Located in Southern Asia, between Burma and India, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. In an area of 144,000 sq. km., only 133,910 sq. km. is land. Most of the people of Bangladesh are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land. They have limited access to potable water and fall victim to water-borne diseases. What fishing areas exist are polluted by commercial pesticides. Although 67% of the land area is arable, natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and droughts endlessly try the strength and courage of the people of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has probably faced more tragic blows due to natural calamities and economic crisis than any other nation in the world.

Helping Hand started its work in Bangladesh in 1992. In the beginning we provided emergency relief: food, shelter and medical support to the victims of floods and cyclones that devastated Bangladesh, year after year.

A community that is trapped in poverty can only be helped through ideas that focus on its economic development. Working with local NGOs, we put together a range of long-term projects. Our ongoing projects in Bangladesh are:

Healthcare Care Centers
The major objective of this program is to provide primary healthcare to the needy families. The centers are located in Dhaka, Noakhali, Pabna and Satkhira.

5,000 mothers and children have benefited from:
Inoculations
Physical Exams
Gynecological and Obstetric Care
Nutrition Guidance
5,000 individuals received treatment for:
Cuts, burns, bruises, and other wounds
Setting of broken bones
Malaria / Fever
Diarrhea / Measles
3,000 school children received health education on:
Personal hygiene and cleanliness according to the percepts of Islam
Purification of drinking water

Orphan Support Program
Islam enjoins Muslims to care for children without parents: "...and spends his substance - however much he himself may cherish it - upon his near of kin, and the orphans..." (Al-Quran, 2:177)

This is an obligation which the people of Helping Hand take very seriously. Indeed, we plan to extend our services to the needy children of Bangladesh by supporting 101 orphans from different districts. We anticipate a need for $24,000 based upon $20 per child per month per calendar year.

The objectives of this program are:

* To support potential orphans for their food, clothing and education
* To develop their religious understanding through religious education
* To create self-confidence among the orphans

Self-Help Program
This is a micro credit financing program which assists the poorest beneficiary to generate income by finding sources of interest-free credit and ensuring the greatest savings. In 1997, with the help and support of Helping Hand's generous contributors, $1,500 was loaned interest-free to a society (a society consists of a group of 30 women). The society uses the money to invest in farm animals such as cows, goats, or chickens. By working together and selling milk or eggs the women achieve a small measure of security for their families, a regular monthly income, and hope for the future. This effort has resulted in 600 new memberships in societies. About 1,000 of these programs are benefiting people now in Dhaka, Comilla, Manikgonj, Chittagong, Gaibanda and Pirojpur.

The objectives of this program are to:

Enhance income earning capacity of the poor

Help the poor to get rid of the grips of the local money lenders

Get out of interest-based system

Develop overall socio-economic conditions of the women

The major components of this program are:

Small trading support services

Cattle rearing initiatives

Rural transport services

Small enterprise support services

Environmental and Horticulture development

Zabiha Program
During the holy celebration of Eid-ul Adha, we sacrifice a goat, camel, lamb, or cow. Families donate an animal for the sacrifice and its meat is distributed to the poor. Helping Hand arranged Qurbani / Sacrifice in more than 50 locations throughout Bangladesh. Thousands of people have benefited from this wonderful program. In 2000, we sacrificed 324 animals in Bangladesh.

With Helping Hand we reach out to the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the parentless of Bangladesh. It is a noble project but nothing can be accomplished with wishes and good intentions alone. Won't you please extend your helping hand now We know you will recognize the worthiness of the projects that have been established in Bangladesh.