Ekmattra Children at School

Education is the first step to breaking the cycle of poverty, unskilled employment and child labour.

Widespread poverty in Bangladesh means millions of children across Bangladesh are forced to work, often in hazardous and low-waged jobs, to help support themselves and their families.

Most working children cannot afford the time to attend regular schooling. Because these girls and boys do not have access to education, they become trapped in low-skilled, low-income jobs, which further push them into the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty.

The Government of Bangladesh has committed to improving education and works in collaboration with UN agencies, primarily the United Nation’s Fund for Children (UNICEF), and in turn, many NGOs and community groups to improve the quality of, and access to, education.

UNICEF, as the UN agency with the mandate to ensure that children across the globe receive the rights they are entitled to, runs several educational programs. UNICEF runs programs that are aimed at improving the accessibility for children working in an urban environment to basic education, early learning opportunities and quality primary education, as well as life-skills based, vocational training.

However, as much as is already being done in Bangladesh, many children still do not have access to education. Each one of these children has dreams that may never be fulfilled, potential that may never be realized. The Chlidren’s Village wants to make those dreams a reality.