Highlights of Activities in 2007

* School Scholarships:

VAB offered 480 scholarships in 2007, bringing this urgently needed assistance to underprivileged students of 24 High Schools to over 3000, since its inception.

* College scholarships:

The first batch of VAB's 31 College scholars took Higher Secondary Certificate Exam and 30 passed with 25 securing A grade. These students are now seeking admission to universities and professional colleges. VAB renewed 2006 batch of 60 students for second year and offered support for 2007 batch of 101 scholars for first year college study. To date a total of 61 families sponsored 192 College scholarships.

* School Improvements:

Two more schools were improved in 2007 with science equipment, library books, computer sets, sports and cultural equipment, bringing the total schools so far improved to 15. These two are: Bazlul Haque High School, Raipura, Narsingdhi and Tongirpar Hatila Union High School, Hajiganj, Chandpur.

* Teachers training:

A total of 91 teachers of grade VI- VIII attended training in Mathematics, English and Science for a period of 21 days organized by highly trained and experienced teachers from best high schools in Dhaka city.

* Tutoring Program:

Organized three months tutoring program in Math and English for SSC examinees in 11 VAB schools in order to improve overall school performance in Secondary School Certificate exam.

* Training program for VAB Interns:

Thirty volunteer interns from local universities and colleges were given two day training in practical research methods, interviewing techniques and accounting procedures and one day school visit.

* Computer literacy program: by VAB-New Jersey

A total of 60 computer-training centers are currently in operation. So far 9179 students graduated from a 32-hour course that runs every eight weeks.

* Fundraising in 2006

VAB New York received $93593 during 2007 of which $ 23,000 was targeted leaving $ 70593 for supporting VAB activities in 2008.

* VAB Honored

While celebrating 37th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Bangladesh on March 26, 2007, the New York State Assembly cited VAB for its “extraordinary contribution to the entire community and beyond” stating that “ the efforts of VAB has touched the lives of countless people and are worthy of special recognition”.

* VAB joins Inter Action

With untiring efforts of its Washington Representative, Bob Mac Allister, VAB became a member of Inter Action: American Council for Voluntary International Action. With more than 165 members operating in every developing country, Inter Action works to overcome poverty, exclusion, and suffering by advancing social justice and dignity for all.

* Promoting quality secondary education of needy children.

* Supporting higher education of underprivileged students for a better life.

* Improving educational facilities in poor areas.

* Providing skills training for unemployed youths.

* Promoting computer literacy and training for education and employment.

Future VAB Activities

>>VAB Continuous Appeal: Sponsoring College Scholarships

VAB urgently needs scholarship sponsors to support college education of very poor but meritorious students from rural high schools in Bangladesh to get a college education for a better life. Since 2005, VAB supported 192 scholarships with support from 61 sponsors. Each scholarship costs $150 to cover admission, tuition, books and supplies for one year. Please sponsor generously. For any query, please contact VAB President, Dr. Rahman at arahman10@aol.com or call 914-591-8635. Alternatively please contact Mr. Matilal Pal, Manager, VAB Scholarship Program, at 718-358-4617 or e-mail at mati@yahoo.com. An example of the type of students available for sponsorship in 2008 and how to sponsor them can be seen under Programs - click here.

>>Continuation of Current Programs Expanded in 2008:

These include 580 scholarships for 29 High Schools; College scholarships for 162 meritorious but poor students; 26 Post HSC/ University scholarships; and Tutoring for SSC examinees for three months in 11 High Schools.
Improvement of science laboratory, library, computer and sport and cultural facilities in two schools.
Training of 145 teachers from 29 schools in blocks of five days each for Math, English and Science subjects; Orientation of 29 Head Masters for two days; and training of 32 Volunteer Interns for three days.

>>New programs in 2008: Sixth grade tutoring, Preschools and vocational training

VAB has initiated activities to start a Class VI testing /tutoring program in six schools to ensure students have sufficient learning skills to succeed, to organize five Preschools to prepare children for better learning and to start vocational education classes in three schools for students not interested in an academic path.

>>Program for three years: 2009 - 2011

VAB will submit for government approval the next three-year program. The focus will be expansion of VAB’s model of quality education for a better life within the existing system for underprivileged rural children. The expansion from current 29 to 50 schools is needed to widen VAB’s base to have a presence in every rural district so that its findings can have an impact on government policies and programs. VAB needs generous support from individual and institutional donors for undertaking this much needed expansion.

>>Donations to VAB:

Recently VAB has been receiving support in diverse ways including ad hoc sponsorship of scholarships and school improvements, donation/gift to VAB on family occasions like birthdays and wedding anniversaries, long term commitment of support like five year membership in VAB Dollar a Day Club, and continuous sponsorship of fixed number of scholarships.

>>VAB-New York Donors Profile as of 2007:

Total donors are 223: Individuals are 212 and institutions are 11. 141 donors(66%) are expatriates and 61 (29%) are non-Bangladeshi donors. Among institutions are: IBM Employees Center, Tyco Matching grant, Helpers Helping the Helpless, Oscar and Elsa Mayer Family Foundation, Deutsche Bank, and Smith Barney Charitable Trust. The breakdown of contribution by categories and the number of donors in parenthesis include: Below $50 (9); $50-149 (60); $150-364 (83); $365-499 (8); $500–999(23); and $1000 and above (30). It may be noted that out of last two categories with 53 donors, only 18 (one third) are VAB directors and advisors, showing that bulk of large donors (some have targeted their donation) are individuals not connected with VAB management. The largest donor contributed $5000. In terms of number of donations made during the year: 28 donors contributed twice; 14 three times and three four times.