Success Stories
Making History
At the Savar Home, one of the children named Mithuel, comes from one of the poorest tribal groups in Bangladesh. His mother died and his father has a hard time supporting just himself, let alone his 5 children, since he has no land or regular job and is sick very often. Mithuel did not have any means to regularly have even one meal a day, and going to school was out of the question for him. In his family history, no one went to school because of poverty. They did not have a nice shelter or even one outfit of adequate clothing. His parents had no understanding of the impact education can make.
In July, 2004, life turned around for Mithuel. He was chosen by the Bangladesh YFC North Center to be sent to the first BYFC Forgotten Children (FC) Home in Savar outside of the capital city of Dhaka. When he first came to the Children's Home, he did not like the food (it was too rich for his stomach), his bed (because he had never had one), or a disciplined lifestyle (to which he had never been introduced).
Eventually, he was able to adjust. After six months of tutoring, he started school and enjoyed playing soccer. Going to school was very different from the life he had known working in the fields to help support his family. As he sat in class, he couldn't help but wonder what his parents, siblings, friends, and playmates were eating and doing while he was having good meals and getting an education.
Mithuel's life has been changed over the past two years. He has finished 2nd grade by December 2006. He, from a poorest-of-the-poor family, who never dreamed of school, will be in 3rd grade and 10 years old in 2007. Over the last 2 years he has been first in his class on exams which surpasses his dreams. He never thought he would stand first among his peers. Mithuel hopes some day to be able to help his father and 4 other siblings. Mithuel's life is forever changed from a child laborer to a school boy, first in his class. Perhaps one day he will be like the Bangladeshi banker and economic developer, Dr. Mohammad Yunus who also started out from humble beginnings but went on receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Dreaming of the Future
A child was born in a very rural village of Comilla, Bangladesh. She was the first child in that family and a girl. Joy came down to the lives of the family, and the whole village rejoiced with them too. The new parents were so excited and working so hard to make their life better, especially for their precious child.
A year later, the father lost his income, and the family began to live hand-to-mouth. They tried to survive by selling every household possession. In the meantime, a second child came into this world and added more burden. The father became too frustrated and then became a drug addict and died. The mother with two children turned to the street. Her first child at age of 6 was sexually and mentally abused by their neighbors and street people.
One day a distant relative of this child came to Bangladesh YFC and shared her story. The Forgotten Children Home of Bangladesh YFC took in Mony in August of 2004. Since living in a secure place, free from any oppression or abuse, eating good food three times a day, she is well dressed, freely singing, laughing and going to school and studying seriously. Mony now dreams of a bright future.