In one of the poorest countries on earth, Terre of hommes (Tdh) fights malnutrition, speaks up for disadvantaged young people and helps victims of natural disasters.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes

Health and nutrition – Home visits to families in the province of Kurigram help to identify sick children and encourage mothers and pregnant women to visit health centres. Due to regular weight and growth monitoring, it is possible to fight malnutrition in young children.

Training for disadvantaged young people – Tdh supports two training centres in Kurigram where disadvantaged young people are trained in carpentry, sewing, mechanics and secretarial work.

Health, water and hygiene – In 2009, a new maternal and child health project was initiated in 5 villages in the region of Chittagong Hilltracts. Hence, 12,000 people will have access to drinking water and better hygiene within 18 months.

Help for the victims of natural disasters – Tdh helps the victims of cyclone Sidr, which devastated Bangladesh in November 2007. Tdh supplies medical care, provides access to drinking water and builds ecological latrines and houses.


Results achieved in 2008

Health and nutrition – At the health centres of Kurigram, Tdh has treated 85,000 mothers and children. Overall, 360 children suffering from serious malnutrition were taken care of. Tdh also carried out 20,000 medical tests in the villages.

Training for disadvantaged young people – Tdh supplied funding for the training and work placements of 140 boys and girls.

Urgency aid – After cyclone Sidr and floods struck the north of the country, Tdh provided food, clothes and medical aid for 25,000 families. 100 families had access to drinking water due to pond filtration and 100 houses were rebuilt.


Challenges to be taken up

Maternal health – Many girls are married off at a very young age, which exposes them to health risks caused by early child-bearing. In addition, they do not go to school. Sometimes, their husbands leave them and they become victims of discrimination due to their status as single mothers. Tdh has campaigned in the villages to improve access to information and to medical care for young girls, married women and single mothers. Training for disadvantaged young people – Compared with boys, girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to looking for employment. Hence, a third of the jobs on offer at the training centres of Kurigram are reserved for girls in order to ensure that they have access to the employment market.


The story of Shimu: My house was blown away

“I was very afraid when the storm hit us. There was water, wind and rain everywhere. We had to climb trees so that we did not drown. We spent the whole night there with the rain beating down on us.”

Shimu, 9 years old, lives in a small village in Padma, in the south of Bangladesh. In November 2007, her family was badly hit by cyclone Sidr and they had to flee. When they returned, their house was destroyed and they built a temporary dwelling with the help of recovered material. But the family suffered from the cold; the wind did not stop tearing at their improvised home. For months, Shimu had problems sleeping.
Initially, Tdh supplied food, clothes, cooking material as well as medical aid for people who had been harmed by the storm such as Shimu’s family. Later, when the destroyed houses were being rebuilt, access to drinking water and waste water decontamination was provided.
Thanks to the swift action of Tdh, this family lives once again in a two-room hut that boasts a latrine and has regained confidence in the future. “I am happy to live in a house again and I am no longer afraid at night,” says Shimu with a smile on her face. In addition, her father can leave for work without worrying.