Dishari, a light of hope for underprivileged kids

Some school and college going students have brought hope for underprivileged children of Manikganj town.

Over 40 underprivileged kids have been receiving basic education from Dishari Pre-primary School besides books and educational materials free of charge for the last three years.

The funds for the charity work are coming from the money a group of school and college going students save up from their pocket money every month.

The students are the members of a voluntary organisation named Dishari. On January 13 in 2017, the organisation was founded with an aim to provide education to underprivileged children of different slum areas in the town. 

Marking its 3rd founding anniversary, Dishari held a special programme at Bandutia Baganbari in the town on Monday. Games, sports and cultural activities were arranged on the occasion. The children of Bewtha slum and their parents took part in the event.

District Primary Education Officer Nilufar Rahman, Assistant District Primary Education Officer Josna Khatun, Deputy Director of National Consumers Rights Protection Directorate Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Additional Superintendent of Police Mohiudin Ahmed Mukul and Zahangir Alam Biswas, adviser of Dishari, among others, were present.

Hasan Shikdar, president of the organisation and a second year honours student of Manikganj Government Devendra College, said around 100 members of the organisation have been giving away school supplies like books, notebooks, pencils and pens from a portion of their pocket money every month since 2017.

They also distributed winter clothes among the children besides providing free health service to them, said Hasan.

The children can study at Dishari Pre-primary School upto Class III, said Hasan, adding that they later help the kids to enroll in mainstream schools.

All members of Dishari pay Tk 50 per month, which is spent on the children’s welfare, he said.

Six-year-old Khadiza, a pre-primary student of the school, said the teachers are very caring and cooperative here. They often give the kids chocolates.

“The teachers also give us new dresses during Eid,” she said.  

Khadiza has been living with her grandparents in a slum of the town since her father and mother died five years ago.