Bangladesh has almost half as many people as the United States, all crammed into a space about the size of the state of Wisconsin and more than a third of them are younger than 14 or barely teenagers. And half of all Bangladeshis are 21 years old or younger! It is a hard life for the average child. But while most Bangladeshis want their children to go to school and live a better life, child labor is the more common way of life. But children in Bangladesh want the same thing that children everywhere want - a safe and secure opportunity to experience childhood and learn skills that will lead to useful lives as adults.
Bangladesh Quiz
Want to see how much you know about Bangladesh (You can learn more about the country by following the links listed on the Bangladesh page)? Try the Bangladesh quiz.
Children all over the US actively participate in many events to help disadvantaged people in this country and in the rest of the world.
You can help by simply:
Searching: Seek out knowledge about poverty and its effects on children around the world. Try and befriend other children from all walks of life. Just being aware of the issues will help you make informed choices and the right decisions later on in your life.
Sharing: Those of us who are well off have a duty to share some of our blessings with the less fortunate. It is never too early to learn to be charitable. Consider putting away a portion of your allowance or earnings for charity. There are no rules on how much to give away - some suggest the rule of thirds - save a third, spend a third and give away a third. The amount is less important than making a regular habit of it.
Spreading the Word: Tell others about what you know and ask them to be aware of the world around them. Sometimes you may even need to educate adults who could be acting out of ignorance or insufficient knowledge. Poverty is a curable disease! Many believe that poverty could be eradicated simply by making more people fully aware of its existence.
You can also take on a more active role by organizing fundraisers or discussion sessions or other group activities undertaken with a group from your school, your neighborhood or your church, temple or mosque or their equivalents. You may want to write to your political representatives and otherwise engage adults in conversation or debate if the issues are important and topical. You get the idea!
But most importantly, remember to think about the world around you and how every small act, multiplied many times, can have enormous influence - both good and bad - on it.
Fundraisers
Ideas for fundraisers: Bake sales, garage sales, book sales, car washes. ‘Saving’ contests which pit groups against each other (like classrooms) can be fun. Many organizations hold periodic ‘international fairs’ that you can schedule your fundraising event around. Organize a silent auction or even an on-line auction. But always make sure that your parents know what you are doing.
