Annual Report 2001

VAB greatly increased the number of scholarships from the 100 that were awarded in 2000 to the 285 granted in 2001. This included exam fees and tutorial support for 37 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees and 248 full year scholarships for students in 20 high schools located in six thanas. VAB received 912 applications for its scholarships and chose 248 students (one from almost every four applicants), based on factors such as each family's level of poverty, the students' capacity and interest in studies and the parental commitment to education. The recipients were all from impoverished families, 83% of whom come from families surviving on monthly incomes of less than $36 while supporting 6 to 8 family members. Without VAB's grants, many of these children would not be able to afford the education and training that would allow them to procure productive and gainful employment later in life.

SSC examinees supported by VAB scored a 70% pass rate against the national average of 35%. The remaining 30% of scholarship recipients failed only in one subject, for which they were allowed to sit for a supplementary examination. The performance record of our 248 scholarship holders shows very encouraging results. All the students were promoted and many improved their class standings.

In 2001, the VAB-supported Rupsa Vocational School, located in Faridganj thana, was able to train 26 women and 2 men in sewing and 11 men in carpentry. These training programs enabled the tailoring students to make a living from sewing basic clothing while the carpentry students were able to produce marketable furniture including chairs, tables, doors and windows. VAB also provided support to the Safe Home for Destitute Girls (SHDG), an NGO headed by Prof. Salma Chowdhury. Our funds enabled them to purchase a sewing machine, clothing and crockery. In addition, VAB, along with the Bangladesh Medical Association of North America (BMANA), arranged for the shipment of 100 new medical books (donated by the American Medical Association) to Bangabandhu SM Medical University of Bangladesh.

Receipts	2000	1999	2001	Expenses	1999	2000	2001
Contributions from donors	9,960	17,285	$20,753	Printing, copying and supplies	472	73	163
Contributions from Patrons	10,250			Postage	729	270	373

VAB Programs for 2002:

This year, VAB proposes to allocate $22,000 from our combined outlay of 2001 receipts and last year's reserve to our partner Prakritajan. Of this amount, $8,000 will be used for scholarship funds and the remaining $14,000 will be dedicated to starting up five computer training centers. These funds will enable Prakritajan to provide 20 computers and accessories, electrical fixtures, and furniture to each of the computer training centers in the thana headquarters of Bancharampur, Jessore, Parashuram, Sapahar and Satkhira. In order to employ the best possible instructors and offer the highest quality education, VAB is proposing an additional commitment of $5,000 from our 2002 receipts. We believe that this supplementary funding is essential in assisting Prakritajan to secure well-constructed, centrally located training centers free of charge from the local community. VAB suggests that Prakritajan recruit a group of local advisors for each center to ensure that the management of these centers is consistently orderly and effective. These centers are organized on a tripartite support base in which VAB provides one-time support for all equipment and training, local people provide free premises and Prakritajan provides training, managerial and overhead support, the cost of which will be recovered from fees trainees pay for the training.

VAB proposes to continue to provide over 200 scholarships in 20 schools and support coaching for all Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees in VAB supported schools. Used books from last year's scholarship holders will be recycled to new awardees, who will be provided for the first time with school uniforms/clothing. VAB proposes to continue shipment of educational materials to Bangladesh and has applied for funding from USAID to cover freight costs for eight such shipments during 2002-2003. We will know the result by July this year.

Based on three years of successful fundraising, VAB strives to raise $50,000 in 2002, allowing us to almost double our scholarship awards from 275 to 500 and continue the expansion of computer and vocational training centers. VAB is also in discussion with prospective partner NGOs to improve educational facilities such as school libraries, laboratories and computers for schools in rural Bangladesh. VAB plans to contact persons from various communities to join in our efforts to expand our support base with individual donors. VAB will intensify contacts with foundations and corporations for support in cash or kind (for example, computers). VAB will also submit this year an application for matching grants from USAID.