By Mohammed Sayem | Executive Director
UKBET's education programme for working children
Empowering Children. Supporting Families. Building Brighter Futures.
Introduction
2024 was a year of both great progress and serious challenges for UKBET. We are proud to say we met or exceeded our goals in most areas, thanks to your continued support.
The year saw devastating floods in Sylhet, Noakhali, and Cumilla, destroying homes and livelihoods. Families were displaced, forced into cities in search of work and shelter. Many could no longer afford to send their children to school, pushing them into child labour.
Climate change is not just harming the environment – it is denying children their right to education and protection. UKBET remains firmly committed to tackling these issues through our education, child protection, and poverty alleviation efforts.
Doorstep Learning Programme (DLP)
Since 2019, UKBET’s Doorstep Learning Programme has reached over 1,600 girls trapped in domestic work. We bring education to the homes where they work, with three weekly sessions covering literacy, numeracy, and life skills – all aligned with the national curriculum.
In 2024 alone:
448 children engaged in DLP (Target: 384)
181 children left child labour for school or vocational training (Target: 128)
94 enrolled in school
80 began vocational training
40 found safer, age-appropriate jobs
49 siblings of child domestic workers enrolled in school
15 siblings started vocational training
18 trained community teachers delivered DLP across 21 locations
We also expanded our work to the Tea Garden and Bedey communities – two of the most marginalised groups in Bangladesh.
Our efforts don’t stop at education. We raise awareness about child rights, challenge harmful norms, and advocate for change at the community and policy level.
Case Study:
Rupa’s (Not real name)Journey: From Burden to Books
Forced to grow up too soon, Rupa (Not real name) spent her childhood working as a househelp instead of learning. But with UKBET’s help—and the care of our community teacher Beauty Rani Das (Not real name) —she’s finally in school, smiling, and dreaming again.
Family Futures Micro-Grants
Poverty drives child labour. To stop it, UKBET provided 80 families with Family Futures grants in 2024. Instead of giving cash, we offer tools, materials, and guidance to help them start or grow small businesses – from tailoring to farming to food stalls.
In return, families commit to sending their children to school or training, not work. To date, we’ve empowered 280+ families to break the cycle of poverty and child labour.
Looking Ahead
We’ve made real progress – but there is still much more to do. Your support has changed lives. Together, we can do even more in 2025.
Please continue to stand with us.
Read our full Annual Impact Report 2024 here:
UKBET - Impact Report 2024 - Doorstep Learning Programme
Thank you for believing in every child’s right to learn, grow, and thrive.
Links:
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