The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“A picture is worth a thousand words. Many people ask us about our work and we answer as best as we can. But photos tell stories that words cannot. The photos were taken over the last year or so. They were displayed at an exhibition in Dhaka in June. We decided to bring the pictures to a wider audience. For this reason, we have organised the exhibition," said Sultan Mahmud, Country Programme Director of Save the Children Australia, at the inauguration of week-long exhibition at Drik Gallery in the city. The exhibition was inaugurated on June 19 and ended on June 25. Kilmeny Beckering Vinckers, Deputy Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest.

Save the Children's work is child-centred and so are the pictures in the exhibition. They show some of the children they work with. In working with children, Save the Children listen to their voices and respond through projects that help achieve their rights, it came out through 40 different photos and some case studies of children.

By working to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child Save the Children believes children have rights - to survival and development, protection and participation - and it is their job to make these rights become realities. When rights to education, healthcare and an adequate standard of living become realities, children flourish and their futures are bright.

Sultan Mahmud said, "The staff members of Save the Children Australia in Bangladesh who implement our projects are very special people. Our work in Bangladesh could not continue without our supporters. Much work remains. But with ongoing support we are very keen to take the work forward."

In Bangladesh, 47 per cent of the population of over 140 million is under 18 years of age. This puts great pressure on education and health facilities.

"Save the Children Australia has helped disadvantaged children to reach their potential in Bangladesh since 1987. Over the past 21 years, it has implemented programs on child participation, education, child rights, community development, health and emergency relief," said Sultan.

Save the Children Australia 's recent projects in Bangladesh are Child Access to Rights through Development (CARD), Life Skills Intervention for Empowerment (LIFE), Listen to Children's Voices (LCV), Creating Access to Alternative life choices for the women and children of Daulatdia Brothel (CAAB) and Safe Home in Goalundo.

In all photographs child rights were mentioned significantly through photography.

In Gazi Nafis Ahmed's 'A girl at the KKS School at Goalundo' presented her eyes, which were full of dream to get proper education and hope.

Nafis' another photograph said 'Girls of the Safe Home are better able to protect themselves from abuse and exploration. Their self confidence and abilities to meet the challenges of life are much improved and they have access to an education.'

In Sumon Yusuf's 'Three year-old Suchona happily playing at one of the ECD centres at Daulatdia.' In the photograph, he wanted to expresses the safe life of the three years old girl at the centre.

In his another photograph 'Children playing at KKS School at Goalundo,' he expressed the freedom life of child especially female children who were born in the brothel area. But now they are growing up in better living area where they could get better education and livelihood.