Education
Funding the Future
Education is a basic human right. Article 26 of The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948) recognizes education along with other necessities such as food, shelter, and water as a fundamental human right. At the World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000, participants from 164 countries pledged to provide education for all by 2015 and Bangladesh is a signatory to that charter.
Education works as a catalyst for human development. It provides people with the tools and knowledge they need to understand and participate in today’s world, and benefit from globalization and technological change. It is one of the most effective weapons against HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and raises awareness of living conditions and environmental protection. Life expectancy rises by as much as 2 years for every 1 per cent increase in literacy.
Education also plays an active role in economic development and eradicating poverty. It allows people to be more productive, to play a greater role in economic life, and to earn a better living. It has been found that, an adult with a primary education earns twice as much as an adult without any schooling. Education enables people to be responsible and informed citizens, and to have a voice in politics and society, which is essential for sustaining democracy. A report shows that in Bangladesh, women with a secondary education are three times more likely to attend a political meeting than are women with no education.
Consequently, education is considered as one of the key focus areas of Grameenphone’s social investments. We aim to work with the Government and development agencies, to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring universal primary education for all. In collaboration with Grameen Shikkha, an organization of the Grameen Bank family, we provide scholarship to some 100 bright but underprivileged students at different academic levels through a scholarship fund annually. We also provide educational support to a number of special schools - Tauri Foundation, HANS, CDC, and SEID Trust – with an objective to aid in the learning process of the gifted children in our society. Grameenphone is also a proud partner of the Enrichment Program of Bishsho Shahitto Kendro through which free books are distributed. We recently initiated a CSR project to publish and distribute illustrated publications on the Liberation War for school-going children, with the objective to inspire them with the heroics of our freedom-fighters.
We are aware that the initiatives still serves less than what the nation needs. But, we are committed to keep contributing in whatever way we can towards achieving an enlightened Bangladesh. This dream is one that we all share as a nation.
Related CSR initiatives:
→ Every dream counts - Scholarship Program
→ Every inspiration counts - True Liberation War Stories
→ Every mind counts - Partnership with Bishsho Shahitto Kendro