New York Times on climate change and Bangladesh

“Here’s a Look at the Water Crises That Might Be Coming to You Soon” is the headline for a recent NYT article. The author is Somini Sengupta, the NYT international climate correspondent. She traveled through Bangladesh to meet people adapting to water crises aggravated by climate change. These are issues well-known to the farming communities of Jaldhaka district served by OfP. Sengupta’s story is positive, identifying the risks but focusing on the nation’s adaptation, such as early warning systems, innovative farming techniques and rainwater capture. The photo shows OfP volunteers delivering emergency food supplies to villagers affected by monsoon flooding.

Donating to OfP

You can make donations to OfP through Vancouver’s Mid-Main Community Health Centre, at this link. Please indicate that your donation is for the Bangladesh Health Project.

Mid-Main uses a donation processing service, Canada Helps. Mid-Main Community Health Centre has limited resources so they prefer using an outside agency to keep track of donations, issue CRA receipts and prepare statements. Canada Helps is an NGO that supports many Canadian charities like Mid-Main and charges a processing fee for administrative costs. For larger donations, you can bypass the processing fee by using the donation form on the Mid-Main website.

It is important to note that any donations that receive CRA receipts can only be spent on health care and health education activities because that is Mid-Main's mandate. We reserve these funds for the OFP health screening clinic and immunization clinics, for costs of poor villagers needing surgery or medicines, and for education of Bangladeshi students in health professions.

If you do not require a CRA tax deductible receipt, please contact us. Bangladesh Health Project directors do not claim CRA donations because we want to support the primary and vocational education projects. We can include your contribution with our regular transfers.

Cost of education at OIST

OfP Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a technical and vocational education institute that offers skills training to high school graduates (Grade 10). Since opening in 2022, there are now about forty students enrolled in Computer Science and Civil Engineering programs. With tuition fees of about $25 CAD per month, the programs are affordable for most students, but even at this low cost, some students need to defer payment. Others receive scholarships, including graduates of OFP’s Bluebell School who get completely free tuition. Donor support will be important for several more years until start-up costs are absorbed and enrollment increases. In the photos, OIST students are writing examinations as required by the national regulator.