Torchbearers in remote hills

Twi Mraoo Marma passed away in 2005 at the age of 54. He left behind his worldly possessions, along with an unfulfilled dream: ensuring the future of orphaned girls or those from disadvantaged families.

Just when it seemed that the dream had died, another spark was lit.

Inspired by his father's devotion, Moung Hla Marma, Twi Mraoo's 37-year-old son, and Moung Hla's 32 year-old wife Ma Hela Min began operations of the privately-run orphanage -- Tribal Girls Orphans Home (TGOH) -- in 2007, two years after Twi Mraoo's death.

The initiative has already helped around 350 girls, many of whom have gone on to different universities and colleges around the country.

Twi Mraoo's story, or rather his lasting legacy, began in 1995, when he first set up a hostel on a piece of land next to his home.

Girls from remote areas of the district were brought there and he bore all their expenses by selling the produce cultivated in his ancestral jhum land next to his home in Baishari area under Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban.

In 1998, a Japanese donor helped build a tin-roofed hall room under the Kansai Bangladesh Project.

After his death, the operations of the hostel came to a halt.

Two years later, the initiative was undertaken again by Twi Mraoo's son and daughter-in-law.

Moung Hla recalled that his father worked tirelessly and wholeheartedly to bring positive changes to the lives of the children.

“It was my wife who really pushed me to carry on my late father's legacy,” said Moung Hla, who a holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ramu College in Cox's Bazar.

“Since 2007, around 350 orphans have already left our shelter after passing school. They are now enrolled in different colleges and universities, and are contributing financially to their respective families and to the society.

“At present, we have eighty five girls from different ethnic backgrounds under our care.”

They are enrolled at different primary and secondary schools nearby, he added.

In conversation with The Daily Star, the students said that they felt at home on these premises. 

Swe Ma May Sing Marma, a student of grade seven, and Thui May Sing Marma, a student of grade six, came here five years ago from the remote Ruma upazila of the district.

“We are treated like family and education is our priority here,” said Swe Ma.

Pruma Marma, who lived at the orphanage for a few years, is going to obtain a Master's degree from Chittagong University (CU) from Economics Department this year. “If not for them, I would not have come so far. My aim is to be a teacher and contribute to the young orphans still living there,” she said.

On funding, Moung Hla says that is not always smooth sailing. The orphanage runs on income from poultry rearing, mainly Turkey, fruits and jhum paddy farming.

Currently, the quarters are cramped and more fans, chairs and tables are needed.

However, the couple tries not to compromise the quality of what they are providing to the children. Apart from housing and educating them, the children are served meals of beef, fish, eggs and vegetables, alternatively.

The duo tutors the girls and helps with their homework. Occasionally, before exams, they also hire a tutor to help out as well, he added.

“We have taken a loan of Tk 5 lakh out as well by mortgaging some of our lands to local moneylenders.”

Moung La wrote to their Union Parishad five months back, applying for funding to obtain tables, chairs and fans for the children. He is yet to hear back from them.

As for Ma Hela, she is the heart and soul of the operations. A source of knowledge and assistance to the children, she is an active member of the community and is loved and respected by everyone.

“We have two daughters of our own. We understand the importance of a better future for the girls living in the hills,” said Ma Hela, who passed HSC exams from a college in Cox's Bazar and was now pursuing higher education.

“When the children call me 'maa', I feel like a proud mother of 85 children.”

Education is a basic human right, but for a developing nation like Bangladesh, more attention should be placed on women's empowerment, she added.

“It is a common practice in the hills to not send their young daughters to schools, as they believe girls were born to solely run households.”