Laily lives in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Poverty is rife in this country and UNICEF estimate that over 5 million Bangladeshi children aged 5-14 work to support their families or themselves. Since Laily’s father was taken ill with a critical disease he was no longer able to support her and her sister and brother. Her mother felt helpless and moved to Cox’s Bazar to find a job.

She thought she would have more chance here as it is a popular tourist area, but she found nothing and ended up making small amounts of cash by making oyster wreaths and selling them in the market. In order to make these she sent Laily out to collect leaves and oysters from the beach.

One day staff from one of the Learning Centres supported by Children on the Edge came to Laily’s house and talked with her mother. They said that she could come and learn at the Centre in the afternoons with no charge, be given free school materials and still have time left in the day to help her mother.

Laily started almost straight away. She said at first she was afraid about studying but now she loves it much more than collecting oysters! She describes how every day she prepares homework and goes to school. Here she is given snacks, has time with friends, receives care from the teachers and focuses on what she terms as ‘joyful study’. When she grows up she is hoping to use what she’s learnt to start a career in customer services.

Children on the Edge support three Learning centres in the Cox’s Bazar area, enabling 300 young workers to receive an education for two to three hours a day. Here they receive a nutritious meal, attend lessons, freshen up with a wash and have the chance to play and rest with their friends. 

Of course we don't believe children should have to work, but with the levels of poverty being so severe families have little choice. Sometimes the money earned by these children is the only income they will see. With our Learning Centres children can help their families without entirely missing out on their education. Our aim is to give those children a few hours each day where they can focus on being a 'child' again; to play and learn without the harsh pressures of outside life.

Find out more about our work in Bangladesh and donate to our projects. 

For most working children in Bangladesh education is a pipe dream. Extreme poverty in the country results in over 5 million children having to work with or for their families to bring in enough income to survive. 

We have talked with many of these children who describe how they cry as they watch their friends go off to school because they cannot go too.  Posted on the wall in one of our offices in Bangladesh is a handwritten sign which says ‘We want to have the light of education’. 

Our Learning Centres provide just this light. 300 working children come to our centres in the afternoons to freshen up,  attend lessons and play with their friends. As the children progress we are seeing not just one, but many benefits coming from the provision of education. Just as sunlight not only helps us see, but also encourages our health, keeps us warm, and enables us to grow food, we are seeing multiple benefits from providing the light of education. 

As well as seeing the progress of the children academically and in their friendships, parents are reporting that the children are more cheerful at home since coming to the Learning Centres. We are also hearing stories of how the children are now sharing their reading and writing lessons with their parents, passing on what they are learning. Teachers have started to describe how the children’s attitudes and behaviour has improved dramatically over the last few months. 

At Children on the Edge we are committed to valuing children as individuals, we are concerned about bringing hope, colour and fun not just to one aspect, but the to the whole of their lives and wellbeing. We are therefore delighted to be able to show the positive impact of our Learning Centres, and how it is growing in so many different and unexpected ways. 

Please feel free to out more about our work in Bangladesh and donate to our projects.