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Integrated Orphans Welfare and Livelihoods Programme

Project Overview
The Integrated Orphans Welfare and Livelihoods Programme contains several sub-projects that are integrated together to serve orphans and their families. The project began in mid 2005 and is a community-based project that works with orphans in north eastern Bangladesh. This area is prone to flooding and it is one of Bangladesh's most disadvantaged districts

The project includes children's education, health support, provision of shelter and sanitary latrines shelter and practical training for widows. Small business loans are also available for beneficiaries of this project.    

photo: Orphan Beneficiaries standing outside shack

Project Background
Widows and orphans are usually amongst the poorest of the poor. Orphans from destitute families are often deprived of their rights and are often survive in extreme poverty, homelessness, neglect and remain largely uncared for.

The Integrated Orphan and Widow Livelihood Project addresses the needs of orphans and their families by providing guidance on how to generate income, and by giving access to small business loans, literacy classes, shelter and home renovation, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, and by ensuring access to primary health care.

The project puts in place a mechanism for running a business loans scheme in each community that is self-sustaining and extends its to support to more families every year. The scheme is designed so that Islamic Relief does not need to supply additional funds to extend the scheme. This means that the community is able to develop itself through its own institutions.

Project Objectives

  • Ensuring better livelihoods for orphan children and widows.
  • Building the capacity of orphans and their families to find employment and income opportunities.
  • Creating community institutions to raising awareness of the needs of orphaned children.
  • Establishing small business loans schemes in target communities.

Project Activities

  • Training income generation opportunities
  • Child and adult literacy classes
  • Shelter and house renovation facilities
  • Safe drinking water and sanitation facilities
  • Primary health facilities for the orphans and their families
  • Setting up small business loans schemes

Beneficiaries
This project directly benefits 200 orphans and widows.