On July 18, 2017,  through a joyful ceremony, mothers and their children dedicate the school to the name of Rotary Club of Belleville. Mothers decorated their schoolroom with their own drawing, colorful balloons, flowers and children’s drawing and named the school as Rotary Club of Belleville Women’s School. Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Belleville working with Barbara Melara of  the Amarok Society, on this Mother of Intention Project in Khulna, Bangladesh. For more info on the Amarok Society, be sure to visit http://amaroksociety.org/wordpress/  . 

For more on the complete story and photos , ......................................Read more: 

Background of the slum community: The name of the community is Kader Sardar Para. Amarok Society opened a Mothers School named Vancouver Quadra Women`s School in 2014. There are about 225 families & 1200 people living in this slum. Occupations of the people live in this slum are mostly day labor, housemaid, rickshaw-puller and operate street shops. 25 mothers study in this School and all mothers teach 125 children.

Dedication Ceremony of the School: On July 18, 2017,  through a joyful ceremonial, mothers and their children dedicate the school to the name of Rotary Club of Belleville. Mothers decorated their schoolroom with their own drawing, colorful balloons, flowers and children’s drawing and named the school as Rotary Club of Belleville Women’s School. Mothers with the children they teach, nearby Amarok teachers & Coordinator, Country Director and some community women participated in the dedication ceremony and children participated in a cultural event. Some mothers introduced themselves in front of camera and thanked to the Belleville Rotary Club. Mother student Kohinoor said, “I am a student of Rotary Club of Belleville Women's School. I am glad and proud to be a student of this school that I teach my children and 3 other community children.”

 

Here is an excerpt of a recent letter from Barbara Melara of the Amarok Society to the Rotary Club of Belleville:

It is indeed a pleasure and honour to send you the report of and the pictures of the Dedication of the Belleville Women’s School in Khulna, Bangladesh!  Your Club has been long time, amazing supporters of Amarok Society and we are thrilled to have a School named in your honour in recognition of the great contribution you have made to us!  The women who attend the Belleville Women’s School are proud to call this School theirs!  They prepared for the Celebration with joy and prepared a worthy celebration to honour the day.  As you can see the Celebration and party was well attended.  The fourth picture shows Kuntal Mondal, the Country Director while other pictures show the women, the community members and the families!  You will also get a good understanding of what the School looks like inside!  Really it is a wonderful School.
 
The report includes a brief description of the neighbourhood the School is in - its in one of the large slums.  Amarok Society has operated a school in that location since 2014 and it has already had a significant impact on the entire neighbourhood.  Women who were discouraged from attending school  are being encouraged by their husbands to continue to attend and they are now committing to educating their daughters rather than marrying them at an early age. The women are taking leadership roles in their neighbourhood as they can read and write and understand about nutrition, hygiene, book keeping and so much more!  Each mother is a teacher in her own MOI school and many of those children are teaching younger children or often their own older family  members.  
 
You can expect regular letters from the mothers who attend the School letting you know how they are getting on and wanting to make you part of their school.  You are welcome to send letters to them as well - these would be received with great excitement.  If you do so please send them to me and I will send them on.  
 
 
With Warm Regards,
 
Barbara Melara
Amarok Society