Success & Achievements - Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF)

Comprehensive community development is a part of JCF strategy. We started our community development activities with the development of sweeper community at Jessore in 1981. Now this community have their own organisation and income. They are serving in government and private sectors, children have their regular education, women empowerment is in place and living in peace with other communities. JCF continues the community development work and in 1996 another three community development programmes started. The Urban Community Development Programme (UCDP), the Rural Community Development programme (RCDP) and the Development Programme of Fifteen Villages (DPFV). All the three programmes have phased out, the CBOs who are now operating their activities independently. In 2002 JCF started a new project; Hardcore Poor Women’s Development Programme (HPWDP) with the extreme poor women (first time in JCF history) in two upazilas of Chuadanga district based on the experience of the previous community development programmes. There are now 5088 extreme poor women in 33 CBOs who will be phased out in December 2009 and form an apex body of 33 CBOs which will govern the activities of these 33 CBOs.

Total number of CBOs continuing their activities:

Rural Community Development programme (RCDP)-50
Urban Community Development Programme (UCDP)-54
Development Programme of Fifteen Villages (DPFV) -10
Hardcore Poor Women’s Development Programme (HPWDP)-33

Child Protection

JCF has always given preference to develop the most disadvantaged and vulnerable community of the society like sex workers and their children to achieve a socially just community. We have established a shelter home for the sex workers’ children born in brothel. These children are getting residential shelter support through a shelter home established in Jessore Town. There are now 92 children in the home who will stay here until their HSC exam. After passing HSC the meritorious students will get scholarship from JCF to continue their education up to Masters level and the other will be assisted for job placement in different sectors. Besides education and residential support the children are getting health, recreational and awareness and skill development training in the shelter home and the main target of these activities is to ensure successful integration of these destitute children in the normal society. In 2009, 5 children have passed SSC examination from this home.

Community School

JCF initiated the non-formal education facilities with its own NFPE curriculum in 1979 to materialise the dream of a disadvantaged adolescent. Over the years JCF has developed its NFPE curriculum and materials and implemented several NFPE programmes. At one stage JCF realised that to ensure education for the disadvantaged slum children there is need of a static school where these children will get their basic education. Based on that realisation JCF established a multi-storeyed community school in Jessore. Presently 406 students are receiving basic education from this school. JCF has a plan to develop this school up to junior high school level in future.

Orphanage

We know that the number of orphans in our society is not small and these children could serve the society well if they receive proper education. Based on this concept JCF has started one orphanage in 2008 at Jhenaidah district where a total of 20 children are staying and getting education and other support up to the highest level of education.

Professor Shorif Hossain Education Scholarship Fund

JCF’s philosophical foundation is to give emphasis on education. To achieve this, JCF staff members has generated an education fund by contributing 1% of their monthly salary. This fund is supporting the most vulnerable meritorious students from 2008 to continue their higher education. Every year 20 students are receiving financial support from this fund. Now the volume of this fund is Tk. 1,40,85,590.

ACHIEVEMENTS

JCF has successfully implemented some programmes and the achievements are furnished below:

Sector	Achievements
Education	57,088 adult male and female graduated through Adult Literacy Programme. 48,652 children graduated through NFPE activities. 31160 children graduated from pre-primary schools. 76,253 children are studying in 2,136 NFPE centres. 7,817 children are studying in 360 pre-primary schools.
Community Development	147 CBOs are established and functioning. 2 Independent Federations of the CBOs established and functioning independently. 3 Water Management Associations are functioning independently. 4 Nursery Owners’ Associations and 36 Tree Farmers Groups are functioning.
Human Rights	3,06,970 community people are aware about human trafficking. 28 trafficking victims are rescued. 42 Human Rights Defender System Committee (HRDS) are formed with civil society members and 55 existing anti-trafficking units (ATUs) are identified and strengthened. 2 sex workers organisations are functioning.
Child Rights, Protection and Development	A residential shelter home is established and at present 92 children born in brothel are staying there. 176,654 community people are aware about child protection, 9 Child Protection Committees have formed with different professionals and 12 Youth Forum are organised. 25,695 children have formed their own platform to demand their rights and communicate with other forums.
Women Empowerment	1,54,250 poor and extreme poor women have their voice in families, active in family decision making process, have their own income and are aware about their rights
Livelihood	3,000 rural fish farmer started modern carp-prawn poly culture in rice fields and ponds. 6,357 rural men and women producers are receiving assistance to develop their products quality and knowledge on market extension. 1,600 ultra poor families have regular income to manage nutritious diet 3 times/day.
Microfinance	Revolving Loan Fund US$ 34,535,548; total borrowers 296,843; operating in 20 districts and has been rated as the 6th in Bangladesh by MRA.