Bangladesh Street Kids and Slum Visit

One of the most striking things I found on my recent trip to Bangladesh was the presence of so many "Street Children". Not a day would go by without many of these kids coming up to our car or taxi window and pleading for help or trying to sell some little thing to scrape out a living perhaps for their entire families. These children are often abused and neglected by the very society that is supposed to protect them. Some of the children actually spend their days digging through garbage looking for recyclable items they can sell. Even little babies go to "work" with their mothers or older siblings, to help sort through piles of smelly, dirty, disease ridden garbage. The day is always long and there is never enough money at the end of the day. Often they have to give most of what they collect to a "handler", someone who is a leader of a gang that preys on these kids. Finding ways to help these kids to have a better future is a challenge that we at International Rescue Mission are committed to.

On a visit to the slums I was amazed to see the way so many people could fit in one small room! The Bangladeshi people may be poor but their homes are neat and clean and they are very hospitable. They will invite you in for a visit, though they may not have much they will offer you what they have, a cup of tea or a biscuit. They can barely afford to feed themselves but they would consider it very rude to not offer something to visitors!
Here is a house of one family that is about 8' X 10' and one room. There are 4 adults and 6 children living here! As you can see the walls are made out of woven straw mats and for this family they are blessed enough to have a tin roof, many are not so blessed as you can see by the other picture. This small house, built on someone else's land (squatting) is made up of sticks and straw walls with tarps and has tins, sticks, and straw for a roof. The family living in this house is one that I am working with to help them improve their situation. Please see the posting of rickshaw van for details on how we are helping this family.

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