The New Nation - Internet Edition

WP Report

"Phulki" meaning "spark" in Bengali is a non-profit organization that brings a flicker of light to the lives of disadvantaged communities. They spread the light of hope into the lives of working women who, due to their circumstances, are forced to leave their children at home, often in hazardous conditions, to earn a living. From its beginnings in 1991, Phulki recognized the link between children's rights and women's empowerment and the need to ensure a secure future for children while their mothers are working to earn a living. These goals are the pillars for all of Phulki's activities. It strives for the rights of women and children to be universally recognized and achieved. Through devoting all its resources and energy into working with disadvantaged women and children, Phulki is helping them to see that they both deserve and can achieve a secure, healthy and happy life.

Initially, Phulki focused on the plight of female workers who have migrated to Dhaka city from rural areas, in search of a livelihood. The city does not have the requisite infrastructure and support systems to sustain this large influx of migrant workers. In Bangladesh export oriented garment industry has grown rapidly over the last 20 years to become the primary source of foreign exchange for the country. Over 1.5 million workers are employed in garment factories, out of which, approximately 80% are women. Phulki's early activities ensured the well-being of the migrant workers and their children who suffered due to poverty and lack of care. Phulki envisages a future where children can grow in an environment that is not only secure and healthy but also provides them with a proper education with which to face the future.

Phulki's mission is to create a world where working women do not have to sacrifice their children's well-being in order to achieve economic emancipation. Despite the fact that Bangladesh was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in practice, little of its goals have been actualized. Countless number of women and children are denied their basic human rights as a matter of course. Phulki has begun to rectify the discrepancy between theory and practice through structured and sustainable programs. Currently Phulki has programs addressing children from 6 weeks to 18 years of age, through the establishment of childcare centres, applying the Child-to-Child education approach, and training programs. Each aspect of Phulki's work is integral to sustaining the work of the whole.

Phulki's helping hand has begun a chain of education into hygiene and gender awareness that is spreading new light within slum areas. More recently, Phulki has embarked on a project that addresses the plight of the domestic girl workers. This innovative initiative aims to develop a social 'safety net' for the thousands of young girls working in homes across Bangladesh without access to counseling, skill training, education or legal services. Keeping with Phulki's tradition of developing sustainable interventions, this pilot project will be largely self-sustaining and influenced by the beneficiaries. Phulki's experience applying the Child-to-Child Approach with slum children has created a strong foundation from which this project will be further supported.