Dr. M. Masudur Rahman established ISHIKAWA ACADEMY (IA) in 2003 with a noble ambition to develop his country’s (Bangladesh) educational level providing some scholarships and study loan who are unable to achieve their basic education. However, IA is not only involved to develop educational infrustracture but also engaged with some other social welfare activities as describe below. The activities of IA are, as a primary step, limited to Dr. Rahman’s birthplace Baro Bazar. Baro Bazar is a small village under Kaligonj police station in the district of Jhenidah, Bangladesh.
ACTIVITIES:
1. FOOD FOR EDUCATION: In Bangladesh, 50% of children cannot take part in the school due to poverty. Children work with their parents for managing their daily foods. The government of Bangladesh and several non-government agencies (NGO) are contributing to develop physical structures of education. However, it is realized that children are supposed to work for their daily foods and other needs leaving their schools. Therefore, if we provide them food, they can join school. Taking this objective, IA provides a few numbers of scholarships defined Food for Education project in the village of Baro Bazar. This program is running now.
Scholarships crieteria are stated below:
Number of students need scholarship : 16
Scholarship awarded : 11
Scholarship/student : 300-600 Taka/Month (JPY600-1200)
Student Information are stated below:
Students at present holding IA scholarship (since 2002): 11 (Eleven)
List of awardees (2006)
Student's Name Class Gurdian's name
1. Abu Bakkar Nine Ahammad Ali
2. Shariful Seven A. Hamid
3. Beuty Seven Toburi
4. Mahafuz Eight Shazahan
5. Bipul Ten Noor Islam
6. Sonia Nine Rabiul
7. Bakkar Third Khokon
8. Ayesha Fourth Shazahan
9. Tito Six Soleman
10. Ajgor Six Atiar
11. Nayon Third Dhandu
2. HOSPITAL FOR BETTER TREATMENT: Population of Baro Bazar is more than ten thousands and there is no hospital or even a graduate medical officer where people can have their medical facility. A person has to run more than 17 km for getting a better hospital. However, if one does not have financial ability (such people are more than 60%) to reach such a long distance, no way otherwise dies. As a consequence, child death rate is an average of 5% and more than 2% of mother die due to insufficient maternity facilities. This is just a sample of the whole picture of Bangladesh. Therefore, it is immense need to build a hospital in this village. This can help not only the people of this village but also all people around this area. Funds are rising for this project. For starting a hospital in this village, we need around 5,000,000 Taka (near to 10,000,000 yen). Money is being collected and it is expected to build this project in next 10 years.
3. IT EDUCATION: In Bangladesh, unemployment rate is more than 20%. We cannot overcome this situation unless we are having a well-plan educational infrastructure. Therefore, developing IT people in Bangladesh might open up a new window for reducing the present figure of the unemployment rate. Government of Bangladesh has paid attention to IT development and given permission to open computer science course, if any school can manage fund. However, most of the school does not have capacity to buy even a single personal computer (PC). Therefore, if some one donates PC, they can open the department and teach their students. In this regard, they are expecting some helps from foreign nationalities/association/organizations.
Computers were Donated to the Following Schools (in 2001)
1. Hat Baro Bazar Highschools, Jhenidah, Bangladesh, One PC & Canon Printer
2. Hat Baro Bazar Girl's schools, Jhenidah, Bangladesh, One PC & Canon Printer
3. Baro College, Jhenidah, Bangladesh, One PC & Canon Printer
4. Belat Doulatpur Madrasah, Jhenidah, Bangladesh, One PC & Canon Printer
Computers Configurations:
1.5 GHtz, 40 GB HDD, 128 MB Memory, Sotec and Logitech Brand.
Cost/PC: 45,000 Taka (JPY 110,000) and Cost/printer: 10,000 Taka(JPY25,000)
Some More Need to the following Schools
Total number of schools in Baro Bazar : 6
Number of schools obtained PC last time : 4
Number of PC need more : 2
Teacher : one teacher/school
STUDY LOAN: IA has recently started a new program called 'Study Loan'. This program provides monthly study loan to the university students. This is an interest-free loan. Due to limited ability, only two students are getting such facilities in this fiscal year (2004). We are expecting to expand this project in a near future. The rule is that students will take this loan for his/her study purposes, and he/she has to pay back it when he/she will be working.
FINANCRAL SOURCE:
Dr. Rahman is a sole contributor of the above projects at this moment. However, you are cordially welcome to share with these noble activities.
Address:
C/O: Golakata Mosque Library, Vill. & PO.: Hat Barobazar, PS: Kaligonj
Dist.: Jhenidah, Bangladesh: email: masudbitk@computer.org
SPECIAL NOTE: IF ANY ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL DOES HAVE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEVELOP ANY OF THE ABOVE STATED PROJECTS, WE CERTAINLY HONOR THEM/HIM IN A PROPER WAY. THE DONOR CAN VISIT THE PLACE AND OBSERVE THE REALITY BEFORE THE CONTRIBUTION. WE WILL MANAGE ALL POSSIBLE EFFORTS FOR THE VISITORS/DONORS.