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| From Bangladesh 2011 |
The walk ended in the tribal village of Khasia Prinji with a home visit to two families whose kids had received bedkits last year. This village has about 130 people whose main source of income is the harvesting of the Beetle leaf (pan), which grows wild in the forest.
The first family lived in a mud hut with a bed for the mother, father, and newborn baby while the boy who received the bedkit and his younger brother slept on a groundsheet on the floor.
The second family lived in a very crooked wood-clad home. The girl who had received the bedkit was there with her five siblings. Their parents were away working. All the bedkit items that we saw were being well used and have remained quite functional.
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| From Bangladesh 2011 |
We had breakfast in the village and then visited the school where about thirty students treated us to a songfest. There were no shrinking violets in the group – boy, could they belt out a song!
On the way back through the eco-forest we went to the next village of Dolugram Tipperah. This village has a population of about 150 people and is primarily Hindu. They are part of a weaving initiative driven by one of the Rotarians and aimed at diversifying their income – and it is working. The product is sold in Dhaka markets and on-site with this attracting some Bangladeshi tourist trade.
We also saw our first pig in Bangladesh … quite a specimen. Isn't it? Then we
ran into what must have been the village medicine man who was smoking a large pipe and was immensely pleased to have a crowd gather – and of course Mike tried the pipe on for size. Check out the photos below!
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| From Bangladesh 2011 |
Kids are kids – we found three boys playing in their makeshift ‘fort’ and having a great time taunting us from the safety of it!
The girl who received the bedkit in this village had a home that was also built from mud and she was making good use of the items. Her mother told us that all the items were essential – and gave us a big thank you.
We then did the Srimangal distribution of 451, played lots with the kids, and had a wonderful barbeque dinner in the hotel courtyard as we were entertained by a tribal troupe of dancers.
We still have a small final distribution tomorrow and a long day of travel so I am off to bed.
We will blog tomorrow on our final distribution day and completion of 6,000 bedkits to 6,000 wonderful children of Bangladesh.
Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click map for larger view.
Slideshow below.
