Open day event is a new initiative for Educo Bangladesh to address the downward accountability. This event is giving the opportunity to influence relevant decisions affecting whether and how we work with the people. Through this process, project participants like children and the community people can contribute and complain of the better implementation of Project activities. As a part of the global Suggestions, Complaints and Commendations (SCC) Open Day campaign, Educo Bangladesh has taken initiatives to directly reach out to its partners and participants of every level and listen to their voices, note their SCC through organizing Open Days (মুক্ত আলোচনা) within their communities. The participants shared their SCC in person and many also shared in written form. The Open Days were conducted Open Day 2021 at 08 locations with 09 partners (ESDO- Eco-Social Development Organization, POPI-People’s Oriented Program Implementation, SDS-Shariatpur Development Society, NSS-Nazrul Smiriti Sangsad, Uttaran, BTS-Breaking the Silence, IDEA, MSEDA, Prochesta).
Lot of commendations and suggestions came out through this Open Day event from the participants. Participants from Thakurgaon and Mymenshing told, during lockdown period of COVID-19, community-based education center helped the learner especially slow achievers to continue their education. It would be very helpful to continue community-based education center at community level throughout the year. They also require vocational training for AYC (Adolescent and youth club) members and for their parents. Participants of Satkhira requested for equipment at the end of the technical training, such as sewing machine and mobile servicing equipment. They also suggested the duration of technical training should be 5 months instead of 3 months.
The participants of ODHIKAR project at Dhaka city requested to reopen the ODHIKAR pathshala. Otherwise, students don’t feel interested to continue their study another schools, they don’t get similar opportunity to work in other schools like ODHIKAR schools.
Community people of Cox’s Bazar were very happy to participate in the event though it was a new kind of event for them too. They specifically mentioned that, from 1985, many NGO’s were working there but this type of event was very different and effective. They added, education is more important than relief that is reflected in this project and advised to continue education up-to primary completion and secondary level. Participants were asking for Vocational Training for Adolescents to back them from hazardous child Labor. They also requested to include more remote areas to
expand programmes.
at Barguna and Shariatpur, recently child marriage has been increased at the community due to long time closing of the schools. So, the participants suggested to create drama /pot song group for awareness building to reduce early Marriage/GBV and the field level activities should be well monitored.
The ALOY ALOW project participants at Moulvibazar requested to expand the project period beyond project year 2023 and include the special need children in this project. They require pedagogic materials to all ECD center and GPS in each year.
In conclusion, the impact of this event was tremendous among project participant in terms of sharing their opinion and seeking the accountability of Educo. It was noticed that all participants enjoyed and participated spontaneously and felt proud to take part in such event. We listened to their voices and preferred choices to make our future decisions while including their active participation. Their feedbacks or comments will be address in future project design and project implementation.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LEgB4lwPNI
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