Love, education and food for underprivileged children

Prabhudan Halder Dino's Love, Education and Food (LEF) for Life is a school that has been providing underprivileged children with education, food and vocational training since 2001. Over 300 children are schooled under the organisation. Besides literacy, LEF for Life teaches these children different life and leadership skills.

"My childhood was a bitter phase of my life as most of my nights were spent in hunger. When I started this organisation, I just wanted these children to have enough food and nutrition. At LEF for Life, we work to diminish hunger, especially for children who live in extreme poverty," says Dino. "We also want to build the confidence of these children."

The school started with eight students from a slum. "As a student at Notre Dame College, I tutored students from affluent backgrounds and earned a good sum of money. However, after a while, I realised that it is not what I want," states Dino. "I wanted to change the lives of underprivileged children. So, I started going to slums and tutoring the children living there. However, after a while, I started to notice that as they come to my classes in half-full stomachs, they find it difficult to concentrate on their studies." That is when Dino decided to offer them food. Proper meals for around 500 children are prepared at LEF for Life, ensuring two meals for the students daily. While the children are fed one meal at the school, they can take the other meal home.

"We only take children from families that have an average monthly income of below BDT 12,000. After we receive admission requests, we visit their homes to check their eligibility," explains Dino. 20 full-time trained teachers take care of the academics, while two former students, Shobuj Ahmed, a graphic designer and Kakoli Akhter, a web designer, provide semi-vocational IT training to the students. "Our students can design apps and web pages. We try to sell these apps and websites to raise funds. Even our own website is designed by our students," mentions Shobuj. They also provide vocational training to 30 students who have passed their JSC examinations, under expert supervision. Jute handbags, comforters, and other goods are made by the students and put up at a handicraft section for visitors to buy. At the school, recreation is also given equal importance. "We have a band where all our students are welcomed to learn how to play the violin, keyboard, guitar, and other instruments after school," says Dino. "These sessions entertain them and also give them a chance to pursue their hobbies."

Besides the school, LEF for Life provides accommodation to orphans and five differently-abled children through their House of Nehemiah Orphanage. "We met Smrity, a 22-year-old physically challenged girl, who was going through many difficulties. We taught her to sew using a machine and to make beautiful handicrafts. Today, she is independent and confident," adds Dino. Dino is in the process of managing scholarships for the students' higher education and plans to introduce more facilities for them in the near future.