With a view to adopting a right-based approach emphasizing the human rights, in particular, housing, land and property rights for the people of Bangladesh specially for the victims who are displaced due to climate change, YPSA and Displacement Solutions jointly have been implementing an outstanding project named “Bangladesh Housing Land Properties (HLP) Rights Initiative”. “Coastal Kids Project” is one of the most important sub-projects under this HLP project.
The main objective of Coastal Kids Project is to build strong bondage among the students (between the ages of 10 to 12) of Bangladesh, Australia, Kiribati and Tuvalu who are living in coastal areas for sharing knowledge and exchanging views through Skype discussions about climate change issues. To work jointly in this endeavor, a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between YPSA, a renowned NGO of Bangladesh and William Carey Academy (WCA), a famous English medium school of Chittagong held on 4 September 2012 at the office of the Chancellor of WCA.
Mr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Chief Executive of YPSA and Ms. Marilo Long, Chancellor of WCA signed the MoU on behalf of YPSA and WCA, respectively in presence of Mr. Md. Shahjahan, Team Leader of YPSA-HLP, Mr. Mahiuddin Hafiz, Program Manager of YPSA-HLP, Mr. Zirthang Bawm and Ms. Krikkit Holly of WCA.
Coastal Kids projects: First time Skype conversation between two schools of Bangladesh and Australia
The first ever Skype conversation among the students of two schools between an Australian school (Sorrento Primary School, Victoria) and a Bangladeshi school (William Carey Academy, Chittagong) was held on 4 September 2012 from 9.50 am to 11.15 am. This stimulus Skype conversation was under the “Coastal Kids Project” is one of the most important sub-projects under this HLP project, to build relationship between the school students of Bangladesh and with school students in Australia who are also coastal dwellers.
YPSA as a partner of DS is implementing the project in Bangladesh. The students of both countries enjoyed the program and got an exceptional opportunity to build up rapport through this conversation. During the session they talked about various aspects of Climate Change issues in a serious mood and also shared their personal liking and disliking in a funny way. They also offered cordial invitation and friendship proposal to one another. This instructive and insightful classroom to classroom conversation uplifted a great passion among the participants to think about the vulnerability of Coastal Kids.
Similar conversations will also be facilitated among the schools from other climate affected areas of Bangladesh, Australia, Kiribati and Tuvalu. As these children are the future of the nations and so it can be hoped that the Skype conversation bestowed a message in them about how to cope with global crisis.
From the part of Bangladesh, Mr. Arifur Rahman, CE of YPSA, Ms. Marilou Long, Administrative Director of WCA, Ms. Krikkit Holly, Class teacher of Level 5, WCA, Mr. Shahjahan, Team Leader of YPSA-HLP, Mr. Mahiuddin Hafiz, PM of YPSA-HLP, Mr. Zirthang Bawm of WCA were present in Skype Conversation. On the other hand Mr. Scott leckie, Director & founder of DS, teachers, students and other staffs of Sorrento Primary School, Victoria were present in Australia.
At the ending part of the Skype conversation, Mr. Arifur Rahman, CE of YPSA shared various aspects of YPSA and its activities with the students of Sorrento Primary School. The entire program was cooperated by Mr. Zirthang Bawm and moderated by Ms. Krikkit Holly, Class teacher, Level-V of WCA.
YPSA arranged a Power point presentation for WCA student on “Climate change: issues and concerns” YPSA and William Carey Academy (WCA) jointly organized a Power Point Presentation session to orient well about the climate change issues to the 5th level students of WCA, Chittagong under Coastal Kids Project at WCA premises in Chittagong on 4 September 2012 with the support of Displacement Solutions. All the students of level 5 assembled in this session just prior to the Skype conversation held between WCA and Sorrento School of Victoria, Australia. In this session the students asked so many questions to meet up their thirst of knowledge and the little geniuses gave some interesting recommendations and valuable suggestions too.
Everybody including Ms. Marilou Long, Administrative Director of WCA, Mr. Md. Arifur Rahman, CE of YPSA, Mr. Md. Shahjahan, Team Leader, YPSA-HLP and senior teachers of WCA participated enthusiastically in question- answer session.
At the beginning Ms. Marilou Long, Administrative Director of WCA, Chittagong introduced the YPSA staff with some senior teachers and students of level 5. Then Mr. Md. Shahjahan, Team Leader of YPSA-HLP talked on the objective of the Coastal Kids project.
Mr. Mahiuddin Hafiz of YPSA conducted the whole session from 9 am to 9.45 am mentioning the objective of arranging such a session. He elaborately discussed basic concepts of Climate Change, its impact on Bangladesh in light of global context. The session was very participatory and interactive. Thus everybody enjoyed the time very effectively.