The New Nation - Internet Edition

Creating space for working women

Farizaa Sabreen

With the progressive change in the economic structure of the country many women are living out of their homes in search of employment. Accommodation becomes a major problem for most working women in Dhaka city. Due to disadvantaged social and economic status, women's housing problems are often overlooked in policy and program agendas.

Traditional society does not want to accept new accommodation style for women. When women stay alone our society gets all kinds of ideas and loves to harass them. In our country, most of the landlords do not want to rent houses to single women. And nosy landlords cluck their tooth if a male relative comes.

But the young workingwoman living on her own is now firmly part of the urban mainstream. For this, hostel is a boon to the thousands of workingwomen who come to the capital every year either for higher studies or for work.

Women need a safe place for space, privacy, security and basic facilities all at a reasonable cost. Insecure and inadequate shelter, however, threatens physical and mental health and the overall quality of life.

Hostel life offers many exciting experiences. There one meets others of very different backgrounds and personalities. With more interaction comes greater need to adjust and accept, especially with other roommates.

It is necessary to take positive action to ensure more hostels in Dhaka and other cities of our country. Government should introduce a scheme for construction of new hostels and expansion of existing building.

Working women's hostels in Dhaka

Shantinibash Women Hostel: Mufti Ahmed is established Shantinibash at 2001, which has 120 seats. Besides working women, students are also staying here. It is located at Mohammadpur. They charge Tk. 3150 to Tk.4050 for food and accommodation.

26/18, Shershah Suri Road, Mohammadpur

Ph: 9121158

Yeasha Hostel: To provide secured accommodation to the workingwomen, Yeasha Hostel was established at Lalmatia. They charge Tk.2000 to 3000 per month.

YWCA Professional Women's Hostel: The hostel has 70 seats. It's a hostel that's clean, and cheap. It's in a great location, has nice staff.

10-11, Green Square, Green Road

Ph: 9668645

Business and Professional Women Association's Hostel: The Business and Professional Women's Association is operating a professional women's hostel in Bailey Road, Dhaka. The borders are usually professional women working in government or private sector and have higher economic class status.

Nibediaka Hostel: It is situated at Monipuripara. They have nine branches. They charge Tk. 2000- 3000.

1000, Monipuripara, Farmgate

Kaniz Azad Shaon’s solo art exhibition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"To me art is an everyday life experience. I, Kaniz Azad Shaon, am a student in Queens University of New York in the USA. Currently I am working on my degree as an art historian and in studio art. From the time we weak up to the time we go to bed. Because human being looks for perfection we don't realise that every move we make art is involved. Basically our own style is art to me. In this exhibition, I worked with lines photographs and painting nature. My line works shows that how a simple line makes so much difference to our eye," this was the self expression of a budding artist Kaniz Azad Shaon at her second solo titled 'Life and Colour' at Drik Gallery in the capital. The exhibition was inaugurated on January 5 and concluded on January 11.

This was a very informal exhibition by Shaon. She is still learning in the USA. She came in Bangladesh recently and will again to her study place end of this month. She hoped that after completing her education in the middle of this year she could give something different to all.

Shaon, a student of art history and studio art in Queens University of New York, presented a good number of paintings, sketches, line-works and photographs. Most of her artworks portrayed scenic beauty of nature and caught the changing scenes.

The artist also depicted different moods of human beings through her line works. She had also created other natural beings using lines.

Shaon's paintings of landscape and seascape were very lively presentation of nature. Her inner joys and pathos also came out through her paintings. She painted both the gloomy and brighter views of nature.

Most of her line works are abstract but she very aptly outlined the faces of humans and other living beings.

Like paintings, the artist's photographs also presented landscape and still life.

She said, "My line works show how a simple line makes so much difference to our eye depending on how we see it or bend it in different direction and create a whole new world."

Even in my painting and my photographs there are lines involved from brush strokes to light rays from the camera, she added.

She said about her works, "Depending on how we see it or bend it in different direction and create a whole new world. Even in my painting and my photographs there are lines involved from brush strokes to light rays from the camera. In New York, I did few shows in 05/06 in Nassau and won few awards in 2007 I did the same show I am doing here in Bangladesh called Freedom. That was held in Philadelphia. I always wanted to do something for my country and so I thought this will be a great opportunity for me to start something here in Bangladesh."

Shaon always work with nature and its expression, which attracts her most of the time. Basically she is working in form of line drawing where expression of nature is vividly described in her line drawing presentation.

While working in the USA she focused on natural beauty and its changes. When she gets leisure she visits to many scenic places, which plays a pivotal role in her presentation to draw something.

Shaon hoped that after completion of her educational career in art she will return home and give something different to her countrymen.

Motivating Kids to Read

The "literate home" for this age child only needs a few inexpensive materials, but parent involvement is key. Your young child or kindergartner continues to build her language base (understanding and using language) in preparation for learning to read, so she still benefits from lots of talk with adults that help her learn new words. Young children and kindergartners are beginning to figure out how the written word works, and they are starting to use reading and writing in their daily lives. At this age, having a wide variety of books and writing materials available is crucial.

What You Need

* Children's Books

For young children, nursery rhymes, ABC books, informational books, and storybooks are most appropriate. Kindergartners will enjoy longer stories or chapter books, and some will be able to read very easy books by themselves by the end of the year. You can look for bargain children's books at used bookstores and yard sales, or purchase books at great prices through monthly book clubs offered through child care centers or schools.

* Letters

Young children and kindergartners learn to identify the letters. In your home, it is important to have a number of types of letters that your child can move around. Alphabet blocks, foam letters for the bathtub, ABC puzzles, magnetic refrigerator letters, ABC cookie cutters, letter stamps, and letter stickers are all ideal materials for children this age.

* Writing Materials

Thick markers, paint brushes, pencils, and crayons are ideal for the youngest writers since they are still developing the small muscles in their hands that help them hold tools. Likewise, large paper is best for young children. Your kindergartner will be able to use standard-sized writing tools and paper. He may also enjoy it if you make a "book" for him to write in by stapling paper together. Having a model of all the letters available for young writers allows them to refer to it if they have trouble remembering letter formations.

* Reading and Writing Materials for Parents

When children see the adults around them using reading and writing in their everyday lives, they're more likely to become readers and writers themselves. Simply having a bookshelf full of books, reading the local newspaper, and having a notepad on which you write grocery lists and phone messages shows your child that reading and writing serve valuable everyday purposes.

* Props for Pretend Play

Props such as dress-up clothes and play dishes encourage your young child or kindergartner to pretend, and pretend play actually contributes to literacy skills. Make props for pretend play from materials you already have at home. Empty cereal boxes, mom's old necklaces, and an old pot and wooden spoon make ideal items for countless make-believe scenarios.

* Tapes

Books and children's music on tape are another way for your child to enjoy stories and music. Most libraries have extensive collections of books on tape and children's music tapes to borrow. Purchasing a durable children's tape player with a handle will allow your child to put in tapes by herself so that she can listen to tapes when she likes.

* Videos

Videos can help your young child or kindergartner learn basic concepts and information. They are also another way to expose your child to quality children's literature. For children this age, concept videos such as ABCs or rhyming are appropriate, while young children and kindergartners will also enjoy watching videos of familiar books.

What You Can Do

*l Organize a bookshelf for your child's collection. A sturdy bookshelf located in an area accessible to your child is ideal. This way, he can reach books and use them without asking your permission. Having a special place for his books will demonstrate to your child that books are valuable.

* Set up a writing area for your child. Having all of her materials in one accessible spot will encourage your young child or kindergartner to write. Having a special writing box or even a writing table or desk will help your child to see writing as an important activity.

* Talk together about things that interest your child. Ask genuine questions, ones to which you do not already know the answer. Ask questions that help children think about why and how and not just what. When you talk, be sure to listen to your child's response and build upon what he has to say.

* Introduce new vocabulary words when you talk with your child. When you use a new word, make sure to explain its meaning to your child, and encourage your young child or kindergartner to ask when she does not know the meaning of a word.

* Continue your daily read-aloud routine. Continue the routine that you established earlier in your child's life. Reading at the same time each day and in the same comfortable place, such as in bed or on the couch, make read-aloud a time to anticipate.

* Point to the words when you read aloud. You need not do this for every page. But pointing to the words in the book's title, or to the words of a repeated phrase in a picture book, is a good idea. When you point to the words, you show your child that there is a correspondence between spoken and written words and that print goes from left to right.

* Listen to your child "read." By the end of kindergarten, most children will be able to "read" some very easy books aloud by relying mostly on the pictures and their memory of the story. Make sure to set aside some of your read-aloud time to listen to your child read as soon as he is ready. Avoid pushing your child to do this until he shows interest, however.

* Incorporate literacy into outings. Visit your local library, bookmobile, or bookstore to find new read-aloud ideas for your child. Many libraries feature free song and story hours that young children and kindergartners may enjoy.

Be a reader and writer yourself. One of the most effective ways to help children become readers and writers is to show them through your own example that you value literacy and that reading and writing have useful purposes. Make sure that you have a variety of printed and writing materials in your house, that you use them on a regular basis, and that you talk to your child about what you are doing when you read and write.