending schools throughout the week in nearby schools already. The teacher and students are given any teaching or learning materials they need, and food is provided for students and their families when they attend.
We are building a two-storey madrasa in Chalbala dedicated towards teaching students and prayer. The first floor has been built, but still needs to be furnished. The construction of the madrasa is set to be completed in December. We still need to raise an extra $15,000 AUD to pay the local builders. If you are interested in donating, please get in touch.
Help us grow this madrasa, in an area where many of the residents live in extreme poverty. We will get in touch soon to show you how you can help.
