Every year, numerous children in Jamalpur lose their lives prematurely as they do not know how to swim. To prevent this abnormal death toll, the Children and Youth Forum of the Jamalpur Area Programme (AP) implemented by Unnayan Sangha and World Vision has started a swimming learning programme in an innovative way.
The programme started from Rafiq Mia's pond in Ramnagar village of Ward No. 12 of Jamalpur municipality last week. In the first phase, 70 children have been included in the swimming learning training. Swimming is taught in groups of 10 people for an hour. This programme is conducted every day.
Trained girls and youth of Ramnagar Children and Youth Forum conduct swimming learning programme s through teamwork. On the spot, it was seen that the community facilitator of the Unnayan Sangha, Shyamal, is leading this work with skill.
In this regard, many parents praised such a great work of the Jamalpur Children and Youth Forum and said that if they can learn to swim, they will be able to live without fear with their children. During the monsoon, the area is flooded with water due to the ponds and drains. Earlier, more than one child has died in this area due to drowning. Many people go to bathe in the Jhenai River flowing past the village. Children who do not know how to swim are at great risk in this regard.
The area's teacher Rafiq Mia said that after hearing about such an initiative, I left a part of the pond for children to learn to swim for free.
Sourav, a member of the area's youth forum, proudly said that we, the local people, are very happy with the programme to teach children to swim. I am always by their side. He said that if such an initiative is taken in every area, not a single child will drown.
Jamalpur District Children's Forum President Arpa said, “We have set an example by conducting the Satar Shikha programme . With the support of the Jamalpur Area Programme and the local administration, we will be able to expand this programme to more areas.”
Sabbir Hossain Riyad, CDO of Jamalpur AP of Unnayan Sangha, who always supervises this programme , said that they have identified Ramnagar village as a risky area for children and have selected it. Through a survey, they have brought 70 children from this area under the umbrella of swimming lessons.
Minara Parveen, Manager of Jamalpur Area Programme , said that as a disaster-prone area, especially during the monsoon season, they share this concern with Shishu Forum to reduce the risk of drowning in floods. In this context, the swimming lessons programme was started in Ramnagar village adjacent to the Jhenai River, which is more risky in the work area, as a pilot..
World Vision Jamalpur AP Area Manager Bimal D Costa said that the swimming lesson programme has been taken under the service learning project. Problems and risks in the field of child protection are discussed in the Shishu Forum meeting. Ramnagar Shishu Forum gives priority to conducting the swimming lesson programme . In that context, after examining the feasibility, the swimming lesson programme was taken up experimentally with the contribution of AP as well as the interest and support of the community. If the local administration and public representatives come forward after seeing our model, this programme will get sustainability. NGOs work on a term basis and the government runs development programme s permanently.
Development Sangha Director Programme Murshed Iqbal said that the swimming lesson programme of Shishu Forum is a commendable initiative using local resources to prevent the death of children due to drowning. We will inspire other areas of the Development Sangha to take such initiatives through the community. We hope that the Jamalpur Area Programme will provide technical assistance.
Jamalpur Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Jinnat Shaheed Pinky was impressed to hear about the implementation of the Satar Shikha programme . He said that Unnayan Sangha and World Vision always do positive work. Each of their works is exemplary. He assured that the Upazila administration will provide all kinds of support if the Satar Shikha programme is taken up in other areas of Sadar Upazila under the initiative of the Jamalpur Area Programme 's Shishu Forum.
Jamalpur Municipality Administrator AKM Abdullah Bin Rashid expressed surprise and said that if such programme s are taken up locally in every area, child deaths due to drowning will decrease. It is truly amazing to conduct such a great and big work at such a small cost. He called on the Jamalpur Area Programme 's concerned to take up the Satar Shikha programme in every ward in Jamalpur Municipality. The Municipal Administrator assured all-round support in conducting the Satar Shikha programme.
