SFAC’s Sponsored Preschools in Bangladesh Loved by Kids, Moms

The two preschools in Cox’s Bazar on the Bay of Bengal coast of Bangladesh that SFAC helps fund are doing very well. The two schools, which are part of the Pebbles knitting centers, opened in February 2015 to great fanfare and anticipation. Seven months later, we’re proud to share this update.

Austin Miller is the Pebbles U.S distributor and he recently spoke to moms with children at the preschools. He reports:

I did speak with a lot of the moms and they were very thrilled to have a pre-school for their children. They see at as a big benefit of their work with Pebble. The concept of pre-school is relatively new in Bangladesh, especially in the rural areas. Kids that are going on to the standardized school system, from these preschools, are performing much better. This is preparing them for a much better future and is key for poverty prevention. Because there is a mass of children from one rural area who are being educated it is also instrumental for community building efforts.

Here are some quotes from the mothers:

"We are very glad our children have the unique opportunity to attend this type of school, where they can study while we work"

They are not only safe at the school but also learning lot of things from the school. Now they can write their own name in Bengali which they would typically not learn for another two years.

"Our kids are cheerful in the morning, reciting rhymes that they learned at school as soon as they wake up"

"Previously our children were disruptive and a bit unruly in the morning and we could not concentrate on our household work, but now they spend their time getting ready to go to school in the morning.

“In mountain areas like ours, we often worry about our children falling or getting accidentally injured, but now we know they are safe because they are in school."

Please enjoy the recent photos of the schools.

Visit our website to shop for the highest quality items available that range from jewelry, accessories, baby and kid products, travel cases, scarves and wraps, and more. Click here for a great summer collection of home décor.

If you’re looking for fair trade gift ideas for this summer, go here.

Enjoy your shopping and be sure to recommend us to your friends. Shopping for a Change is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.