International Education Day: Unyielding dreams in remote Bangladesh

Three years ago, Nishat was involved in a terrible accident and lost her left leg. However, undeterred, and with the aid of a prosthetic leg, Nishat continued to travel the long distance to her school every morning. Her family’s financial constraints also added to the challenges. Mohammad Jahed, her father, is a day labourer, and Hamida Begum, her mother is a homemaker. With their modest earnings, it hasn’t been easy to provide for their family, particularly for a child with special needs.

Here, the nutrition assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) plays an indispensable role for families like Nishat’s.

Over the past three years, WFP has been partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in support of Bangladesh’s national school feeding programme. 60,135 children in 211 schools in Ukhiya, Teknaf and Kutubdia sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar receive fortified biscuits that are rich in vitamins and micro-nutrients critical to their growth and development.

Despite the challenges, Nishat’s parents maintain unbridled faith in her potential and wish for her to complete her education and become self-reliant. Her aspiration to become a doctor is driven by her own experiences and a desire to help others, especially children with disabilities.

“I want to become a doctor. I remember how doctors took care of me after my accident. I want to serve children with disabilities and those who are suffering from different illnesses. I regularly go to school so that I don’t miss anything,” Nishat chimed.

The WFP-USDA partnership is beyond just the provision of a morning snack of fortified biscuits. It also promotes and supports children’s literacy, health and nutrition, along with food safety and quality and government capacity building.

Two innovative additions to the school feeding programme are the ‘Book Captain’ and ‘Little Agriculturist’ initiatives. Supported by WFP and FAO, the goal of “Little Agriculturist” is to improve dietary diversity of schoolchildren through cultivation of school gardens, using climate- and nutrient-sensitive crop production techniques, and led by children themselves.

Through teacher training, provision of learning materials, and organization of educational events, “Book Captain” creates a sustainable learning environment and fosters a habit of reading among students.

After her life-altering accident, Nishat hasn’t been able to play or run with her classmates in the playground. Now, she has finds immense joy in delving into the storybooks provided by WFP partner Room to Read. “I love to share the stories I read with my siblings,” Nishat said.

As we celebrate International Education Day, Nishat’s story exemplifies the transformative impact of education and the crucial role of nutritive assistance such as school feeding to empower young individuals in overcoming obstacles and pursuing their dreams.