Eid joy for street children

Can you imagine buying a new piece of clothing at Tk 5 in 2018?

It may sound unbelievable but buying a new piece of clothing, spending maximum Tk 5, is possible. It has been made possible by a group of youths in Chittagong under an initiative called “Shopner Dokan”.

“Shopner Dokan” is a platform of three Chittagong-based organisations that work for saving animals. The organisations include “Rise for Paws and Claws”, “Cats, Dogs and Beyond” and “Animal Care of Chittagong”.

Trisha Bhattacharjo, founder of “Rise for Paws and Claws”, said they borrowed the concept of the initiative from a Dhaka-based initiative under the same title “Shopner Dokan”.

Though both initiatives are working for the same cause, their initiative is separately being run in Chittagong only, she added.   

According to the organisers, Eid brings joy to people from all walks of life, and a big part of that has to do with the excitement of wearing new clothes on Eid morning. Street children often cannot partake in this excitement. 

Keeping that in mind, the youths -- numbering around 20 -- started selling clothes at their shop at incredibly low prices for street children. 

Last Saturday, the shop -- temporarily stationed in Chittagong city's Sholosohor area -- sold clothes among underprivileged children.

Eight-year-old Amena, living in the area, was delighted after buying a new dress for Eid at Tk 5. 

“I am very happy today. I never thought I would be able to buy a new dress for Eid with my own money,” she said.

Like Amena, at least 400 street children bought new clothes ahead of the festival at two outlets of the shop -- one in Sholosohor and the other in Agrabad.

Laila Begum, another slum dweller in Sholoshohor area, was ecstatic as she had been able to buy new clothes for her son at the shop for Tk 2.

Trisha said, “During Ramadan, affluent people distribute saris and panjabis among adults, often not taking into consideration the children.”

Hence, they were thinking about doing something for the children and made a post on Facebook asking for financial help.

“We received enormous support from our friends, relatives and many others,” Trisha said.

Asked about the nominal prices set for selling the clothes instead of giving those away for free, the organisers said they charge the token amount just to induce a sense of dignity among the street children.

We want to give these children the idea that they can buy their clothes with their own money instead of receiving those for free, the organisers added.    

They hope to continue the initiative as long as they get the financial support.

Meanwhile, Naeem Aunkan, founder of Dhaka-based “Shopner Dokan”, told this correspondent over phone that the Chittagong-based initiative is running its activities under the same title with their permission.