FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN, UTTARA, DHAKA

Following on from the magnificent efforts in raising 270,000 taka at the music and sporting auction night at the Bagha Club in April 2006, the Irish Rovers Bangladesh moved into action to provide the funds to a good cause in Dhaka. The favoured good cause on this occasion is Families for Children (FFC) in Uttara, Dhaka.

Families for Children is a registered Canadian Charity (Registration Number 118912732RR0001) which is funded by a Support Group in Canada. They operate a school and provide residential accommodation on two sites for about 130 children, including some children with learning and physical disabilities, ranging from new born babies to teenagers. The school and home is run by a very dedicated volunteer, Patricia Coveney. The Rovers contacted Patricia in April and asked what could be done to help her make the lives of the children a little more comfortable.

Patricia had no difficulty in identifying a list of ways in which the Rovers fund raising activities could be put to use. Together we identified decoration of the baby room and the special care area, soft furnishings, storage boxes for the children's personal items, recreation activities, play equipment, music and dance accessories, art supplies and repairs to their vehicle to assist with mobility and travel as very practical ways to put the funds raised to good use to help the children.

Some items have been custom made to suit the needs of the children very precisely, such as a swing and a seesaw for play activities and tables and chairs to suit small children. A small (16ft) boat was also commissioned and delivered to FFC for the exclusive recreational use of the children at a location outside the city - of course it has been named 'The Irish Rover'. The Irish Rover made its maiden voyage in July at camp. Other items were purchased locally including every day items such as music cassette players and DVD players, cricket sets and basketball sets.

We are sure that these things, which we take for granted in our every day lives, will go some way to enhancing the childhood's of a group of very deserving children in Dhaka. We are pleased that we could help in a small but effective way and we are overwhelmed by the number of new young friends that we have made.

Part of the donation from the April fundraising will be used for a picnic and a sports day for the children later this year when the weather is not so hot. We will have pictures on our website of both events soon after they take place.

Outdoors picture of Eugene, and Trish with some kids   Sandy with some close friends   Lots of smiling children                         Eugene with FFC teachers and some budding cricket stars of the future   The vessel Irish Rover full of children and ready to set sail   The Irish Rover... All aboard!                         The Class of 2006 hoisting the Irish Rovers Friendship Flag   Thank you from all our friends and the kids from FFC   A fantastic and memorable gift from Class 2