Pearabag Primary School

Pearabagh is in a densely populated slum area in Dhaka city. It has a total population of over 15,000, it has a population growth of about 3.5% annually. Most of the people are rickshaw pullers, fruit and veg sellers, day laborers, an/or garments workers by profession. The socio-economic condition of the targeted slum area is below poverty level. The daily average income is below $4.

Pearabagh school has come a long way with the help of Agami. Since 2001, Pearabagh has been established to help disadvantaged students from lower socioeconomic areas. The school has been flourishing under the care of the dedicated administration to support pre-primary to Grade 5. The school has also extended its support to its current students to further their education in the secondary level.

Results:

More than 95% of the students got promoted to the next level of classes. In 2017, a total of 30 students took the PEC exam. All the examinees passed successfully with flying colors. Six of the students got GPA-5 (A+), the highest grade possible while the rest of the students got an ‘A’ grade (GPA-4.00).

Before Agami:

Pearabag School was suffering because it could not support the expenses needed to run a school. The school was not able to retain its teachers because of its financial incapability. The dropout rate was close to 90% changing to only 10% after Agami involvement. 6 students dropped out because they migrated back to their village because their parents could not afford the living cost in Dhaka.

Funding: Agami has approved an amount of $8,000 for the fiscal year 2018 to support: Teachers’ salary, Students’ snacks, School house rent, Stationery, Exam cost

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Pearabag students while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

See students and teachers in the classrooms below. Recently, Pearabag students impressed judges with experiments in water purification.
Read more…

“Classification of Plants” topic held on March 11, 2020. Photos taken by Nusrat Tuli to monitor how teachers could implement the training content in the classroom situation as part of post training monitoring. Teachers used real plants for to aid in helping students see and feel the subject of the session. Teachers also used colorful worksheets to assess students which was provided during the teachers’ training session. Read more on Interactive Science Training.

See images of books distributed to students as part of the Library Project.

Doshgram High School

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Doshgram students while schools are closed in the images below on May 4, 2020
Read more…

AAlok Shikkhaloy

65/2, West Agargaon, Shere-bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 | Started in 2008
Grades 1-9 | 302 Students (142 Boys & 160 Girls) | 11 Teachers
Student Success Story: Sanjida Sheikh | Kakoli Akter Lima
Reason for Supporting: Slum school for kids without parental support
Contact: Md. Mizanur Rahman, Head Teacher | Mobile # 01721729141 | mizanurrahmanaalok@gmail.com

Before Agami, Alok was unable to accommodate for the large number of students or provide basic needs such as tiffin and uniforms. The school was unable to employ quality teachers or provide a learning environment with desks, chairs and other essential material.

Once Agami was involved, Alok moved to a brick and mortar building. After providing students with basic educational needs, Alok was able to supplement their program with the Life is Fun (a science program) and several field trips supporting by the Khan academy program.

The post graduation program is the most important contribution from Agami. Alok is able to support students after they graduate from the 5th grade. They help the students get admission to local high schools and tutor the students to be able to be able to reach benchmark standards in science, math, and English.

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Alok Students while schools are closed in the images below from March 30, 2020
Read more..

See images of students and teachers in the Alok classroom below

See images of books distributed to students as part of the Library Project.

Ex-Alok (After School Program)

Agargaon, Dhaka | Funding 2016-2020 | 127 Students
Student Success Story: Sumon Ahmed
Reason for Supporting: Continuing education for Secondary and Higher Secondary Degree

Nandipara Primary School

Road #5, Nandipara, Khilgaon, Dhaka-1219 | Started in 2014
Grades 1-5 | 186 Students (91 Boys & 95 Girls) | 6 Teachers
Reason for Supporting: Slum school in very dire situation
Contact: Shirin Akhter, Assistant Teacher | Mobile: 01673309386
Contact: Shibnath Sarker, CEO, Program for Sustainable Development | Mobile: 01711642622 | shibnath.sarker@agami.org

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Nanipara students while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

“Water Pollution” topic held at Nandipara Primary School in Khilgaon, Dhaka on March 15, 2020. Photos taken by Nusrat Tuli to monitor how teachers could implement the training content in the classroom situation as part of post training monitoring. Teachers took the students to a polluted pond nearby their school to observe the source of water pollution. Teachers also used colorful worksheets to assess students which was provided during the teachers’ training session. Read more on Interactive Science Training.

Shohag Swapnadhara Pathshala

House #17, Road #04, Block 8, Duaripara, Pallabi, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 | Started in 2015
Grades 1-10 | 429 Students (188 Boys & 242 Girls) | 16 Teachers
Success Stories: Amena | Mohammad Hassan Mulk | Marju Akter
Reason for Supporting: Slum school supporting students
Contact: Sagorika Das, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01914494682 | swapnadharabd@gmail.com

Sohag Swapnadhara Pathshala is an urban school located at Duaripara, Rupnagar, Mirpur, Dhaka under the administration of Rupnagar Thana. The school was established dated on July 7, 2006. According to the survey by WSUP, Duaripara has a population of 100,020 people who are living in roughly 2,571 households. The direct beneficiaries of the school are from nearby slum areas. About 35% of the people are garments workers , whereas 50% of the population pull a rickshaw and engage in some kind of day labor for their livelihood. Many women are engaged as domestic aid.

Impact

Agami has been working with Swapna Dhara after 10 years from its establishment of the school, in 2015. The school started its journey very modestly, now with Agami’s help it has grown into a vast institution adding a secondary component to the school. Agami is extending support to enhance teacher’s quality by engaging them in a need-based training (foundation Training, Science, Digital content and Khan Academy Math). Now-a-days, teachers are performing with a student focused agenda in the classroom.

With the help of more economic cooperation, more and more people can work in different ways .Which made the students interested to come to school. They have become passionate about their educations beside practical education. For example, the science based practical education (Life is Fun Program) and Khan Academy Math. This disadvantaged children of Swapndhara, are now participating in various educational activities, bringing fame to the school. That's why the Sohag Swapnadhara Pathshala dream is spreading. There has been a huge change in health awareness. Agami and platform joint management, due to health related various awareness programs, the children are more concerned with their personal preferences than before.

Personality: Regular toothbrush, cleanliness, special care during menstrual period, food before and after hand wash, safe drinking water etc. have been cared for. As a result, the attendance is, increased in the classroom.

Above: Photos as part of a Library Project update in January 2020.
Below: Images of books distributed to students as part of the Library Project from August 2019 including event photos from the Library Fest.

Below: Online science class using Zoom as a result of Teachers’ Training with 9 students in the class and 6 students with virtual access.

Laxmipur Simanta Bazar Primary School

Laxmipur, Shalkupa, Jhenaidah, Khulna | Started in 2015
Grades 1-5 | 162 Students (81 Boys & 81 Girls) | 4 Teachers
Reason for Supporting: Village school supporting Grade 1-5
Contact: Pranoy Majumder, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01714557189 | pranoymajumder963@gmail.com

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Laxmipur students while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

Without proper sanitation and space to study, the school will not be able to accommodate more students. Read more…

Chatpara Ideal Academy

Chatpara, Habigonj, Sylhet | Started in 2016
Grades 6-10 | 450 Students (190 Boys & 260 Girls) | 10 Teachers
Student Success Story: Sadia Sharmin Mim
Reason for Supporting: Village school to support learning, women education
Contact: Mr. Tayef Bakth Chowdhury, Assistant Teacher | Mobile: 01765925196 | chatpara.ideal.academy@gmail.com
Contact: Mr. Harunur Rashid, SMC Chairman | Mobile: 01726321481

Chatpara Ideal Academy (CIA) is rural secondary institution located in Chunarughat Upazila under Habigonj District. It was established in 2012 and started its journey as a junior school. Gradual improvements allowed school authority to expand to include grade-X. CIA began partnering with Agami in 2014. Unfortunately, the school experienced a tragic fire in 2015 which heavily affected the school house. With the help of Agami, CIA was able to recuperate from the losses caused by the fire. CIA has continued to grow and has become a purposeful contribution to Chunarughat Upazila.

Impact

The combination of educated and well trained teachers with tools such as a computer lab empowers the students of CIA to be successful in their educational journey. Not only has performance on exams improved but the dropout rate has significantly reduced. With the hopes of providing subject wise individualized lesson plans and also improving the role of technology in the classroom setting, CIA and Agami can successfully standardize the curriculum and improve the overall delivery of education.

See images of students and teachers from Chatpara classrooms below

New School Supplies
On September 30, 2020 several electronic devices were donated including a laptop, projector, projection screen, and two smartphones. The laptop was donated by the Shin Shin group to promote science with the students at Chatpara Ideal Academy. Several members from Agami’s office in Dhaka gave a short training session to the teachers including instructions on how to use and care for the devices.

Swapnanagar bidyanikatan

14 Shibbari Lane, Feringee Bazar, Kotwall, Chattogram, Potia, Chittagong | Started in 2018 |
Grades 1-5 | 102 Students (53 Boys & 51 Girls) | 11 Teachers
Student Success Story: Rita Das
Reason for Supporting: Remote school in tea garden
Contact: Suja Al Mamun, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01829647575
Contact: Dhrubajyoti Hore, SMC Chairman | Mobile: 01730703024 | dhrubaspb@yahoo.com

This school is directed by Agami.

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Swapnanagar students on April 8, 2020 while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

Empyrean Hope School

House #821, Road #5 Baitul Aman Housing Society, Adabor, Shyamoli, Khilgaon, Dhaka-1207 | Started in 2020
Grades 1-5 | 61 Students (26 Boys & 35 Girls)
Contact: Dr. Shahnaz Imrana Belal, Principal | Mobile # 01817125927 | imrana.empyrean@gmail.com

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Empyrean students on April 2, 2020 while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

Switch Bidyanikatan

House #40, Block #D, Hazi Dil Mohammad Avenue, Dhaka Uddan, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207 | Started in 2020
Grades 1-7 | 160 Students (58 Boys & 102 Girls)
Contact: Md. Khorshed Alam, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01917116721
Contact: Md. Muinul Faysal, Secretary, Switch Bangladesh Foundation | Mobile: 01622922133 | muinul.switch@gmail.com

See COVID-19 Survival Kits being distributed to Switch students on April 2, 2020 while schools are closed in the images below
Read more…

Switch BidyanikEtan - Dipnagor Branch

Background: Dipnagor is a very densely populated urban slum in Dhaka with a population of over 5000. Many people living in this slum are migrants from rural areas for their livelihoods. The trend of population growth is very fast in this slum. Minimum amenities are absent here. Dwellers of this slum lack wealth, power, education, health facilities, and social connections. Their socio-economic condition is not at a level to maintain a bare minimum standard of living. By profession, male counterparts are rickshaw pullers, day laborers, transport-helpers whose average daily income is about $4. Women are primarily stay-at-home moms and take care of their household works.

Children were totally out of school before January 2021. There was no facility to attend to their primary education - no school was inside the vast slum of 1000 households or in the surrounding area before January 2021. Switch Bangladesh Foundation, a non-profitable voluntary organization and one of the implementing partners of Agami Inc. initiated ‘Switch Bidyaniketan Dipnagor’ and started providing formal education following the Govt. curriculum since January 2021.

School Management: A seven-member steering committee was assigned to monitor and supervise school activities and performance. They are also expected to ensure the effective management and functioning of the school and serve to ensure accountability to the community and donors.

Grades Offers and Facilities: A total of 120 students are enrolled in different grades at the beginning of 2021 academic year. Education is offered free-of-cost, and the school is currently serving students from preprimary to grade II. School activity starts from 10.00 am and continue till 2.00 pm on regular time from every Saturday to Thursday except Govt. holidays. Students are provided tiffin three days a week.

Teaching Staff: School authority has recruited two full-time teachers who are dedicatedly managing the teaching-learning process. In addition to that, ten students from public and private universities volunteer and engage in the teaching process and regularly attend school operations to help the regular faculty.

Funding: Agami, with the great support of an individual donor has approved an amount of $4500 for the fiscal year 2021 to support teachers’ salaries, house rent, students’ tiffin, and stationaries.

Beyond Education: Besides education for the children, a free-of-cost skill development training program on sewing has been put in place to empower the stay-at-home moms and unemployed marginalized women in the community.

Future plan: Ensure education for all the children of the Dipnagor slum, gradually increase the level of grades, improve the overall quality of education, and empower women through initiating vocational training and need-based skilled development program.

Mutijhoddha Shahid Solaiman-Mostafa Smrity High School

Gozrapara, Monorhorgonj, Comilla | Started 2020
Contact: Nirmal Chandra Das, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01916483929 | nilldas21@gmail.com
Contact: Abdul Kahar, Thana Secondary Education Officer | Mobile: 01921167384

Lyceum Child School

Kapashati, Netrakona, Mymensingh | Grade 1-8
Contact: Azizul Hoque Fakir, Head Teacher | Mobile: 01713009851 | azizulfhaquefakir@gmail.com

Kalapani Elephant Hills School

Kalapani, Guimara, Khagrachari, Chittagong | Grade 1, 2, and 6
Contact: Sathoaipro Chowdhury, Project Director | Mobile: 01859893394 | sathoaimarma08@gmail.com

Foyzunnessa Ahmed Foundation Academy Multilingual School

Chandra, Gazipur | Last year of funding in 2020
Grades 1-9 | 274 Students (151 Boys & 123 Girls) | 12 Teachers