GENKIプログラム今期の振り返り
【2020年9月の活動報告】
We distributed 1.72 million meals (81.9%) against Euglena cookie distribution target of 2.1 million meals for this term (October 2019-September 2020).
1. 1. Looking back on activities this term
Thank you for your continued support of the Euglena Euglena cookies were distributed to approximately 11,000 children at 66 target schools at a pace of 5 days a week. However, due to the unforeseen spread of the new coronavirus infection on a global scale, all educational institutions were closed in Bangladesh from March 17th. Euglena cookies cannot be distributed to children at schools eligible for the GENKI program. After that, the spread of the infection continued to be unstoppable, and the government issued an extension of school closure many times, and regular distribution activities were carried out for more than half of this term (March 17, 2019-September 30, 2020). The result was not possible. Under these circumstances, as an alternative, we implemented two emergency measures in line with the purpose of the GENKI program, "solving nutritional problems." As the first project, 400,000 Euglena cookies were distributed free of charge to residents of Dhaka Slam Street * 1 (implemented from June to July 2020). In addition, as a second project, in collaboration with OBAT Helpers * 2, one of the NGOs that manages the schools targeted for the GENKI program, the schools of the same organization (6 districts, 20 in total) in the suburbs of Dhaka. We distributed 100,000 Euglena cookies to children at the school * 3 (implemented in September 2020). As a result of these two efforts, the Euglena cookies distributed has exceeded 10 million meals. Through the "Euglena GENKI Program", we will continue our activities to solve the malnutrition problem of Bangladeshi children by responding flexibly to any situation.
- * 1 Details of this activity are introduced in the May and June reports of the GENKI program.
- * 2 OBAT Helpers is a US-based NGO that supports Bihars (minority refugees who became stateless at the time of independence from Pakistan) in Bangladesh. Currently, it operates four target schools for the GENKI program in Dhaka.
- * 3 Details of this activity are introduced in the August report of the GENKI program.
Photo-1: Cookie distribution to residents of Dhaka Slam Town
Photo-2: Cookie distribution at OBAT school in the suburbs of Dhaka
2. Health effects on children due to prolonged school closure due to corona sickness
As mentioned above, in Bangladesh, all educational institutions have been closed since March of this spring due to the corona disaster, and the school closure has been extended for more than half a year. During that time, there have been cases where the school has devised online lessons * 1 and supplementary lessons * 2 by visiting at home, but most children do not have the opportunity to learn. Our Bangladesh office conducted a survey on the actual conditions of class activities at schools subject to the GENKI program. The results of the survey (as of the end of September 2020, 66 schools in total) are shown in the figure below, and nearly 70% of schools are in a state where students cannot benefit from it.
- * 1 Examples of online lessons are introduced in the July report of the GENKI program.
- * 2 Examples of supplementary lessons by visiting home are introduced in the August report of the GENKI program.
Also, because the school facilities are closed, classmates cannot chat or play with each other on the premises. As a result, children who spend a lot of time indoors and have little time to interact with anyone other than their families are more susceptible to stress due to changes in the environment.
At DA Mohaira Mission School, a school covered by the GENKI program, 30 orphans live in on-campus accommodation as students. The school has a total of 330 students, but due to the closure of the school, there are no classes on campus and it is not possible to meet with teachers and classmates, and 30 students stay in the facility and spend their days vaguely. .. Cynthia (13 years old), a sixth grader, says that she has been sleeping lightly since the school was closed, and she has dreamed of her father who died at the age of five many times. In addition, Shahira-chan (11 years old), a 4th grader, told me that she experienced insomnia because she wanted to meet her classmates. In the case of Mim-chan (9 years old), a second-year student, I was really looking forward to seeing her aunt who lives in the suburbs of Dhaka on a regular basis. increase. As a result, he told me that he was feeling depressed. Hamida, who has been the caretaker of the facility for 18 years, said, "The daily lives of the students living here have changed dramatically. Children without parents need to be supported by a specialist who is close to them. I personally listened to the children's concerns and gave them comfort and advice, but that was not enough. Therefore, in the future, in collaboration with the school, mental health care by teachers will be provided once a week in the facility. I hope that this measure will improve the physical condition of children. " Although there is no prospect of resuming school, we are preparing to reopen the distribution so that Euglena
Photo-1: Exterior view of DA Mohaira Mission School
Photo-2: Cynthia-chan (left) and Shahira-chan (right) at the on-campus accommodation facility
Photo-3: Mim-chan, an on-campus accommodation facility
This is the report for this term. Thank you for your continued support.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Overseas Business Development Department / Bangladesh Office